The centre of Samonac sits on a rocky promontory and is considered a picturesque eagle’s nest. With the Church of Saint Martin, historic wineries and the Petite balade des lavoirs, Samonac offers a range of highlights for a stay. Visiting arrangements vary: some wineries ask visitors to make an appointment in advance, while others give set visiting hours. The walking route also requires some planning, as its length and difficulty are important considerations.
The Church of Saint Martin and its pilgrimage history
The chancel of the Church of Saint Martin has been listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments since 21 December 1925. Its large pointed arch and tracery windows follow the Flamboyant Gothic style; the stained-glass windows come from the workshop of Joseph Villiet. The church’s furnishings also include a Baroque pulpit made of carved stone, erected in 1791. The same building thus brings together a Gothic chancel and a dated example of Baroque furnishings.
The historic pilgrimage to the Fontaine Saint Justin began in the 18th century. In the 19th century, thousands of pilgrims came, and almost 4,000 masses were celebrated there. The beginning of the pilgrimage and the later figures mark different periods in its history.
Wineries and visiting arrangements
Château Macay offers free tours and wine tastings by prior arrangement. A municipal description from 2016 outlines the visit: accompanied by a guide, visitors walk through the vineyards, tour the imposing 19th-century cellars with their red-rendered walls, and then taste the wines. It describes the estate as covering 42 hectares, in one continuous plot, within the Côtes de Bourg appellation. Arrange the details of your visit before you arrive.
Château Gravettes-Samonac can be visited from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; confirm visiting hours before you arrive. The family-run winery has ties to Samonac dating back to the 1950s. Its wine profile includes red wine production, a total area of 37 hectares and clay-limestone soils. In comparison, Gravettes-Samonac covers 37 hectares in total, while Château Macay is a single continuous estate of 42 hectares.
Winery history and landscape
Château Tour de Tourteau offers tours by prior arrangement, Monday to Friday. The tower has stood since 1800; the history of the family-run winery dates back to 1835. The years refer to different things: 1800 to the tower and 1835 to the history of the family-run winery. The history of Château Beaulieu dates back to the late 18th century. At that time, Pierre Robert, a notary from Samonac, built a Bordeaux chartreuse at the centre of his estate.
Château Bel Air lies in the heart of the Côtes de Bourg, on sunny slopes overlooking the banks of the Gironde and Dordogne. Alongside the historic buildings and winemaking history, the landscape offers another distinct aspect to explore.
Walking to the Church of Saint Martin
The Petite balade des lavoirs runs through the centre of Samonac to the Church of Saint Martin and offers a view of the church and its rocky promontory. A route description from 2015 gives its length as 14 kilometres and rates the walk as difficult; check trail conditions and signage locally. The route has a dual connection to Saint Martin: the church is both its destination and the subject of the view, while the distance and difficulty make the walk itself a highlight.
Discover more destinations: Salles, Laruscade, Bommes, Saumos, Auros, Branne, Pomerol, Saint-Ciers-De-Canesse
For the overview of the wider region: Gironde.
