Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc brings together three distinct ways to explore the area: a medieval church with a history of pilgrimage, the reconstructed Bergerie des Matruques, and a cycling route connecting the town with Saint-Médard-en-Jalles. The church offers a glimpse into architectural and religious history, the Bergerie into regional sheep farming; the route provides an active link between the towns.

Church: architectural history and pilgrimage

The Eglise Saint-Aubin is a medieval religious building. Its surviving features include the apse and the base of the bell tower, both dating from the 12th century. Until the Second World War, the church was an important place of pilgrimage because a sarcophagus containing the mortal remains of Saint Aubin was kept behind the main altar. Since 2006, the Eglise de Saint-Aubin de Médoc has been protected as a Monument historique. These dates refer to different things: the 12th century applies to the surviving architectural features, the pilgrimage tradition lasted until the Second World War, and the protection status has been in force since 2006. An apse is the usually semicircular end of a church interior; the base is the lower part of the bell tower.

Bergerie des Matruques: sheepfold and animal husbandry

The Bergerie des Matruques offers a different perspective on the area. It is a reconstructed Courtiou, one of the last traditional sheepfolds of the Landes in the Médoc, and is located on an Airial in Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc. Following its restoration, it has housed a flock of 500 Landes sheep and Pyrenean goats. The Conservatoire des Races d’Aquitaine manages the animals, and shepherd Jean-Michel tends the flock year-round. This distinction is useful for understanding the site: the Courtiou represents a reconstructed traditional building type, while the flock, its management and year-round tending describe ongoing animal husbandry.

However, there is a clear access restriction for visitors: the Bergerie is generally not open to the public. The municipality sometimes holds events at which the public can discover this natural area. Plan a visit in connection with one of these municipal events.

Cycling between Saint-Aubin and Saint-Médard

The cycling route Sur la route du Médoc adds an active alternative. It follows part of the Voie Verte Bordeaux-Lacanau and connects Saint-Médard-en-Jalles with Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc. While the church and Bergerie mainly convey cultural and landscape traditions, the route provides a direct cycling link between the two towns. If you include it in your plans, check the route conditions in advance, as they may change.

Choose accommodation based on what brings you here

This helps you decide whether cultural history, landscape traditions or cycling will shape your stay. Choose Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc according to your main interest; the Bergerie is open to the public only occasionally during municipal events.

Discover more destinations: Casseuil, Les Salles-De-Castillon, Listrac-de-Durèze, Listrac-Médoc, Naujac-Sur-Mer, Pujols, Cessac, Sainte-Terre

For the broader travel overview: Gironde.