A trip to Arbis can be planned around its architectural history and hikes through vineyards and forests. The Château de Benauge is located in Porte-de-Benauge, formerly Arbis, and is listed in the heritage inventory. The Église paroissiale Saint-Martin, the Grand Moulin d’Arbis, and two routes add to the picture of the area. The two hiking options offer different guidance for choosing a route. The Boucle du Château de Benauges starts at the car park in front of Arbis town hall and leads through vineyards and forests. “Autour d’Arbis” is a 19.1-kilometre loop, rated difficult, with 217 metres of elevation gain; it offers views of the hilly landscapes of Haut Benauge, shaped by vineyards and forests. The two routes therefore provide different kinds of information: the starting point is specified for the Boucle, while the length, difficulty, and elevation gain are given for “Autour d’Arbis”. Kilometres and elevation gain describe different things: the distance indicates the route’s length, while the elevation gain indicates the amount of climbing; the difficulty rating adds a separate assessment. Vineyards and forests feature in both route descriptions; the “Autour” loop also highlights the hilly character of Haut Benauge as a landscape feature.
Architectural history spanning several centuries
The Château de Benauge stands on a hilltop overlooking the Entre-deux-Mers region. The first château was built in the 11th century. The Église paroissiale Saint-Martin in Arbis is a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century; its choir was built on the foundations of an earlier 11th-century building. These dates should be distinguished when comparing the sites: the château’s date refers to its first construction, while the information about Saint-Martin concerns both the Romanesque church and the older foundations beneath its choir. The Grand Moulin d’Arbis adds another stage of construction to the chronology. Its present structure dates from the 17th century; in the 19th century, the mill was extended and remodelled. There is a water reservoir nearby. This architectural history thus spans everything from the first construction and older foundations to extensions and remodelling in later centuries.
Tours by appointment
The Château de Benauge offers tours throughout the year by appointment for groups of at least ten people. “Throughout the year” describes the possible period, but does not remove the appointment requirement: both the date and the minimum group size are essential for a tour. Confirm your visit arrangements before travelling, as arrangements may change. If you are organising a group, plan for the tour as an appointment that must be arranged in advance.
Discover more destinations: Coirac, Eynesse, Ambès, Saint-Morillon, Blasimon, Gours, Mauriac, Les Esseintes
Return to the regional travel overview: Gironde.
