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Using soft mobility to visit the vineyards
More than 100 Châteaux will be opening their doors to you during the Saint-Emilion Open Houses from May 1st to 4th, 2025!
Walks through the vineyards, wine-tasting introductions, discovery trails for children, foodtrucks and concerts… The Châteaux of the Saint-Emilion appellations (Lussac Saint-Emilion, Puisseguin Saint-Emilion, Saint-Emilion and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru) have a whole host of events in store for you!
But how can you visit the Open Houses other than driving your car? We’ve listed below a few alternative ways of getting around the vineyards without a car.
Using soft mobility to visit the vineyards
First of all, you’ll need to get to Saint-Emilion, and there are several ways of doing this.
Whether or not you have a driving licence, it’s perfectly possible to get to the medieval town without your car. Located around 45 minutes by car from the centre of Bordeaux, find out about the different ways of getting to Saint-Emilion.
You could start by considering car-sharing your journey to Saint-Emilion, to reduce your costs and the impact on the planet. There are regular routes available on various car-sharing platforms such as BlaBlaCar. Don’t hesitate to suggest journeys from Bordeaux or towns in the Gironde such as Libourne, Pessac, Mérignac, Andernos, etc. To get there.
From Bordeaux, Place des Quinconces, take the Bordeaux – Libourne – Saint-Emilion line to discover the vineyards. Bus line 4617 (formerly 304) offers a range of timetables and stops at Arveyres on the way. Expect to spend around an hour with this mode of transport with 3 buses a day to Saint-Emilion (9am, 11am and 1pm from Bordeaux) and 3 other times to return to Bordeaux (12.10pm, 4.10pm and 6.10pm from Saint-Emilion).
Taking the train from Bordeaux to Saint-Emilion is a quick and economical alternative. The average journey time is 42 minutes and the ticket price starts at €5, either by TER or TGV Inoui. The first train from Bordeaux leaves at 5.50am and the last train from Saint-Emilion leaves at 8.47pm, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the Open Houses festivities!
Once you’re there, you can extend your experience of soft mobility in the vineyards with a range of services: tuktuk, electric bike, little train, etc. Discover the various alternatives for eco-friendly strolls through the vineyards below.
To get from one property to another or from one appellation to another, why not opt for an electric bike?
With Véloce®, Saint-Emilion is just a bike ride away!
A wide range of children’s, adult and electric bikes and the accessories you need for the whole family, so you can visit the UNESCO-listed vineyards without a car and take your time admiring the scenery.
Why not experience a bike ride from Saint-Emilion … with a packed picnic to boot!
For the past year, Les Cordeliers has been offering an electric rental bike service so that you can set off on a ride to discover our beautiful wine-growing landscapes and, if you wish, take a picnic basket with you so that you can stop along the way to sample some of our local produce.
These bikes have a range of 60km and an insulated pannier to keep your picnic cool. These bikes are suitable for teenagers and adults measuring at least 1.55m.
During your visit to Saint-Emilion, you can take the little tourist train through this legendary vineyard and discover the appellation’s Premiers Grands Crus Classés. Along the way, you’ll also have the chance to discover the magnificent monolithic cellars of Château Rochebelle and finish off with a tasting of a vintage of this Grand Cru Classé.
Train + visit to Château Rochebelle + tasting (adults only) – Duration: 1h20 – Adult price: 14.50 euros – Child price (13 to 17 years): 8 euros – Child price (3 to 12 years): 7 euros
Discover Saint-Emilion in an unusual way with an electric tuktuk! A unique wine-tourism experience to discover the vineyard listed as a World Heritage Site and explore its underground cellars! Who will be tempted by this unique experience?
