What is the Gironde?
The Gironde is a department in southwest France, numbered 33, with Bordeaux as its capital. It is the largest department in mainland France, lies on the Atlantic coast in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, and takes its name from the Gironde estuary, where the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet the ocean.
Almost the whole department falls within the Bordeaux wine region — the Médoc, Saint-Émilion, Pomerol, Graves, Sauternes and Entre-Deux-Mers. Its coast runs from the Cordouan lighthouse past the surf beaches of Lacanau to Cap Ferret, the Arcachon Bay and the Dune du Pilat.
Explore the Gironde
Heritage
Tourism & Heritage
Bordeaux's UNESCO waterfront, medieval Saint-Émilion, and Vauban's fortified citadels on the Gironde estuary.
Explore heritage
Nature
Nature & Coastline
Europe's tallest sand dune, Arcachon Bay's oyster beds, and world-class surf breaks along the Silver Coast.
Explore nature
Wine
Wine & Gastronomy
The legendary Routes des Vins — Médoc, Saint-Émilion, Graves — plus Arcachon oysters and Canelés.
Explore wines
Practical
Living in Gironde
Transport networks, administration services, tide tables, and cycling paths for residents and visitors.
Practical infoBordeaux — Port of the Moon
The entire city centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, with the largest collection of 18th-century architecture in France. The Place de la Bourse and its famous miroir d'eau, the Grand Théâtre, and the revitalized Bassins à Flot make Bordeaux a city that blends history with cutting-edge culture.
Beyond the stone facades, Bordeaux pulses with contemporary life: the Cité du Vin, Darwin Éco-système, and one of Europe's most elegant tramway networks.
Discover Bordeaux
The Dune du Pilat — Europe's Tallest Dune
Rising over 100 metres above the Atlantic, the Dune du Pilat is a staggering geological formation that shifts and evolves with the wind. Standing at its crest, the panorama sweeps from the endless pine forests of the Landes to the shimmering waters of Arcachon Bay and the Banc d'Arguin bird sanctuary.
Around two million visitors make the climb each year — a testament to its magnetic, almost otherworldly presence on the Gironde coastline.
Plan Your Visit
The Routes des Vins of Bordeaux
Gironde is home to the most celebrated wine region on Earth. From the gravelly banks of the Médoc to the limestone plateaus of Saint-Émilion, thousands of châteaux produce wines that define the global standard for quality and tradition.
Whether you seek a grand cru tasting in Pauillac, a family-run cellar in Entre-Deux-Mers, or a lesson in blending at La Cité du Vin, the wine routes of Gironde promise a journey of the senses.
Explore the Vineyards
Discover the Gironde
The department's borders and key landmarks, from the Cordouan lighthouse to La Réole. Click a marker to open the guide. More on where the Gironde is →
Essential Services & Resources
Quick access to transport, weather, maps, and administrative services for residents and visitors.
Transport
Regional coaches, the Bordeaux tram, TER trains, the airport and bikes.
Weather & Tides
Atlantic climate, tides on the Arcachon Bay and estuary, and surf conditions.
Hiking & Cycling Maps
The Vélodyssée, GR long-distance trails, greenways and local cycle paths.
Administration
Préfecture, Conseil départemental, town halls, healthcare and emergency numbers.
Gironde FAQ
What is the Gironde?
The Gironde is a department in southwest France, numbered 33, with Bordeaux as its prefecture. It is the largest department in mainland France and part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The name also refers to the Gironde estuary, where the Garonne and Dordogne rivers meet the Atlantic.
Where is the Gironde?
On the Atlantic coast of southwest France, around Bordeaux, about two hours from Paris by high-speed train. It borders Charente-Maritime to the north, Charente and Dordogne to the east, Lot-et-Garonne to the south-east and the Landes to the south.
Is the Gironde the same as Bordeaux?
No. Bordeaux is the Gironde's capital and largest city. The department also includes the Médoc, Saint-Émilion, the Arcachon Bay, the Dune du Pilat, Cap Ferret, Lacanau and 535 communes in all. Almost the whole department lies within the Bordeaux wine region.
What is there to do in the Gironde?
Explore UNESCO-listed Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, visit wine châteaux in the Médoc and on the Right Bank, climb the Dune du Pilat, eat oysters around the Arcachon Bay, surf at Lacanau, cycle the Vélodyssée and visit the Cordouan lighthouse.
Gironde.org is an independent guide. It is not the website of the Département de la Gironde (gironde.fr) or of any tourist office.