Saint-Médard-De-Guizières: Local History and Things to Do

Saint-Médard-De-Guizières combines local history with a range of activities, including a church with a building history dating back to the 12th century, the Moulin de Lapouyade on the Isle River, a Friday market and a leisure park. Each of these offers a different way to explore the area.

Friday morning market

The Marché de la Halle takes place every Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Place du 14 juillet. The stalls offer food, wine and crafts. The market thus brings together a range of offerings in one fixed location and within a clearly defined time window. If you plan to visit, check the current schedule before setting out so you can plan around the actual market day.

Church and old village

The church of Saint-Médard-de-Guizières underwent its main phase of construction in the 12th century. The apse and the bay beneath the bell tower are listed as historic monuments; the decree is dated 5 October 1925. The listing applies to these parts of the church. To explore the area’s history, it is therefore helpful to consider both the medieval construction phase and the precise scope of the monument listing.

The church marks the old village. Below it are later extensions with residential buildings and activities. As well as reflecting the church’s building history, this offers a glimpse of the village’s layout: the old village and the extensions below it are two distinct aspects of the settlement structure described here.

The history of the Moulin de Lapouyade

The Moulin de Lapouyade is located on the Isle River in the Lapouyade area of Saint-Médard-de-Guizières. Its functions changed over time: it served as a grain mill, a flour mill and an oil mill. In the 12th century, it belonged to the Viscount of Castillon, who granted its income to the Abbey of Faize. Today, the mill is used as a hydroelectric power station.

This reveals several layers of history: its ownership and income in the 12th century, the succession of its milling functions and its current use to generate hydroelectric power. The shift from grinding grain and producing flour and oil to generating hydroelectric power gives the mill a place both in local history and in the history of how the river has been used. Its present-day function differs from its former milling operations.

Leisure park and cycling route

Au Ptit Cro-Magnon is a leisure park at 1 Barrail du Chevalier in Saint-Médard-de-Guizières. Activities on offer include a water area, inflatable games, a fishing pond, pedal boats, electric boats and mini golf. The range covers everything from play areas and water activities to fishing and mini golf. If a particular activity is essential to your plans, check before visiting whether it is currently available.

The 30-kilometre Circuit départemental de la vallée de l’Isle passes through Saint-Médard-de-Guizières. Facilities along the route include a picnic area, a cyclist rest stop and a bicycle service area. The focus here is on different practical details than at the leisure park: the route’s length and opportunities to take a break and get bicycle service. Before setting out, check the latest route conditions and the status of the facilities.

Discover more destinations: Rauzan, Tauriac, Toulenne, Ambarès-Et-Lagrave, Barie, Ordonnac, Portets, Le Pian-Sur-Garonne.

For the regional travel overview: Gironde.