Le Tourne – Hiking and Heritage on the Garonne

Le Tourne lies in a natural setting between hillsides and the Garonne. Two themes offer clear guidance when choosing a destination: routes along the river, through vineyards and forests, and the town’s heritage. This includes the site of the former Tramasset Frères shipyard, the activities of Les Chantiers Tramasset and the Eglise Saint-Etienne du Tourne. The two hiking options differ in distance, starting point and route. When planning, you can weigh up whether a circular route with a stated duration or a longer route connected to Les Chantiers Tramasset better suits your plans.

Hiking routes between the Garonne and the vineyards

The Tabanac–Le Tourne route is 10 kilometres long and classified as moderate. It winds between the banks of the Garonne, vineyards and forests. Les Chantiers Tramasset are one of the stops along this route, bringing the landscape and shipyard heritage together. The distance and moderate difficulty provide concrete points of reference for planning; check the route details again before setting out.

The Langoiran–Le Tourne circular route starts in Le Tourne, is 9 kilometres long and is listed as taking 2 hours 30 minutes. It is also moderate. It follows the Garonne and passes through vineyards on the hillsides, goes down to the riverbank and then returns to the centre of Le Tourne. Both routes are classified as moderate; the Tabanac–Le Tourne route is one kilometre longer. A duration of 2 hours 30 minutes is stated for the circular route. The starting point, route and distance help distinguish between the two options.

Les Chantiers Tramasset: Shipyard and culture

Les Chantiers Tramasset is located in Le Tourne on the site of the former Tramasset Frères shipyard. The shipyard is listed as a historic monument and belongs to the municipality of Le Tourne. Les Chantiers offers introductory woodworking workshops, educational activities and cultural events. This brings together two distinct focuses: hands-on craft learning and cultural events.

A signposted tour and the option of a self-guided visit are available for exploring the heritage site. Guided group tours are available by reservation. The main difference between these visit options is that a reservation is required for a group tour. As visiting arrangements may change, check the conditions before your visit. The connection between Les Chantiers and the Tabanac–Le Tourne route is also useful when planning a hike: you can consider the history of the shipyard and the landscape along the route as connected themes.

Eglise Saint-Etienne du Tourne

The Eglise Saint-Etienne du Tourne was built on the remains of a Romanesque church. Several stained-glass windows date from 1887. The choir windows depict saints in scenes from their lives. There are therefore two specific features to discover at the church: the older foundations of the building and the windows depicting saints. The year 1887 is a distinct point of reference: it dates the stained-glass windows, not the Romanesque church on whose remains the building was erected.

When exploring Le Tourne’s cultural heritage, you can consider the church and the former shipyard separately: the church is notable for its Romanesque remains and stained-glass windows, while Les Chantiers is associated with the former shipyard site, the different ways to visit it and the activities on offer. Together with the routes of varying lengths, these offer a concrete picture of the cultural and hiking opportunities in the town and its surroundings.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Les Billaux, Saint-Émilion, Mérignac, Sauternes, Lignan-De-Bordeaux, Castets En Dorthe, Gensac, Saint-Estèphe

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