Discover Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont

Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont can be explored through three distinct themes: winegrowing on the slopes above the Garonne, fossil oyster beds and the historic village. When planning a stay, you can focus on visits to wineries, geological features, architectural history or a hike. The visits and activities each have their own conditions and timings.

Winegrowing and winery visits

All stages of producing wines from the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation—grape harvesting, vinification, winemaking and ageing—take place in the commune. These wines are made exclusively from overripe grapes, selected during successive rounds of manual harvesting. The vineyards lie on slopes above the Garonne, making winegrowing part of the local landscape.

Château La Rame offers tours of its vineyard and facilities, including the fermentation room and wine cellar. The visits also explain the vinification and ageing of the wines. The château also offers guided tastings of two to three wines. As visit arrangements may change, check the conditions before you arrive.

Château Bel Air has different visiting arrangements on weekdays and weekends: visits are accepted without advance booking during the week, while an appointment is required at weekends. Check these conditions before you arrive. Château du Mont welcomes visitors to its wine cellar in Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont; it is also advisable to check the current arrangements for this visit in advance.

Fossil oysters and landscape

Geologists date the fossil oyster site at Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont to 22 million years ago. The oysters settled in shallow water. Their deposits formed a veritable cliff in successive layers. Some fossil oyster beds were hollowed out to age wines from the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation. This is where geological history and winegrowing meet, though this does not mean that they involve the same kind of visit.

A landscaped path leads to the fossil oyster beds. A viewing point offers a panoramic view. The interpretation trail provides a 180-degree view across the Garonne Valley. The village centre’s location also shapes the landscape: it sits on a rocky promontory. These offer different points of reference: the path to the fossils, the view from the viewing point and the vista from the interpretation trail.

Architectural history and trails

Château de Tastes was built in the 14th century and restored in the 19th century. It is also the starting point of the municipal hiking loop. The houses along the route connecting the two former châteaux of Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont date from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Romanesque portal of Sainte-Croix Church is another notable architectural feature. Those interested in architectural history will find traces of different periods, from the medieval château and its later restoration to the houses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.

The municipal hiking loop is 10 kilometres long and takes approximately three hours. Another activity is called “Terra Aventura: Sainte et Croix font huître” and is listed as free in Sainte-Croix-Du-Mont. April to October is considered the ideal time for this activity. These timings refer to different things: an approximate duration for the hiking loop and a seasonal recommendation for Terra Aventura. Check the current information about this activity before your visit, as its status and conditions may change.

Discover more destinations: Vertheuil, Marcillac, Ludon-Médoc, Saint-Pierre-d'Aurillac, Origne, Brach, Saint-Médard-De-Guizières, Pujols

For the main travel overview: Gironde.