Explore the Médoc

Exploring the Médoc can start anywhere, including our own vineyard and Lesparre, the major town nearest to La Folie. Grab your bicycles and ride to the tearoom (summer only) in Saint-Christoly, which also has a beloved year-round antique shop. You can also explore local vineyards and drive around the countryside, town-hopping and visiting a number of the famous wine houses and historic windmills that dot the landscape. Oh, and don't miss the new Cité du Vin museum of wine culture in Bordeaux!

A few favorites

Lesparre

Lesparre, the major town nearest La Folie, boasts a train station, restaurants, shops, gas stations, and all the other conveniences.

L'Abbaye de Vertheuil

The 12th-centy St. Pierre Abbey of Vertheuil is not far from La Folie. Built on the site of a Gallo-Roman village, it has been occupied by Benedictines and later by the Order of Canons of Saint Augustine, Congregation of Chancelade. Surviving through through hundreds of years of tumult, the abbey was rebuilt in the eighteenth century, partially demolished in the mid-twentieth century, and is currently property of the commune. 

Inside the ancient abbey there remain vestiges of arches, vaulted ceilings, and the foundations of some existing walls, including a bread oven and the wall of the old winery.

​Don't miss the tea shop inside and walk through gorgeous vineyards after touring the old church.

Bordeaux

La Cité du Vin | Susan Wright for the New York Times

La Cité du Vin | Susan Wright for the New York Times

Dining at La Noailles | Debra Campbell

Hit the big city! ​Bordeaux, the hub of the famed wine-growing region, is a thriving, vibrant port city rich in discoveries.

It is one of our favorite places to visit and is very easily accessible from La Folie. You can take a train or bus straight into the city and hop on the tram, which will drop you right in the epicenter of this mecca for lovers of French wine. Public gardens line the curving river quays. Grand Place de la Bourse opens to the water, with the Three Graces fountain at its center. In the center of town is the National Theatre which offers opera, ballet, and theatre productions. Bordeaux is a wonderful place to shop, including the fantastic art supply store Le Geant des Beaux-Arts.

​There is both a daily flea market at Saint-Michel and a larger Sunday flea market. To go to the Grand Brocante, an enormous Bordeaux flea market and festival, see our Antique Markets adventure.

When you get hungry, drop into Le Noailles for classic bistro food. ​

The beaches

Soulac-Sur-Mer is a seaside Atlantic town on the Côte d'Argent, just an hour north near the tip of the peninsula. Lovely beaches and stunning Art Nouveau architecture make Soulac-Sur-Mer a wonderful spot for a day trip. Walk to the beach, eat an abundance of fresh seafood, shop, and tour an ancient church which hosts free concerts on Thursdays throughout the year.

Many other beaches and towns stud the coast and make it ideal for carefree exploration.

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More things to do and see in the vicinity

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We love food and wine! 

La Maison d'Artemis in Lesparre is a coffee house with its own roasts that also specializes in tea and offers sublime pastries alongside a small menu of mostly vegetable-based dishes.

Photo by Debra Campbell

Creperie du Port de Goulee, a delightful little crêperie just 10 minutes away from La Folie, specializes in sweet and savory crêpes. Open from April through September.

Photo by Debra Campbell

La Petite Gironde in nearby Lesparre is a local haunt where you can dip in for sit-down dining, take-out, and organic local produce and food products.
 

Photo by Debra Campbell

Cafe Lavinal is in the centre of the Village of Bages. The walls are lined with objects brought back by owner Jean-Michel Cazes from his travels and souvenirs of his grandchildren’s summers in Bages. 

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Château Lynch-Bages has a lovely café in Bages, just outside the town of Paulliac. Or, make an appointment for a private or group tour and wine tasting in French, English, or German.