In Saucats, geological history, nature observation and regional culture come together. The Réserve naturelle géologique de Saucats–La Brède protects layers from the Tertiary period, including the Aquitanian, Burdigalian and Serravallian stages. At the Maison de la Réserve in Saucats, a permanent geological and paleontological exhibition explores this subject further. You can shape your stay around different ways of discovering nature and geological history.

Geology in the exhibition and on the walking trails

Two named walking trails of different lengths run through the nature reserve: the Sentier des Fossiles is 13 kilometres long, and the Promenade aux sources du Saucats is 8.3 kilometres long. The Promenade is therefore 4.7 kilometres shorter. This specific difference can help you plan your walk; also check trail conditions before setting out.

The exhibition and the trails offer different points of focus: geology and paleontology take centre stage at the Maison de la Réserve, while the walking trails lead into the nature reserve. When choosing, you can first consider whether you would prefer to focus on the exhibition or the route. The stated distances make the two trails easy to compare, without specifying a particular walking time.

Activities involving fossils, water and the forest

The activity “Que nous racontent les fossiles?” combines a museum visit with time in the forest at two significant fossil sites. It brings together an exhibition and a nature experience in one activity. Check the dates before your trip before including this activity in your plans.

“Anim’eau” takes participants to a body of water. There, they use small nets to catch aquatic insect larvae, water bugs and small snails. “Atelier de la forêt” takes a different approach, starting with a walk in the forest: participants explore animal tracks, leaves, leaf litter insects, galls and snails. The two activities therefore have distinctly different observation focuses. Check seasonal availability for “Anim’eau” and dates for “Atelier de la forêt” before your trip.

The activity “À la découverte des amphibiens des landes girondines” also combines two parts: a presentation about amphibians in Gironde and an outing to the nature reserve’s wet heathlands. Check the reservation requirements in advance. This will help you organise the activities you have planned by subject: fossils, aquatic life, forest tracks or amphibians.

Church of Saint-Pierre and Mémorial de la ferme de Richemont

The Romanesque apse of the Church of Saint-Pierre features architectural elements from different centuries. Its lower section dates from the 9th century, while the upper section can be dated to the 12th century. There is also a Baroque altarpiece at the back of the choir. With its two dated sections of the apse and the altarpiece, the church is a cultural highlight in its own right alongside Saucats’ nature attractions.

The Mémorial de la ferme de Richemont takes the form of an obelisk, with a sculpture adorning each side. Every year on 14 July, the support committee holds a patriotic commemorative ceremony. A visit takes about 45 minutes, during which volunteers from the committee tell visitors about the battle of Saucats. Find out how to arrange a visit before your trip. This makes it easy to distinguish the memorial from the church and its architectural features when planning: the focus here is on the obelisk, sculptures and remembrance.

Discover more destinations: Blaignan, Lesparre-Medoc, Créon, Civrac-De-Blaye, Arveyres, Bonzac, Castelnau-De-Médoc, Floirac.

For the wider travel overview: Gironde.