8.50am or 9.20am - Pick up by your driver / guide at your hotel or accommodation in Bordeaux or surrounding.
9.00am or 9.30am Depart from Bordeaux
10.00am or 10.30am Visit & Wine tasting 1st Winery
11.00am or 11.30am Depart for the 2nd Winery visit
12.30pm or 1.00pm Reach the village of Saint Emilion. Free time for personal discovery and lunch
3.00pm or 3.30pm Depart for the 3rd Winery visit
4.00pm or 4.30pm Depart for Bordeaux
5.00pm or 5.30pm Arrival in Bordeaux
Experience the beauty of Saint Emilion wine region on a family tour.
Enjoy a fun day full of adventure with the whole family. On this full day tour, enjoy a riding a bicycle along the vineyards and landscapes listed World Heritage by UNESCO. Different biking trails are available and are suitable for all fitness levels!
In the morning, we will come and pick you up at your accommodation in Bordeaux. Meet your guide who will be with you during the day and board one of our spacious Mercedes Minivans. Today, we have selected a number of options for you to choose from that are all family friendly.
Visit the vineyards with a Horse Drawn carriage
One such great option is a one hour ride on a horse-drawn carriage through the vineyards. Take in the lovely views and admire the beautiful landscapes as far as the eye can see! You can choose different options such as a visit and taste in a Saint-Emilion Château, a picnic in a picturesque spot in the vineyards… the choice is yours!
Discover the village and surroundings on board the tourist train
Another enthusiastic experience for both children and parents is to board the ‘little train’ of Saint Emilion and to travel through the vineyards to admire some of the most beautiful and prestigious Châteaux of the Saint-Emilion wine region.
Experience a treasure hunt in the medieval village
The village of Saint-Emilion is also a perfect family destination. Dating back to the 11th century, this medieval gem will have your children take a leap back in time. While in the village, you can opt to visit the incredible underground monuments of Saint-Emilion including the monolithic church & the catacombs. The local tourism office has also created a special TREASURE HUNT for children aged to 15. Little explorer Robin invites your children to stroll through the medieval village of Saint-Emilion while answering some riddles. There is a choice of 3 different themes – Heritage, Gastronomy or Nature.
Family friendly winery tours
Finally, for the parents, we have selected a number of Wineries that have adapted their tours so as to include activities for children while you have the opportunity to taste some of the most succulent wines of the area. Your guide will be with you during the visit and tasting session so as to answer any questions that you might have. Different activities are organised for the children depending on the wineries but most of them include grape juice tastings!
THE LEGEND OF EMILIAN
The first indications of human settlements in the area date back to the Roman Empire, but the story of Saint Emilion starts in the eighth century AD. At that time, a monk from Brittany, fleeing persecution in his hometown of Vannes sought refuge in one of the natural caves near the settlement of Ascum Bas.Although he lived the simple and secluded life of a hermit, Saint Emilion allegedly performed several miracles from his Aquitaine hideaway. Soon, his renown spread far beyond the town and region, bringing pilgrims and disciples from far afield to visit him. The small settlement grew fast as it became a religious center. After Saint Emilion died, his followers made sure he would be remembered by giving the town of Ascum Bas the new name Saint Emilion.Much later, monks developed more intensive and widespread vineyards. This is when the reputation for Saint Emilion wines started building towards what it is today. The rich Merlot-based blends of these fertile plains have given local wines a great appeal, and several wines produced in chateaux near Saint Emilion have been given the highest possible awards under the French appellation wine rating system.
WHAT IS THERE TO SEE OR DO IN SAINT EMILION?
History is alive and well, and very visible on any visit to Saint Emilion today. First, don’t miss the impressive Romanesque church, in the heart of the old town. The streets and buildings constituting Saint Emilion medieval village are some of the few surviving examples of a traditional hilltop village near Bordeaux. Largely intact despite the passing centuries, walking through the village literally feels like going back in time.
Walking up the narrow winding streets, you will come to several superb vantage points, which offer sweeping views over the Dordogne Valley. But the village of St Emilion’s main historical attraction is underground. Beneath the village, lies a network of tunnels covering more than 120 miles. These tunnels are left over from the many quarries that were exploited until the 19th century to supply stone that was used to build villages, towns and cities such as Bordeaux.
