Top campsites for hikers in Gironde
Franceâs biggest department is famous for its wines, forests, and sand dunes.
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- Gironde
Popular camping styles for Gironde
Top campsites for hikers in Gironde guide
Overview
Wine lovers, foodies, and outdoor adventurers are all bienvenue (welcome) in the Gironde, where rolling vineyards give way to sweeping sand dunes and white-sand beaches. Raise a glass of Bordeauxâs world-famous reds as you explore Franceâs largest and most acclaimed wine region, then follow the crowds to the Dune du Pilat, Europeâs highest sand dune, along the legendary CĂ´te dâArgent. This Nouvelle-Aquitaine department has plenty of options for a camping holiday, whether you prefer a 5-star campsite with a swimming pool, a cosy chalet or mobile home, or a rural Hipcamp, where you can park your caravan amid the vines.
Where to go
Medoc
Northwest of Bordeaux, the Medoc region stretches along the Left Bank of the Gironde Estuary, where award-winning wineries and Grand Cru châteaux dot the countryside. Once youâve been wine tasting along the Route de Chateaux, head to the Atlantic Coast resorts of Carcans, Hourtin-Plage, and Soulac-sur-Mer, where the golden shores are bordered by miles of coastal pine forests.
Bordeaux & Entre-Deux Mers
East of Bordeaux, the rolling vines and hilltop chateaux of the Entre-Deux-Mers wine region are hemmed in by the Dordogne, Garonne, and Gironde rivers. See the UNESCO-listed landmarks and visit the CitĂŠ du Vin in Bordeaux, then head out to the mediaeval towns of Saint-Emilion and Libourne, go wine tasting at family-run domaines, and enjoy leisurely bike rides through the vineyards.
Haute Gironde & Libournais
On the Right Bank of the Gironde Estuary, Blaye is the gateway to Bordeauxâs most underrated wine region, where you can discover little-known historic monuments, boutique wineries, and romantic villages hidden away in the countryside. Birdwatchers should set up camp along the estuaryâthe marshes of the Terres dâOiseaux lie on one of Franceâs most important migration routes.
CĂ´te d'Argent
From the oyster capital of Arcachon with its idyllic sandy beaches to the world-famous Dune du Pilatâla CĂ´te dâAgent (The Silver Coast) is a firm favourite among the French. Family campgrounds and holiday parks dot the coast of Arcachon bay and the Cap Ferret peninsula, where you can hit the beach to surf and enjoy water sports or explore miles of trails in the vast Landes pine forests.
South Gironde
The vineyards and forests of South Gironde are crisscrossed with waterways, making it the ideal spot to escape the crowds and get back to nature. Hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders have endless options in the Landes de Gascogne Regional Nature Park, which runs over the border into neighbouring Landes, while the Ciron gorges are a popular spot for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.