Guided tours for more effective understanding and consideration

The opening of sites to the public constitutes one of the obligations of the departmental institution, alongside obligations associated with managing these sites.

It is primarily the duty of the Conseil Général de la Gironde, to increase awareness of environmental issues to a wider audience, and to young people in particular. This is the reason for its policy in support of environmental citizenship.

Accordingly, the general public have the opportunity to discover Sensitive Natural Areas through a range of free guided tours delivered by seasonal nature guides, with fundamental support from registered associations.  

There are three possible options for visiting Sensitive Natural Areas.

Firstly, via activities run directly by the Conseil Général at various flagship sites which it owns and/or manages, namely:

• the Domaine départemental Gérard Lagors and the lagoons of Gat Mort,
• the Ile Nouvelle,
• the Domaine de Certes-Graveyron,
• the lagoon of Contaut and the banks of Lake Hourtin.

For this purpose, between 15th June and 30th September each year, the département recruits a team of nature guides and representatives to accompany visitors around these flagship sites in Gironde, free of charge...

Visitors who prefer to visit the sites unaccompanied can explore coastal paths and other routes, and take advantage of the knowledge of the guides in a more spontaneous manner.

Secondly, the "general public" plan provides a continuation of the summer guided tours run by the Conseil Général, maintaining the nature activities run by educational and environmental associations at Sensitive Natural Areas, cycle tracks and hiking trails, throughout the year. 

Set out and discover other Sensitive Natural Areas in Gironde, where landscapes, natural environments, fauna, flora, geology and the Gironde estuary will be revealed by nature guides during guided tours or site visits. 

To book a tour or obtain further information, contact the relevant organisation:

• Méduli Nature
  The banks of Lake Hourtin, the lagoon of Contaut, the dunes and coastal areas of Gironde...
  8 rue Raymond Valet - 33290 BLANQUEFORT
  Tel: 06.10.82.69.86 - contact@medulinature.org
• La Maison de la Nature du Bassin d'Arcachon
  The Delta de la Leyre, the Domaine de Certes-Graveyron, the cycle tracks of the South Bay of Arcachon, "brant goose" activities...
  BP 11 - 33470 LE TEICH
  Tel: 05.56.22.80.93 - www.parc-landes-de-gascogne.fr
• SEPANSO
  The Étang de Cousseau nature reserve
  1 rue de Tauzia - 33800 BORDEAUX
  Tel: 05.56.91.33.65 - animation.cousseau@orange.fr
• Centre du Graoux
  The footpaths and cycle tracks of the Val de Leyre
  31 route du Graoux - 33830 BELIN-BELIET
  Tel: 05.57.71.99.29 - www.parc-landes-de-gascogne.fr
• Ligue pour la Protection des oiseaux (Bird protection league)
  The Pointe du Cap-Ferret, the Domaine de Certes-Graveyron, the Delta de la Leyre,
  "brant goose" activities...
  119 quai Wilson - 33130 BEGLES
  Tel: 05.56.91.33.13 - aquitaine@lpo.fr
• Pétronille
  The footpaths of Haute Gironde, Southern Gironde and Central Médoc
  152 rue Mondenard - 33000 BORDEAUX
  Tel/Fax: 05.56.44.81.65 - petronilleasso@free.fr
• Océan
  Environmental cruises on the estuary of the Bay of Arcachon and the Isle,
  cultural activities on the river, the coast, geology...
  9 rue St Rémi - 33000 BORDEAUX
  Tel/fax: 05.56.49.34.77 - asso.océan@wanadoo.fr
• CURUMA
  The Marais du Logit, Marais du Conseiller, Marais de Neyran and Dune de St Nicolas
  B.P 9 - 33123 LE VERDON SUR MER
  Tel: 05.56.09.67.03 - curuma@club-internet.fr
• Conservatoire de l'estuaire
  The footpaths of the East bank of the Gironde estuary
  Place d'armes, Citadelle - 33390 BLAYE
  Tel: 05.57.42.80.96 - secretariat@estuairegironde.net
• REESOM
  The footpaths and cycle tracks of Entre-deux-mers and South Gironde
  33 rue des douves - 33800 BORDEAUX
  Tel: 05.56.48.27.58 - melanie@reesom.org
• Cistude Nature
  The Marais des Brizards and Libourne wetlands
  Moulin du Moulinat, Chemin du Moulinat - 33185 LE HAILLAN
  Tel/Fax: 05.56.28.47.72 - animation@cistude.org
• Association pour la Réserve Géologique de Saucats La Brède
  The Saucats La Brède geological nature reserve, the Domaine Départemental Gérard Lagors,
  the Bocage de Garonne...
  17 chemin de l'église - 33650 SAUCATS
  Tel/Fax: 05.56.72.27.98 - Saucats.brede@espaces-naturels.fr
• AROEVEN
  Camicas, the footpaths of the South Bay of Arcachon
  87 cours Aristide Briand - 33000 BORDEAUX
  Tel: 05.56.92.77.45 - contact@aroeven-bordeaux.fr
• Surfrider Foundation
  The beaches and dunes of Gironde, Camicas, Pointe du Cap-Ferret...
  120 avenue de Verdun - 64200 BIARRITZ
  Tel: 05.59.23.54.99 - surfridergironde@yahoo.fr

Last but not least, remains the simple pleasure of experiencing authentic nature with an unguided walk whilst taking care to respect the many species that inhabit the natural areas!

Rules of good conduct

To fully enjoy your discovery:

• Do not wander from signposted footpaths,
• Do not pick plants or mushrooms,
• Do not smoke - a cigarette butt that has not been properly extinguished may start a fire!
• Do not drop litter.

Contact

Direction de l'Environnement et du Tourisme - 05 56 99 33 45