Discover Lugon-Et-L'île-Du-Carnay

Lugon-Et-L'île-Du-Carnay offers reasons to visit rooted in garden culture, wine and architectural history. Different visiting conditions matter when planning your trip: the Jardin du Fond de l'Or has a seasonal opening period, and the Église Saint-Genès can only be visited without a guide by appointment. At the Château de la Vieille Chapelle, the focus is on the vineyard plots, the cellar and a tasting of six cuvées.

Landscape and local history

The landscape includes palus, or low-lying marshy areas. Lugon-Et-L'île-Du-Carnay is part of the La Dordogne Natura 2000 site (FR7200660). The Île du Carnay was once separated from the mainland by a former side channel of the Dordogne. These refer to different aspects: palus describes the terrain, while the island’s separation reflects a former geographical situation. This distinction is useful when understanding the area, because a landscape term and a historical change do not describe the same thing.

The Jardin du Fond de l'Or

The Jardin du Fond de l'Or was created in the 1980s and covers 8,000 m². Its atmosphere is inspired by exotic Japanese gardens. The garden therefore combines a clearly defined design concept with a specific overall area. If you include gardens in your travel plans, it is a destination in its own right, alongside the historic buildings and the local wine offerings.

The garden is open from early May to the end of October. As seasonal visiting information may change, check the current opening times before your visit. The opening period is particularly important when the garden is the reason for your trip or a key part of your stay.

Wine and history at the Vieille Chapelle

The Château de la Vieille Chapelle visit includes a tour of the vineyard plots and wine cellar, as well as a tasting of six of the estate’s cuvées. The estate also offers wines made using organic and biodynamic methods. The three parts of the visit highlight different aspects of the estate: the vineyard plots, the cellar and the wines being tasted. The number of cuvées gives the tasting a specific scope.

The site’s architectural history is also part of the experience: visits to the Château de la Vieille Chapelle are centred on an 11th-century Romanesque chapel. The wine and the chapel offer different points of interest, so you can explore the site from both a wine and a historical perspective. Check the available visit times in advance if you would like to include these elements in your plans.

Church history and planning your visit

The Église Saint-Genès de Lugon was mentioned in 1170 as a dependency of the Abbey of Guîtres. Its apse was fortified in the 15th century. These details relate to different aspects: the reference to 1170 concerns the church’s relationship with the abbey at that time, while the 15th century dates the fortification of a specific part of the building. The church’s history thus brings together an early institutional reference and a later architectural development.

If you would like to visit the Église Saint-Genès without a guide, you can do so by appointment only. This condition differs from the garden’s seasonal opening period when planning your visit: for the church, you need an agreed appointment; for the garden, the relevant period is from early May to the end of October.

Discover more destinations: Blasimon, Saint-Genès-De-Fronsac, Mios, Saint-Jean-De-Blaignac, Pleine Selve, Carcans-Plage, Casseuil, Pondaurat.

For the wider travel guide: Gironde.