Discover Ambès: Château, Park and Culture

When planning a stay in Ambès, you can consider culture, local history and activities at Parc de Cantefrêne as distinct areas of interest. You may be interested in the Château de Sainte-Barbe, the cultural programme, or the paths and facilities in the park. These different themes offer concrete ways to tailor your trip to your own interests.

Culture and history in Ambès

The Château de Sainte-Barbe is an 18th-century manor house, built between 1760 and 1770. It is a fine example of the buildings that Bordeaux dignitaries had erected on the banks of the Garonne. The château has been protected as a historic monument since 1996. The building therefore brings together a clearly defined period, a specific building type and the region’s historical architectural context.

Another cultural venue is the Espace des 2 Rives on Rue Montesquieu. The event hall hosts a range of cultural events throughout the year, including performances, exhibitions and dinner shows, as well as other cultural gatherings. Its year-round programme is distinct from the annual Les Odyssées festival, which takes place as a separate event.

The history of the present-day church goes back further. During its construction, remains were found of an older chapel called Notre-Dame d’Ambès, which may have been of Romanesque origin. It was probably replaced around 1766 by another building, which had a bell gable, a triangular pediment and a cross. The cautious dating and possible Romanesque classification are part of this account: it links the remains that were found to a later building without establishing an exact date for the chapel’s construction.

Parc de Cantefrêne: park and walking routes

Parc de Cantefrêne covers 65 hectares and was created through the successful transformation of a former gravel pit. Three ponds define the park’s landscape. The site’s former purpose and its present form as a park make its transformation a notable part of the description of the area. The park also offers several specific activities to consider when planning your visit, not just a single walking route.

The “Balade à roulettes: Le parc de Cantefrêne” route starts in Ambès, is four kilometres long and is rated very easy. You can choose between circular routes around one, two or three lakes. The different options offer a simple way to choose based on how many lakes you want to include in your loop. This makes it easy to compare the route options without having to estimate a walking time.

Parc de Cantefrêne also has a cycle path and a minigolf course. These facilities add more activities to enjoy alongside the walking routes. If you are considering Ambès for its cultural history, you will also find concrete ideas for planning the rest of your trip: historic buildings, an events venue and park activities are distinct areas of interest.

Festival and swimming pool

Les Odyssées is a free, interdisciplinary, open-air family festival held every year in Ambès. The festival celebrates street arts and contemporary music. This combination of disciplines gives the event a different character from the year-round programme at the Espace des 2 Rives: one is an annual open-air festival, while the other hosts events throughout the year.

Another specific leisure option is the Caneton d’Ambès municipal swimming pool. Its pool is 25 metres long and 10 metres wide, with four lanes. These details describe the pool more precisely than simply naming it. Together with the park, historic sites and cultural programme, it completes the overview of the different activities that may be relevant when planning a stay in Ambès.

Discover more destinations: Pompignac, Villenave-Dʼornon, Montalivet-Les-Bains, La Brède, Biganos, Civrac-En-Médoc, La Rivière, Cadillac-En-Fronsadais.

For the broader travel guide: Gironde.