Wildlife-watching campsites in Gironde
France’s biggest department is famous for its wines, forests, and sand dunes.
Wildlife-watching campsites in Gironde guide
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 you’ve 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 Cité 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 Bordeaux’s 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 estuary—the marshes of the Terres d’Oiseaux lie on one of France’s most important migration routes.
Côte d'Argent
From the oyster capital of Arcachon with its idyllic sandy beaches to the world-famous Dune du Pilat—la Côte d’Agent (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.