A Hub and spoke cycling holiday in Bordeaux, France

- Cycling trips combining carefree exploration of the vinyards, and hamlets of rural life and the riches of an historic and chic city. 

A hub and spoke holiday that spends 4 nights in Bordeaux with the choice of 5 day-rides exploring the mellow Garonne landscapes and 3 nights in Uzeste or Villandraut with the choice of 4 more circle routes (or the option of snoozing in a hammock until the next meal) plus a final night in Bordeaux.

Please note as with all our tours the earlier you book – the better the choice of accommodation so call us soon and lets see if we can tailor a tour to fit you.

Possible day rides

A.  From the city of Bordeaux

•  Across the bridge to the right bank and upstream to Latresne to join the Roger Lafebie cycle route to Creon and La Sauve before returning by the same route or descending to Langoiran or Rions to reach the city along the Garonne
• By train to Libourne and from there north to the Pomerol vineyards before striking east to Montaigne and St Emilion.  A half day in the town can be followed by a gentle descent to Libourne and the train (or the really fit can tackle the return by way of Branne and Creon).
• By train to Arcachon to ride part of the circuit around the Bassin or simply cross by ferry (with bikes) to Cap Ferret and saunter along the coast taking in vast beaches, oyster fishing villages and fin-de-ciecles villas.
• Cycle north out of the city and across the Hautes Medoc to one of the riverside restaurants and from there onto the chateaux of Margaux and Pauillac. The adjacent rail line (and a timetable) can give you the confidence to explore further and take your time enjoying this rich landscape.
• South from the city centre to the impressive chateaux that hang on in the midst of the city’s suburbs and on to the Pessac Leognan Graves region. The route leads to La Brede, a moated castle that was the family home of Montesquieu the philosopher whose writings on the need for the separation of state powers to prevent tyranny strongly influenced the shape of the U.S. constitution.

B.  From Uzeste/Villandaut 

• From either village there is a forest track (former railway line) that leads to St Symphorien which sleepy little hamlet can provide lunch and few distractions to delay your return. Alternatively you could continue to Hostens where a lakeside resort with glistening white sand could delay your return for several hours.
• Taking the same cycle path, but in the opposite direction, will bring you to Bazas an ancient cathedral ‘city’ with well preserved city walls, a glorious Saturday market and stories of buried treasure and Charlemagne's dad. A double dose of history can be had with a visit to Roquetaillard where members of the same family have retained possession for over 700 years - since Elinor of Aquitaine  and Richard Lionheart.
• An alternative route, also with royal connections, is to take a straight country road into the forest of the Gascon nature reserve and head through the pines and chestnut trees to Prechac. This bucolic little village can offer lunch most days (restaurant closed Mondays) and refreshed you may head to the Chateau Cazeneuve - a former Royal hunting lodge with extensive wine cellars.(open to view, not to sample) 
• The fourth option is to follow the Ciron valley from Villandraut by way of a ruined Chateau at Budos to reach the Sauternes vineyards  The ride can be extended as far as Chateau Malle to have a peek at the lifestyle of the grand bourgoisie. The return route can take in the village of Sauternes and a degustation of this superior syrup.
• While the above are the best of the cycling excursions at Villandraut and Uzeste you have an additional choice of hiring a canoe and exploring the Ciron with a paddle in hand. The canoe hirers will retrieve you from your terminus so you only need paddle downhill.