The Ring of Castles

The start of this loop is near Château Mouton-Rothschild on the D2 in the center of Pouyalet. Contrary to what one might think, the name Mouton does not come from the animal, but from the old name mothon which means "hill". Mouton was purchased in 1853 by Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild. The cellars are impressive in their dimensions and the perfection of the alignment of the rows of oak barrels.

Continue to follow the D2 for 1.5km. On your left you can admire a park with weeping willows belonging to the world famous Château Lafite Rothschild. The Lafite Rothschild estate overlooks Pauillac. It is a very old property, dating back to the Middle Ages. Of the medieval castle, only a round tower remains; the current building dates from the XNUMXth century. Its beautiful terrace bordered by a balustrade dominates the park and the cellars below were designed by Ricardo Bofill.

Continue along this road for 1km. Around a bend you will come across an exceptional oriental-inspired residence belonging to the "Maharadja of Médoc". Caux, Cos, in Gascon means “hill of stones”. This is where Louis Gaspard d'Estournel decided to build his wine palace at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. Its pagoda-like appearance surprised the traveler Stendhal. The Médoc has taken on a taste of the Orient here.

After Château Cos d'Estournel, take the D2E3 on your right. After passing the railway line, on your right will be the town of Marbuzet. In this small village, a castle awaits you. Built in the XNUMXth century, in the Louis XIV style, it has a rotunda inspired by Château Rastignac in Périgord.

Continue along the D2E3 for 3km. Numerous wine estates and plots of vines line this road. You arrive in Saint-Estèphe, a great appellation whose name is the dream of many wine lovers!

From the center of Saint-Estèphe, you will find the Château Calon Ségur estate on your left. Château Calon Ségur, built in the 17th and 18th centuries, dominates the village. The Calon-Ségur vineyard is certainly the oldest in the region, it belonged to NA de Ségur, the “Prince of Vines”. Of Calon, he said "I make wine in Latour and Lafite, but my heart is in Calon", this heart we find today on the label.

Leave the town center of Saint-Estèphe via the Route de Roubaneyre on your right and follow the estuary until you cross a small bridge leading you onto the Route de Mapon. Continue for 2km to arrive at Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne. Before entering the village, you will find on your left the Route de Bardis where you can see the Verdus dovecote. Circular in shape, this feudal dovecote has 1830 nest boxes placed on the internal wall of the cylindrical tower. These correspond to small cubicles built of cut stone or pottery which are enclosed in the wall. It is estimated that 8000 to 10 pigeons frequented this dovecote per year. Pigeon droppings - columbine - are an excellent fertilizer. The pigeons feed on insects in the vineyards and of course appear in the menus served at the lords' table.

Leave Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne via the D2, taking the Cadourne road for 4km. After crossing the Maréchale channel, admire the “Château Rose du Médoc” on your right. Château Loudenne is the famous “Château Rose” of Médoc, renowned in the 20s for its social parties and the many personalities who came to stay there. The Château dating from the XNUMXth century, has a XNUMXth century Victorian wine cellar located in a large park with a breathtaking view of the Gironde Estuary, collection of old and rare English roses.

Continue on the D2 for 2km until arriving in the village of Saint-Yzans-de-Médoc, the limit between Haut and Bas Médoc. Here the landscape changes. You will discover a wild region that we call here “the pampas”. Breathe the fresh air!

From the center of Saint-Yzans-de-Médoc, take Rue de la Hourqueyre on your left. Continue for 2km to reach the town of Peyressan, turn right onto the Route du Plantey Barrat and continue to the Château Taffard intersection. On your right, the road leading to Blaignan opens up to you. There you will find an XNUMXth century windmill and the Noisettine du Médoc factory, two pleasures not to be missed! At the end of this break, retrace your steps via the Route de la Hontane, get back onto the Route de Lesparre and continue on this path towards Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil.

In Plautignan, turn right via the Route de Saint-Germain (D4) for 2 km. You thus arrive at Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil. Come visit the Gallo-Roman site of Brion in Saint-Germain-d'Esteuil, the Médoc has kept traces of this conquering era here. After this stage steeped in history, take the Route de Miqueu to the exit of the town of Lagrange. Turn left on Route de Guibeau for 2km then turn left before the railway line.

Take Route de Gouat on your right and continue for 1km. At the intersection, turn left towards Rue des Chênes for 2km. At the intersection, turn right onto Rue de l'Abbaye for 2km to arrive at Vertheuil. Vertheuil of course evokes the abbey, but the village is also interesting. The Huguenot assault in 1572 did not completely destroy the town. A tower and the Romanesque keep with machicolations of the castle remained standing, as well as some sections of walls of the enclosure. As for the abbey, it has also suffered the ravages of time and war. Remodeled in the 104th and XNUMXth centuries, it is very difficult today to have a precise idea of ​​the initial building. However, the Romanesque church with three naves is superb, the heart is flanked by two bell towers, one of which dates from the XNUMXth century. Leave Vertheuil from the south by taking the DXNUMX for two kilometers to arrive at Saint-Sauveur.

A very pretty church, dating in part from the 20th century and a XNUMX hectare massif of Mediterranean heather, a gift not to be missed in this small village in Haut-Médoc, a beautiful stopover in perspective! Leave Saint-Sauveur towards Pauillac to reach the town of Artigues.

An unusual place in Médoc, this cave, a replica of that of Lourdes. In the last century, the pious young ladies Averous, owners of a vineyard in Pauillac, built this cave in homage to the Virgin of Lourdes. It is said that every year the young ladies exchanged a barrel of wine for a barrel of holy water from the holy city, and watered their vines with it. Today, the cave has become a place of pilgrimage.

Towards Pauillac, a castle worthy of Sleeping Beauty, with its slender turrets. The castle was built in the 19th century, but the estate is older. The cellars have recently been refurbished, following the American model, a circuit has been set up allowing visitors to visit the cellars without disturbing the staff. As a result, the cellars no longer have any secrets for the walker, an instructive visit!

The name of this area originates from a ford tower, protecting the inhabitants from pirates. The property was purchased by the famous Ségur family. The current castle dates from the 60th century. In the XNUMXs, Latour played an important role in the history of winemaking: it was the first grand cru to use stainless steel vats!