Parempuyre combines the wetlands of the Marais with nature activities and historic sites. The marshes provide a scenic focus for your stay; the Boucle verte leads to notable spots in the Bois d’Arboudeau and along the Jalle d’Aiguelongue. Other highlights include the Château de Parempuyre and the now-disused Port de Lagrange. The area thus offers everything from nature exploration to local history.

Marshes between Bordeaux and the Médoc

The Marais de Parempuyre is a wetland and a reservoir of biodiversity. It covers nearly 1,000 hectares, or about half of the town’s area. This makes the marshes a defining feature of the landscape. They also form a natural transition zone between the northern urban area of Bordeaux and the Médoc. The wet meadows of the Bordeaux marshes near Parempuyre are part of the Parc des Jalles. Parempuyre can therefore be viewed both in terms of its local landscape and as part of this larger natural area.

Experience nature and choose your focus

The Parc des Jalles offers outdoor activities such as hiking, nature exploration, fishing, hunting and water sports. The Marais de Parempuyre also offers opportunities for fishing and observing animal and plant species. In the Parc des Jalles, visitors can observe rare biodiversity, traces and signs of numerous animal species, diverse farming and remarkable architectural heritage. The different themes offer a range of perspectives: on species and landscapes, agricultural use or architectural landmarks.

Since 2021, the Parc des Jalles has offered an annual programme of more than 150 free events focused on nature, agriculture and heritage. If you would like to include an event in your stay, check the dates for your preferred travel period. This lets you complement your nature exploration with a specific theme while keeping the park’s other offerings in view.

The Boucle verte in the Bois d’Arboudeau

The Boucle verte starts at the fitness trail in the Bois d’Arboudeau. It leads to natural areas along the Jalle d’Aiguelongue, past the Arboudeau gravel pits and to a viewpoint over the marshes on Rue d’Olives. These stops offer different points of interest along the route: the stream, the gravel pits and views of the wetlands. The route provides an opportunity to take in both natural areas and individual landscape features.

The Bois d’Arboudeau also has a fitness trail. Check local access conditions before travelling. Both the starting point of the Boucle verte and the fitness trail make the Bois d’Arboudeau an important landmark for nature exploration in Parempuyre.

Château and Port de Lagrange

The Château de Parempuyre is a wine château; its main construction phase is dated to 1881. It has been listed as a historic monument since 16 June 2000. Its construction history and protected status offer two different points of reference for understanding the château’s history.

The Port de Lagrange tells a different story. It was established in 1681 and became one of France’s first oil ports in 1875. It is no longer active today; in Parempuyre, it preserves narrow lanes, houses and fishermen’s huts. These dates trace the port’s development from its establishment to its later importance as an oil port, while the surviving buildings and lanes provide a tangible connection to local history. Along with the wine château, this site complements the focus on nature with two distinct historical perspectives.

Discover more destinations: Isle-Saint-Georges, Saint-Sulpice-Et-Cameyrac, Doulezon, Tayac, Reignac, Bonzac, Arès, Cadillac.

For the broader travel guide: Gironde.