Entre-Deux-Mers, a wine-growing region just a stone's throw from the Garonne and Dordogne rivers

Saint-Macaire is the first must-see in the Entre-Deux-Mers region. A visit to Saint-Macaire is like stepping back in time. Let yourself be carried away as you wander through its charming cobbled streets, its medieval gates, its arcades, its facades covered in ivy or flowers...

Surrounded by ramparts, this medieval architectural ensemble is home to a number of listed monuments, including the arcaded Mercadiou square and its houses dating from the 13th to 16th centuries. Don't miss the church of Saint-Sauveur, part of a former Benedictine priory. The 14th-century Porte de Benauge, or clock gate, marks the entrance to the town.

The fortified town of Cadillac was built in 1280 and has preserved many vestiges of its history, which can be admired on a stroll around the town or on a tour of the ramparts. Cadillac's main attraction is its château, which can be visited all year round.

This imposing monument reflects the character behind its construction: Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, the first Duke of Épernon. He decided to demolish a medieval building to build his sumptuous residence, which rivalled the royal residences. The château has had an eventful history. During the French Revolution, it was used as a women's prison until the end of the 19th century, then as a reformatory for young girls until the middle of the 20th century.

🎟️ You can book your ticket online on the Château de Cadillac website.

La Réole is a medieval town with cobbled streets and half-timbered houses. This town of art and history boasts a harmonious architectural ensemble. Take a look at the 18th-century Benedictine monastery, now home to the town's departments; Saint-Pierre church, built in the 12th century, then dismantled and rebuilt in the 17th century; the Château des Quat'Sos, built in the 12th century on the site of a primitive fortress, with its four corner towers; and the old town hall, one of the oldest civil buildings in France.

Perched on its rocky outcrop, Castelmoron d'Albret is the smallest commune in France at just 3.5 hectares, and is often a favourite with travellers! This charming little fortified village is well worth a visit for its pretty, winding old streets, which are so pleasant to get lost in. In fine weather, you'll be able to admire the streets in full bloom, adding even more charm to the visit. The village boasts a church restored in the 19th century.

The village of Rauzan is home to a fortified castle built between the 13th and 15th centuries. It boasts an imposing 31-metre-high cylindrical keep. Don't miss a visit to this castle to find out more about Aquitaine's fascinating history.

Rauzan has another wonderful surprise in store for you during your visit: a celestine cave, adorned with beautiful concretions. Over the centuries, a river has carved out the only underground cave in the Gironde open to visitors. Discover this 600-metre-long cave beneath the town of Rauzan. With a headlamp, you can explore the cave and admire the many stalactites, stalagmites and limestone draperies.

👉 Find all the information you need about visits, opening times and prices for visiting the Celestine cave in Rauzan.

The Entre-Deux-Mers region is home to one of the finest examples of religious architecture in the Gironde: La Sauve-Majeur Abbey. This superb edifice is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the stages on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. This open-air site is home to exceptional sculptures and remains: sculpted capitals, bell tower, Romanesque vaults in the choir and chapels.

Remnants of medieval life, these fortified villages are characterised by their construction around an arcaded square. Although the six bastides in the Entre-deux-Mers were all founded in the 13th and 14th centuries, each has its own character and charm:

• The bastide town of Cadillac, surrounded by its walls and bordered by the ducal castle of the Dukes of Épernon,
• The bastide town of Créon and its magnificent arcaded square,
• The fortified town of Monségur, overlooking the river Dropt,
• The fortified town of Sauveterre de Guyenne and its four rectangular gates,
• The fortified town of Blasimon and its Benedictine abbey,
• The fortified town of Pellegrue and its metal market hall

Entre-deux-Mer by bike

Why not explore the Entre-Deux-Mers region by bike? Did you know that you can reach the Mediterranean from the Atlantic via the Canal des 2 Mers? This magnificent cycle route crosses the Entre-deux-Mers vineyards along the Lapébie track, a former railway line that has been converted into a cycle path.