Bordeaux wine: Médoc, Blaye and Saint-Émilion
From Bordeaux up the Médoc wine road, across the Gironde by ferry to Blaye, then to Saint-Émilion and the Entre-Deux-Mers.
- Distance
- 171 km (107 mi)
- Driving
- 2 h 22 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- Countries
- France
- Updated
- August 4, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 171 km (107 mi) with 8 stops, from Bordeaux to Cadillac. About 2 h 22 min of driving in total.
More road trips in France
Route description
Leave Bordeaux northwards on the D2, known as the Route des Châteaux. It runs through Margaux, Saint-Julien and Pauillac past the grand wine estates of the Médoc; most visits must be booked ahead, and several small wine houses in the villages offer tastings. Pauillac, about 50 km from Bordeaux, has a riverside quay with space for motorhomes.
Drive back south to Fort Médoc at Cussac, a Vauban fort that once guarded the Gironde with the citadel of Blaye on the opposite bank. From Lamarque a car ferry crosses the estuary to Blaye in about 25 minutes, several times a day; it takes motorhomes, but check the timetable. The citadel of Blaye is free to walk around and has wide views over the water.
From Blaye drive south-east through the Côtes de Bourg vineyards and Libourne to Saint-Émilion, about an hour. The medieval village, with its UNESCO-listed vineyard landscape, is built on limestone riddled with quarries. The monolithic church, cut into the rock, can be visited only on guided tours from the tourist office. Streets are steep and cobbled; park on the edge.
Cross the Dordogne into the Entre-Deux-Mers, a quiet plateau of vineyards between the two rivers. Stop at the ruined abbey of La Sauve-Majeure, a stop on the Way of St James, then descend to Cadillac on the Garonne, a walled bastide with the château of the Dukes of Épernon. The sweet wines of Sauternes and Loupiac are grown nearby.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Bordeaux
France - 253 km
Pauillac
France - 313 km
Fort Médoc
HistoryCussac-Fort-Médoc, FranceA Vauban fort on the west bank of the Gironde, part of the UNESCO-listed defence line with Blaye citadel and Fort Paté. Quiet grounds and a riverside path; the Lamarque ferry is nearby.
- 44 km
Citadel of Blaye
HistoryBlaye, FranceA Vauban citadel on the east bank of the Gironde, free to walk around, with shops and views across the wide estuary. The Lamarque–Blaye car ferry crosses in about 25 minutes.
- 560 km
Saint-Émilion
France - 60 km
Monolithic church of Saint-Émilion
HistorySaint-Émilion, FranceA church carved out of the limestone under the village, visited only on guided tours from the tourist office. The UNESCO-listed vineyards surround the town; park in the paid car parks on the edge.
- 723 km
La Sauve-Majeure Abbey
HistoryLa Sauve, FranceThe ruins of an 11th-century Benedictine abbey among the vineyards of Entre-Deux-Mers, with finely carved capitals. Climb the bell tower for a view of the rolling countryside.
- 819 km
Cadillac
France
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Bordeaux → Pauillac · 53 km · 0 h 44 minOvernight nearby, for example: Camping municipal Gabarreys (2 km); Aire de camping-car Saint-Laurent (8 km).
- Day 2: Pauillac → Saint-Émilion · 77 km · 1 h 04 minOn the way: Fort Médoc, Citadel of Blaye.Overnight nearby, for example: Yelloh! Village (3 km); Aire Camping-Car Lussac, Grand Saint-Emilionnais (7 km).
- Day 3: Saint-Émilion → Cadillac · 42 km · 0 h 35 minOn the way: Monolithic church of Saint-Émilion, La Sauve-Majeure Abbey.Overnight nearby, for example: Aire de camping-car de Cadillac-sur-Garonne (< 1 km); Aire de Camping-Cars de Cadillac (< 1 km).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
Practical notes for the road
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Road rules and fees change. Check official sources before you travel.
FAQs
How long is Bordeaux wine: Médoc, Blaye and Saint-Émilion?
3-day road trip of about 171 km (107 mi) with 8 stops, from Bordeaux to Cadillac. About 2 h 22 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Bordeaux wine: Médoc, Blaye and Saint-Émilion?
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 22 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Bordeaux wine: Médoc, Blaye and Saint-Émilion start and end?
It starts in Bordeaux and ends in Cadillac.
Which countries does Bordeaux wine: Médoc, Blaye and Saint-Émilion pass through?
France.
Where can you camp along Bordeaux wine: Médoc, Blaye and Saint-Émilion?
OpenStreetMap lists 91 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 20 km of the stops on this route. For example: Le Village du Lac, Camping Beausoleil and Camping municipal Gabarreys.
When is the best time for Bordeaux wine: Médoc, Blaye and Saint-Émilion?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July–August and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
