Saint-Aubin-De-Médoc: Heritage and Cycling Route

Saint-Aubin-De-Médoc can be considered for travel planning through three specific themes: medieval church architecture, traditional sheep farming and a cycling route. The Église de Saint-Aubin de Médoc brings together architectural and pilgrimage history; at the Bergerie des Matruques, the focus is on a reconstructed Courtiou and a flock under a shepherd’s care. The Sur la route du Médoc cycling tour complements the cultural and landscape aspects with an activity tied to a named route. If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Aubin-De-Médoc, these highlights can help you choose a location that suits your interests.

Church: medieval architectural history and pilgrimage

The Église de Saint-Aubin de Médoc is a medieval religious building and has been protected as a Monument historique since 2006. The apse and the base of the bell tower have been preserved; both parts date from the 12th century. This places two clearly identified parts of the building in the foreground, while its protected status provides a separate, later point of reference. Visitors interested in architecture can learn about the church through its specific surviving features while also noting its medieval classification. The term “apse” refers to the end section of a church and draws attention to a particular part of the building, rather than its overall layout.

Until the Second World War, the church was an important pilgrimage site because a sarcophagus kept behind the main altar contained the mortal remains of Saint Aubin. This connects its medieval architectural history with an earlier religious significance: the surviving features date to the 12th century, while the pilgrimage tradition continued until the Second World War.

The Bergerie des Matruques and the tradition of sheep farming

The Bergerie des Matruques offers another way to explore the area’s history. It is a reconstructed Courtiou—one of the last traditional sheepfolds of the Landes in the Médoc—and is located on an Airial in Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc. Following its restoration, the Bergerie became home to a flock of 500 Landes sheep and Pyrenean goats. The Conservatoire des Races d’Aquitaine manages the flock, and shepherd Jean-Michel tends it throughout the year. The focus here is on both a traditional building type and the care of a flock. This distinguishes it from the church: here, the focus is on sheep farming, while the church is about sacred architecture and pilgrimage history.

The Bergerie des Matruques is generally not open to the public. However, the municipality sometimes holds events that give the public the opportunity to discover this natural setting. Check whether such an event is taking place before making plans.

By bike: Sur la route du Médoc

The Sur la route du Médoc cycling tour follows part of the Voie Verte Bordeaux-Lacanau and connects Saint-Médard-en-Jalles with Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc. The cycling tour should therefore not be confused with the entire Voie Verte: it uses only part of it. Check current route conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Discover more destinations: Ambarès-Et-Lagrave, Yvrac, Audenge, Villandraut, Arveyres, Listrac-Médoc, Bourg, Saint-Sulpice-De-Faleyrens

For the broader travel overview: Gironde.