Por el camino

Sights Church of the Assumption

Built: 11th to 14th centuries.

Style: Romanesque.

History: The present church, built during the 11th century, was a priory church belonging to the Benedictine monastery of Saint-Martin de Celle, the first known name of the town of Maubourguet. Archaeological research has revealed earlier settlements: Neolithic and protohistoric, a building from the Gallo-Roman period, a 6th-century basilica and a Carolingian church. During the Hundred Years’ War, the English occupied the monastery and fortified it with ramparts and towers. In the 16th century, priests replaced the monks at the priory. Renovation work on the church took place in the late 19th century and during the 1980s.

Listing: listed as a Historic Monument in 1980.

Date: 4th or 5th century.

History: the Gallo-Roman site of Saint-Girons and the mosaic depicting the god Ocean were discovered in 1979 by a local contractor during earthworks. Fragments of sarcophagi and graves support the theory that this was a Christian place of worship in Late Antiquity, as suggested by the place name Saint-Girons, one of the evangelisers of Roman Gaul. The mosaic was removed in 2005 and reinstalled within the archaeological museum, which opened in 2011 in Maubourguet.

Characteristics: the mosaic formed part of the decoration of a cold-water pool (frigidarium) in the baths of a major Gallo-Roman villa. It measures 4.67 m by 4.30 m. It was bounded by walls 70 cm wide. The figure of the god Oceanus is depicted at the centre of the mosaic. He is surrounded by aquatic animals: fish, octopuses, ducks and dolphins.

Listing: listed as a Historic Monument in 1980.

In 1979, the mosaic depicting the god Oceanus was discovered in Maubourguet. Now the centrepiece of the Museum’s collection, it is surrounded by archaeological artefacts dating from prehistory to the Middle Ages: an immersion in the history of humankind in the Val d’Adour spanning 2,000 centuries.

www.sud-gascogne-tourisme.fr

History: founded in 1870 by Jules Fabre, the Fabre Foundry was, for much of the 20th century, a flagship of the department’s industry. It produced industrial spare parts, fireplace surrounds and ‘Bigourdans’ – cast-iron stoves. In the 1980s, the Fabre heirs sold the foundry, and it closed its doors for good in 2008. Left to fall into disrepair, it was looted and vandalised for several years before being bought by the Russian artist Andrei Molodkin in 2015. The Foundry was born.

Characteristics: The Foundry aims to be an experimental artists’ residence offering radical (and media-driven) artistic experiences. In 2024, its founder threatened to destroy 16 masterpieces of art (by Picasso, Rembrandt and Warhol) if the whistleblower Julian Assange were extradited to the United States. Andrei Molodkin claimed to have received these works from collectors who supported the project. Julien Assange was released in 2024 following a deal with the US authorities.

17 km away:

Built: 14th century.

History: Montaner Castle was built at the request of Gaston Fébus between 1374 and 1380 to protect the borders of Béarn against Bigorre and Armagnac.

The architect was Sicard de Lordat. In 1379, negotiations took place with the ‘cagots’ of Béarn (carpenters who were considered ‘untouchable’) to have them build the castle’s timber framework in exchange for a significant tax exemption. Following the death of Gaston Fébus, the renovation of the fort in 1398 exempted these Cagots, in accordance with the terms of the contract, from their ‘cagoteries’, just as clergymen were exempt from their benefices. Since 1854, the castle has been restored and managed by the General Council of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

Features: the castle, built of brick, comprises a vast polygonal enclosure pierced by two gates and crowned by a tall square keep. The main tower, 40 metres high, serves as a gatehouse and still provides access today to the almost circular inner courtyard. The tower is crowned by a replica of the original coat of arms of Foix-Béarn, itself surmounted by the motto ‘Fébus mé fé’, meaning ‘Fébus made me’, which Gaston Fébus had affixed to the buildings he commissioned.

Current use: in summer, numerous shows and events on the theme of the Middle Ages are organised. The Friends of Montaner Castle have been restoring the castle since the 1960s. In summer, the Montaner Medieval Festival attracts nearly 18,000 visitors over two days until 2025, when a new company will take over the running of the event.

Listing: listed as a Historic Monument in 1980.

