Discover Bourg: Upper Town, wine and harbour

Bourg combines a historic townscape with a harbour on the Dordogne, regional wines and activities in and around the town. If you’re looking for a hotel in Bourg, choosing the focus of your trip can help you decide on a destination: would you mainly like to explore the Upper and Lower Towns, learn about history, sample wines or discover Bourg along a route? The town’s features offer specific points of interest, which vary according to the theme and type of experience.

Harbour, Upper Town and Lower Town

The historic village of Bourg sits above the water and is divided into an Upper Town and a Lower Town. The Porte Batailleyre, also known as the Porte de la Mer, is a historic monument connecting the Upper Town with the harbour. On the Dordogne, the Port et halte nautique de Bourg allows boats less than 12 metres long, with a draught of 3.40 metres, to moor. For boaters, these details are a practical starting point for planning; nautical conditions can change, so check them before setting out.

Historic buildings and guided visits

The Château de la Citadelle was rebuilt in the 18th century and is surrounded by a French Baroque garden. Guided tours at the Musée de la Citadelle de Bourg explain the collection of horse-drawn carriages. The surviving cavalry tunnel can also be visited on a guided tour. If you plan to include these visits, check the arrangements in advance. Another historical facet is the former quarries, where impressive reinforced-concrete oil tanks, 70 metres long, were built and used during the Second World War. The materials, length and wartime context give this subject its own technical and historical focus.

Wine and local speciality

In its vaulted cellar, the Maison des Vins des Côtes de Bourg features 150 wines. Visitors can sample a selection of red and white Côtes de Bourg wines from the surrounding vineyards. A guided tour of Bourg also includes a tasting of the local speciality, Figue de Bourg. This offers a choice of different culinary experiences: the appellation’s wines at the Maison des Vins, or the local speciality as part of the tour. Dates for this guided tour vary by season and may change; check the latest dates if you plan to go.

Routes and activities

The Boucle de Bourg-Lansac starts in the town centre and passes through the vineyards towards Lansac. There is a 7.7-kilometre option through the village and to the crypt, as well as a 14.6-kilometre extension to Lansac. The routes differ in more than just length: the shorter option passes through the village to the crypt, while the longer one continues to Lansac. As route conditions can change, it is advisable to check before setting out.

City Golf à Bourg is a mobile 10-hole mini-golf course that combines sport with cultural discovery. Another way to explore Bourg is the cultural quiz “Entre pierre et rivière”: visitors tour the town with an accompanying booklet and can test their knowledge. The activities have different focuses: a course and game on the one hand, and a booklet and knowledge quiz on the other. If you plan to take part in either, check the arrangements in advance.

Discover more destinations: Périssac, Sauternes, Saint-Ciers-D'abzac, Saint-Seurin-sur-l'Isle, Beychac-Et-Caillau, Cauvignac, Saint Christoly De Blaye, Verdelais

For the wider travel overview: Gironde.