Pompignac brings together winegrowing, trails through the countryside and reminders of the town’s history. The Church of Saint-Martin stands on a promontory above the Laurence Valley; the signposted Ceinture Verte (Green Belt) route circles the town centre. Visitors planning a stay can focus on scenery and outdoor activities, or on the church, mills and winegrowing. The routes and sites offer different ways to explore: a trail around the town, longer mountain biking options and individual cultural stops.

Vineyards and trails through the countryside

More than 400 hectares of vineyards stretch across Pompignac, producing wines with the Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur and Entre-deux-Mers protected designations of origin. The landscape can also be a focus of your stay: Pompignac has wooded hills and broad plateaus with viewpoints over the surrounding countryside. This makes winegrowing and nature a different focus from visiting individual cultural sites.

The Ceinture Verte is a signposted 6.5-kilometre trail that circles the town centre and passes through countryside and woodland. Another option is the Boucle de Pompignac – “La découVerte”: an easy route, accessible to everyone, linking woodland, meadows and local heritage. While the Ceinture Verte’s stated distance clearly indicates its length, “La découVerte” puts the emphasis on nature and local history. You can choose according to distance or your preferred focus, without treating the two routes as equivalent.

Cycling routes and outdoor activities

The Parcours VTT de la Laurence mountain biking route passes through Pompignac, with 23-, 36- and 46-kilometre options. Within the municipality, it runs mostly along the Ceinture Verte. A footbridge near the waterfall lets you avoid paved roads. The three distances make it easier to choose how far to ride; the bridge is also a useful landmark along the route through Pompignac. Before setting out, check for any temporary closures of the Ceinture Verte, as well as seasonal conditions and access to the bridge.

The orienteering area in the municipal forest of Cadouin covers more than five hectares and offers several difficulty levels. Check local access conditions before visiting. The fitness trail in the Vallon de la Capéranie, also known as the Vallon de Bel Horizon, has a pull-up bar, a hurdle jump, a wall ladder and parallel bars. This equipment is distinct from the marked routes: the focus here is on the specified training facilities.

Church and mills along the Laurence

The Church of Saint-Martin is originally Romanesque; its surviving portal appears to date from the 12th century. The church stands on a promontory and an ancient Gallo-Roman site, overlooking the Laurence Valley. Its setting and architectural history give the site a distinct cultural dimension, while the trails through woodland and countryside reveal another side of Pompignac.

The remains of the mills are also part of the history along the Laurence. Up to six mills once stood in Pompignac, and their remains include those of Fanfan. Together with the church, they offer two distinct ways to explore the area’s cultural history: a Romanesque building on a Gallo-Roman site and the remains of former mills along the river. The vineyards add another dimension, linking the area to winegrowing today under three protected designations of origin.

Recreation areas and getting there

The Petit Bois de Cadouin playground is set in a one-hectare wooded area. The park also includes a cycling track and is intended for children aged two to ten. Check current access before your visit. This makes it easy to include the playground in your plans without confusing it with the longer cycling and orienteering routes.

Pompignac can be reached by car from the Bordeaux ring road via exits 24 or 26. As road information can change, check the current route before setting off. Once there, you can shape your stay around winegrowing and the countryside, trails around the town centre, or the historic sites along the Laurence, depending on your interests.

Discover more destinations: Martillac, Le Pian-Médoc, Saint-Mariens, Saint-Sulpice-De-Guilleragues, Podensac, Saint-Germain-D'esteuil, Villenave-de-Rions, Le Teich.

Browse the wider travel guide: Gironde.