The departmental hiking plan: a structural regional development

The Conseil Général de la Gironde is implementing a departmental plan of walking and hiking routes (PDIPR), representing approximately 4,200 km of trails distributed across the region, allowing rural footpaths to re-open and the natural and developed heritage of the département to be showcased.

To date, almost all rural areas have been developed with development work continuing in areas which have not yet been covered and for which preliminary studies have been carried out.

The département is now focusing its efforts on maintaining links formed between rural areas and Bordeaux Urban Community. Within this framework, the community oversees the management of route tracking and planning studies, as well as the development work. It is also financially involved in carrying out studies under intercommunal management.     

Hiking and mobility

Gironde is crossed by three of the main routes along the Way of Saint James:

- the Coastal Way or English Way, linking Soulac to La Teste

- the Vézelay Route, between Sainte-Foy-La-Grande and Captieux

- the Tours or Paris Route, joining Pleine-Selve to Belin-Béliet.

Supporting the image of Gironde mobility, the Coastal Way and Vézelay Route allow walkers to cross the département from North to South whilst discovering its landscapes and sites.

The same will be possible after completion of development work on the Tours Route and a transversal route linking Lot-et-Garonne with Bordeaux, planned to be carried out in the near future.

Hiking: promotion and organisation

Various documents have been produced to promote all of the prepared routes. Reflection on the use of new communication tools is currently in progress.

In addition, 18 circuits offering circular walks ranging from 6 to 21 km are outlined in three publications entitled "Walks and hikes".

For 4 years, partner work with the département of Dordogne and local organisations has been underway to promote the areas alongside the Vallée de l'Isle. The Isle fête la randonnée event which takes place each year in Spring is now well established with hikers from both départements.

With support from communes and tourist offices, the Conseil Général also organises a departmental hiking day. This cross-marketed event takes place on the last Sunday in September and enables countless participants to discover the natural and architectural splendour of a different area of the département each year.