Art & Architecture
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Planning a trip to the South-West of France? Explore this region through its exceptional heritage! Discover our 4 favourite monuments.
Tour Pey-Berland in the heart of Bordeaux
Visiting the sleeping beauty? Take a stroll through the streets of this historic city, then stop off at Place Pey-Berland to admire Bordeaux's Saint-André cathedral and its bell tower: Tour Pey-Berland!
Climb the 233 steps to reach the two terraces, 40 metres and 50 metres up! You'll enjoy a 360° view of the capital of Gironde.
Keep your eyes peeled for the famous stone bridge, the spire of Saint-Michel basilica and the Pont d'Aquitaine bridge. Don't forget to look up to greet Notre-Dame d'Aquitaine, which stands 66 metres tall and watches over the city.
A little history to prepare you for your visit? It was the 15th century, and the people of Bordeaux feared for the stability of the cathedral, built on sand between marshes and streams. It was extended, but it was impossible to fit the bells inside. The decision was taken to build a bell tower.
The tower was therefore built in 1440 and became the cathedral's bell tower. But the Pey-Berland tower had to wait until the 19th century before its bells could be installed!
- Open every day
- Full price 9 €, free for under 26 years old
- How long: minimum 45 min
© Léa Riverain / Centre des monuments nationaux
Between the Garonne and the vineyards, the château ducal de Cadillac
For a green getaway, what better than the vineyards of Bordeaux? Head along the right bank of the Garonne to the town of Cadillac-sur-Garonne!
Situated 35km south-east of Bordeaux, this bastide town still bears some traces of the Middle Ages. At its centre stands the ducal château of Cadillac.
From the dazzling ducal palace of a fascinating lord to its transformation into France's first women's prison, its history is nothing short of fascinating!
This castle embodies the rise and fortune of an ancestor of the Musketeers, born a mere cadet from Gascony: Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette (1554-1642).
Henri III (1551-1589), the last Valois king, made him his favourite and elevated him to the rank of First Duke of Épernon.
In 1599, the Duke decided to build a residence worthy of his rank. This "ceremonial" residence is a veritable palace, and still boasts rich interior decorations, monumental fireplaces and historic tapestries.
Badly damaged over the centuries, the château was sold to the State in 1818. It was converted into a women's prison and then into a preservation school for young girls.
It is now open to visitors!
- Open every day from mid-May to mid-September, and from Tuesday to Sunday the rest of the year.
- Full price 7 €, free for under 26 years old
- Time allowed: minimum 2 hours
M. Dubau - Juin 2016
A medieval heritage: l'abbaye de La Sauve-Majeure
In the mood for the great outdoors? Head for the Entre-deux-Mers region, 30km from Bordeaux, to discover its rolling countryside. Let yourself be charmed by the "romantic ruins" of l'abbaye de La Sauve-Majeure.
The abbey takes its name from the large forest, or Silva Major, where it was founded.
A masterpiece of Romanesque art, l'abbaye de La Sauve-Majeure is a magnificent example of medieval architecture that has survived the centuries.
Take a closer look at its remarkable sculptures and capitals. Its sculpted decorations, veritable comic strips of the Middle Ages, tell stories peopled with evil or fabulous animals and heroes in the service of Good. These tales were used to educate the faithful, who were often illiterate.
Next, climb the 157 steps to the bell tower for a 360° panoramic view of the surrounding area. Look out for the floor plan of the abbey: cross-shaped church, oriented East-West, with its North-South transept and choir, adjacent cloister, former refectory, chapter house and scriptorium, garden...
- Open daily from mid-May to mid-September, then Tuesday to Sunday the rest of the year.
- Full price 7 €, free for under 26 years old
- How long: minimum 2 hours
Centre des monuments nationaux
Les tours de La Rochelle, emblems of a fortified town
Get some sea air on the Atlantic coast, and head for La Rochelle! Its famous towers are the symbols of the port and the town. They have watched over the city for centuries.
Climb them for an unbeatable view of La Rochelle and the ocean! You can choose your height: 42 metres for the Tour Saint-Nicolas, 20 metres for the Tour de la Chaîne and 58 metres for the Tour de la Lanterne.
Let's review their history. It was around 1130, under the impetus of Duke Guillaume X d'Aquitaine, that the new city and fortified walls of La Rochelle came into being. But the towers were not built until later.
Until then, La Rochelle had been disputed between France and England, but during the Hundred Years' War it sided with Charles V, King of France. It was then that construction began on the Saint-Nicolas and La Chaîne towers to protect the town. They became the guardians of the harbour entrance.
Although its origins date back to the end of the 12th century, the Lantern Tower as we know it today was built in the 15th century, following several modifications to the original tower.
- Open every day in July and August and every day except the 1st Monday of each month the rest of the year.
- Saint-Nicolas tour is temporarily closed to the visit.
- Full price 9,50 €, free for under 26 years old
- How long: minimum 2 hours
© Geoffroy Mathieu / Centre des monuments nationaux
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