14 km away:

Launched in 1978, this event has become one of the summer’s most popular festivals. Over 200,000 visitors flock there to hear the most renowned musicians: Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau, Keith Jarrett, Wynton Marsalis and Sonny Rollins, for example, have all performed there.

www.jazzinmarciac.com

Sights Museum of Fine Arts

Awarded the ‘Musée de France’ designation, the Libourne Museum of Fine Arts offers visitors a comprehensive overview of works from European art schools spanning the 14th to the 20th centuries. The museum has two exhibition spaces: the second floor of the town hall for its permanent collections and the Carmelite Chapel for temporary exhibitions. Although it has undergone some alterations, the museum has retained its original character, notably the magnificent decorative stained-glass window bearing the town’s coat of arms.

Completely redeveloped, the port of Libourne Saint-Émilion, with its quays and jetties from which many cruise passengers disembark, offers a breathtaking view of the Confluence where the Dordogne and Isle rivers meet. A place for living and socialising, where everyone can enjoy their favourite activities (sport, relaxation, walking, fine dining), the area exudes a seaside atmosphere that is both exotic and festive.

Built: 1770

History: possibly built by the first known owner, Jean de Sauvanelle, mayor of Libourne in the first half of the 17th century, the château’s layout still follows that of a fortress, fully enclosed and organised around an inner courtyard. The gardens designed in the plans of 1770–1772 have given way to lawns, whilst the water feature was created between 1770 and 1780. Situated within the Pomerol appellation, Château de Sales boasts the largest vineyard in the AOC, with 47.6 hectares of vines out of the estate’s total 90 hectares. The boundaries of the estate are the same as they were in 1578, give or take three hectares, which were lost during the Revolution.

Listing: listed as a Historic Monument since 1996.

Construction: 14th century.

Features: the Grand Port Tower is one of the defensive towers of a former gate in the city’s surrounding wall. These ramparts, flanked by towers, were pierced by eight gates, the four main ones of which opened at the ends of the city’s two main thoroughfares. The Grand Port Gate, built in the 14th century, was known as the Porte Richard in honour of a son of the Black Prince born in Bordeaux in 1366.

Listed as: Historic Monument since 1921.

The Libourne Street Arts Festival will celebrate its 36th edition in 2027. Originally called Rue en Fête (in 1990), Fest’Arts was launched in 1993 to breathe new life into traditional festivals. With the Street Arts, the aim was to create a festive and friendly event where live performance would be accessible to all, in a bastide town that offered a space capable of hosting the many facets of street arts. Since 2005, organisation has been entrusted to a dedicated municipal department, which is also responsible for managing the Liburnia Theatre.

Built: 18th and 19th centuries.

Features: the barracks in Libourne played a pioneering role in the rise of the Neoclassical style that developed in the second half of the 18th century. This complex consists of three rectangular buildings, constructed between 1766 and 1820 around a courtyard flanked by two square pavilions enclosed by a grille. Although some of the interiors have been altered, many features of interest have been preserved, notably the monumental staircase in the officers’ pavilion and the roof structure of the riding hall.

Listed as: Historic Monument since 2013.

What sets these 5,000 m² dedicated to water apart is their combination of leisure, sport and wellbeing, both indoors and outdoors. On the leisure side, its 75-metre slide is a dream come true for adventure seekers. A 500 m² swimming area, complete with a lazy river and a play area, allows the whole family to let off steam. For a wellness break, head to the well-equipped spa area (hammam, jacuzzi, sauna, etc.). With its 25m² competition pool and spectator stands, La Calinésie is also able to host major national competitions in the short course pool. Information at www.lacalinésie.fr

A relic of the golden age of railways, this offers a chance to rediscover the joys of old-fashioned rail travel. In carriages built in 1900, you’ll travel seated on wooden benches as you journey through the lush green forests of northern Gironde. The journey back in time begins as soon as you enter the station, built in 1875, where a real cardboard ticket is stamped!

The Libournais tidal bore is surfed by riders from all over the world, as the wave on the Dordogne is unique. As it races across the water from the ocean, this spectacular natural phenomenon swells, recedes, rages, foams, reappears, crashes down the Dordogne riverbed and surges inland as far as Libourne and beyond, more than 100 km from the ocean. In France, the Libourne tidal bore is the number one attraction. In fact, celebrities such as Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard have made a habit of coming to surf this exceptional wave every year.