Fort Médoc

The Gironde Estuary has always been a strategic and coveted location. From there, it’s easy to glide to the city of Bordeaux, which therefore had to ensure an exemplary defence: in the 17th century, it was the royal engineer Vauban who took charge of creating this incredible defensive triptych, a work unique in France.
Naturally, the site was included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It is made up of three fortifications that close the shipping lanes to invaders: the Blaye citadel, Fort Pâté and Fort Médoc form the “Estuary Lock”, making the Gironde impassable.
In Cussac-Fort-Médoc, on the left bank, head for the guardhouse at the Porte Royale: it’s the starting point for a guided tour of the fort, at the heart of a fascinating history!