A Walking Itinerary in the Dordogne and Bordeaux
This 6-day itinerary is designed for walkers and hikers - wonderful landscapes, delicious lunches and gorgeous villages — all easily accessible from Chateau Feely in Saussignac. Read on for the full itinerary.
Sunday – Aperitifs & A Walk Around Saussignac
Settle in and soak up the organic vineyards of Saussignac Chateau Feely. Take a gentle 1km walk up to Saussignac village. Enjoy a coffee or an apéro at the co-op café Au Timbré then drop into Annabelle DeGroote's art shop 'Caprice des Vignes' - Annabelle creates jewellery from grape vine tendrils. Take a looping the route back to Chateau Feely.
Lunch suggestion: Restaurant Le Mélange – local, seasonal and relaxed. Afternoon stroll home through vineyard with views of Saussignac castle.
Monday – Walk to Chateau des Vigiers
Take a 6 kilometre walk to Chateau des Vigiers and book into Bistrot des Vigiers for lunch - we recommend booking ahead as they get very busy especially on Monday when a lot of other places are closed. return via another route which can be similar or longer than the outward bound depending on how much walking you would like. You could stop in for a tasting with Chateau le Payral in Razac de Saussignac on your loop home (booking in advance recommended for all tastings).
Tuesday – St Emilion - walk the medieval streets and the vineyards
Head west to the UNESCO village of St Emilion (50 mins) or walk down to Gardonne station (4km from Chateau Feely) and take the train to St Emilion. The village of St Emilion is 1.5km from the station. Visit the tourist office on Place du Clocher (- first thing as it gets busy- ) and pick up their map of the town and heritage sites and walking routes in the vineyards. Walk the vineyards in the morning, enjoy lunch in the village (many options - for a taste sensation book ahead at Le Huitrier Pie depending on season could be closed on Tuesday - or for more casual fare Chai Pascale - for a delightful vineyard settingLe Jardin - 1.4km walk from the Tourist Office ) then wander the medieval streets in the afternoon.
Ask us for more details when you book your accommodation at Chateau Fely or book a St Emilion tour with Caro Feely if you would prefer to have a guide. Find our St Emilion history video below (part of the Chateau Feely Virtual St Emilion Tour and Red Wine Course).
Wednesday – a fairytale Castle
Park at the Monbazillac Château, a fairytale castle above Bergerac town then strike out on a walking route (about 6kms) to La Tour des Vents, famous for fab views and fine cuisine.
Chateau de Monbazillac
When you return (you can take a shorter route back) stop in the village of Monbazillac visit Maison Vari for a tasting . Try their no sulfite added range or three Monbazillacs including a pure Sauvignon blanc and a no sulfite added sweet wine.
Thursday – A Walking day to Monestier
Take a walk to Monestier for lunch at the Relais de Monestier where Jean-François (chef) et Stéphane (front of house) offer a warm welcome and excellent value for money. This is a wonderful casual day out (about 6km away from Chateau Feely on a lovely circular route) and offers a leisurely day of walking on paths, vineyard tracks and back roads - of 12 to 14 kms total.
Chateau-Gageac-Rouillac on the walking route to Monestier
You could plan a winetasting at a local Chateau like Chateau Monestier La Tour - worth a detour for the chateau, the biodynamic garden, the displays on biodynamics and the drying room for the biodynamic teas. Also be sure to book a tasting with Chateau Feely during your stay - you receive a free one hour organic wine tour when you are staying in the Wine Lodge or the Wine Cottage.
Friday – Bergerac on foot OR Bordeaux on foot
Bergerac is 10 mins on the train from Gardonne station (4km from Chateau Feely) and Bordeaux is 1 hour on the train from Gardonne. 
Both make for a fantastic day of city/ town walking. For both we recommend going to the tourist office to ask for the walking maps available or downloading before you leave.
For Bergerac head straight to the Tourist Office at Quai Cyrano and pick up the walking guides they have available. There are many to choose from depending on how much walking you want to do and what your interest areas are. The old town of Bergerac is a delight.
We love cruising around Bordeaux city centre on foot, seeing the sights around the golden triangle and the old town. From Gare St Jean walk along the quays to the Place de la Bourse. See our post French Wine Adventures advice about visiting Bordeaux and Le Cité du Vin if you want to focus on wine - for a good stretch of the legs you could keep going on the quays all the way to the Cité du Vin. We also recommend exploring Les Chartrons – the historic Wine Merchant area of Bordeaux – if you have time.
You could also check with the tourist office what is happening – they have a self guided walk map. You can also find a set of excellent free walking guides at Bordeaux Walks.
How to choose? We love them both! You'll have to book for 2 weeks or come back to stay to get to all the walks we would love to share with you. This is only the start!
Return for a relaxed evening at Chateau Feely.
If you enjoy fully guided experiences your host and certified wine educator, Caro Feely, offers full service vineyard walking tours.
Evenings at Chateau Feely
Relax in a glorious, peaceful setting .
Enjoy:
- A glass of the organic wine from the vineyard you can see from your terrace.
- Stargazing or a moonlit swim in the salt water pool.
- The sounds and scents of rural France.
- Read the Vineyard Series - recommended by the New York Times - that explores the founding story of the exceptional Feely organic vineyard.
Dreaming of this holiday but not yet ready to travel? Book onto our Virtual St Emilion tour and Red Wine Course or the Virtual Discovery Wine Course and start your exploration before leaving home.
"Chateau Feely combined all our favourite things - being close to nature, fine wine, fabulous food and good company.'' Deirdre, Ireland
Tips for This Walking Itinerary
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We recommend booking restaurants in advance, especially during high season.
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Consider booking a walking tour with French Wine Adventures to have everything taken care of, the insight of a local and certified wine educator.
- Relax after your exploring with a casual supper on the Wine Lodge Terrace or Wine Cottage Terrace looking over the vines or wander up to Saussignac for pizza night, winegrower night or restaurant Mélange.
Plan Your Stay
This fabulous wine itinerary is perfect for a stay in southwest France at Chateau Feely Accommodation. We’re happy to assist with planning your excursions — let us know when you book your stay.
Chateau Feely is winner of the Gold Trophy for education and valorisation of ecological practices at the first French Wine Tourism Competition in 2019 and the has been awarded the Tripadvisor certificate of excellence for more than a decade. You can also experience a half day wine tour, full day wine tour, and multi day gourmet experiences with us - see multi day wine tours. If you would prefer to have a guided experience Caro Feely, certified wine educator, also offers full service wine tours and vineyard walking tours.
