Easy hikes and walks in Forêt De La Lande

You absolutely must follow the guided tour by this passionate and fascinating volunteer guide, photos are not allowed inside the site but it is worth the detour and the effort to climb to the top of the cliff. It is possible to bring the bikes inside the fence, so they are safe.

This magnificent church building - originally Romanesque - was dedicated to the patronage of "Saint-ETIENNE". He was one of the first seven deacons of the original Jerusalem community and, according to the biblical accounts in the "New Testament", was also the first martyr (martyr) of early Christianity. The church commemorates his death on the second day of Christmas, December 26th. As the Acts of the Apostles report: When Stephen expressed his vision of the open heavens "But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God" (Chapter 7, Verse 55), the people were so outraged that they drove him out of the city and stoned him.

magnificent place full of calm, on the edge of the estuary of the gironde and the limestone cliffs.

Round trip between the reeds to see the sea

Originally, the Romanesque building had a Latin cross plan with an apse on each transept arm and a single nave. A first intervention was carried out in the Gothic period, perhaps after the Hundred Years War, at least on the vault of the south transept arm and the openings. The building suffered a lot of damage during the Wars of Religion (traces of fire in the north; mutilation of the upper parts of the transept; reconstruction of the sanctuary with a flat apse). The presence of stalls in the choir, which do not predate the 18th century, attests to the function of the conventual priory still at that time. Thirteen canons regular of the order of Saint Augustine were attached to it. In the 19th century saw the light of day the construction project of a bell tower that could serve as a berth for boats sailing on the Gironde. From 1857, the expansion of the church and the construction of the bell tower were recognized as essential. The architect Alaux's project was selected and the sculpture work on the new bell tower-porch was entrusted to the statuary Aristide Belloc. The old facade is demolished to make room for it. The western span of the nave has been lengthened. The apse has become flat and only the south apse of the transept has been preserved. The old exterior elements are in the residual state. Inside, in the crossing of the transept, the bundles of Romanesque columns have been preserved. Carved capitals bear witness to the original building (confronted animals, stylized foliage palmettes, foliage, interlacing). In the south arm of the transept, a molding resting on figure bases and a flattened capital decorated with three faces with departures of ribs, testify to the restorations and the heightening of the transept at the end of the Middle Ages (14th or 15th century).

Walk for VTC or VTT because more than 25 kms on dirt roads (in the 28th km it is even necessary to dismount for 200 m) .... to do in sunny weather and dry ground !!!!. On the other hand an enchantment as for the calm and the little traffic. Bucolic seaside landscape on the first half, then more vineyards and countryside on the second half. Note midway in the small village of St. Dizan du Gua a marvel of wooded garden with its Castle (former residence of the bishops of Bordeaux) and its dovecote where you can comfort yourself with a small tasting of pinault and cognac !! !

A French-style garden and an English park on 13 hectares, the ensemble labeled "remarkable garden" (433 in France) where a thousand trees of different species grow, including a three hundred year old oak. Several ponds with mysterious "Blue fountains", these are artesian exsurgences whose turquoise blue color is due to the presence of microscopic algae. Green lawns, shaded areas, paths to relax and appreciate the admirable work of gardeners and nature. And finally, the beautiful castle of Beaulon whose north facade was built in 1480 (former residence of the bishops of Bordeaux), a dovecote from 1740 (with 1500 nests called cells or boulins) and to finish the visit a tasting of Pinault and Homemade cognac in the rules of the art ...... with a sublime taste and most of the production of which is sold for export !!!

In Saint-Quantin-de-Rançanne stands the church dedicated to Saint-Quentin; It was built in the 12th century in Romanesque style. The plan of the building is simple: a single nave with an apse. The original bell tower wall rising above the choir was completely destroyed during the religious wars of the 16th century. A new bell tower wall was built over the west facade. It consists of a gable wall and carries two bell shafts. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89glise_de_Saint-Quantin-de-Ran%C3%A7anne