Château de la Rivière in Saint-Germain-de-la-Rivière

A slightly hilly route combining the magnificent Château de la Rivière, its viewpoint, undergrowth and vineyards.

Details

405974
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.22 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 96 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 92 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 78 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking at "Maison du Pays Fronsadais", also known as "Restaurant Carles".

(S/E) Go to the back of the car park, follow the small passage between the road and the field reserved for horses to the church to join the path that comes from the church. Turn left at the T-junction to Le Pont crossroads.

(1) Turn left onto the road to Petit Bourdieu. There, turn left onto the D670, which you will cross, and continue to the next junction.

(2) Turn right, ignore the first road on the left (which will be the way back) and then the second. Take the hairpin bend on the left, climb through the vineyards and then through the woods to the entrance of Château de la Rivière. Just before you reach the château on your right, a small path leads you to a bucolic, romantic spring.

(3) Before entering the château, go to the right of the gate to admire an "old-fashioned" garden, then enter the château courtyard as discreetly as possible. Go to the terrace and admire the landscape. You can also visit the armoury and the chapel.
On your way out, turn right and walk up the other path to the road.
Be very discreet, as this is the only way to enjoy this magnificent place!

(4) Take the road on the left, turn left and then right. You will arrive at the entrance to Meyney.

(5) At the Y-junction, turn left and cross the hamlet.

(6) At the exit, in the right-hand bend, just before the Château Rouet road, take the road down on your left. Go down, ignore the road on your left and continue downhill. Pass the hamlet of Lafargue and then L'Escarderie.
You will reach Rue de Goffre, turn right and return to the crossroads you passed on the way there.

(2) Continue straight ahead, ignoring the road on your left that you arrived on. At the Y-junction, turn left to join the D670, which you will cross. A small staircase will help you descend the ditch and reach the car park on the right (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Maison du Fronsadais car park
  2. 1 : km 1.45 - alt. 4 m - The Bridge, on the left
  3. 2 : km 2.98 - alt. 7 m - Turn right on the way there - Go straight on the way back
  4. 3 : km 4.8 - alt. 56 m - Château de la Rivière
  5. 4 : km 5.17 - alt. 72 m - On the left, at the road
  6. 5 : km 6.05 - alt. 74 m - Entrance to Meyney
  7. 6 : km 6.55 - alt. 71 m - Path on the left
  8. S/E : km 8.22 - alt. 5 m - Maison du Fronsadais car park

Notes

Important:
Only follow the markings when specified in the description.
All the landmarks mentioned in the description (place names, castle names, but also high-voltage power lines, bridges, etc.) are shown on the corresponding IGN 1/25,000 map, but are not always shown on the reduced map.
We strongly recommend that you either purchase the map or use the app on a smartphone, which will also allow you to be geolocated at all times so you can track your movements accurately.
Please comply with the "Visorando Charter" in every respect.
We often cross private property, which is the only way to continue such routes.
The use of walking sticks can be very useful and reassuring. In addition to providing stability, they improve the distribution of effort.

Worth a visit

The Château de La Rivière is a 16th-century wine estate located in Gironde in the commune of La Rivière. The estate covers 100 hectares, including 65 hectares of vines producing AOC Fronsac wines. It overlooks the Dordogne valley.
But it is also a very renowned lodge.
It is worth noting that it is possible to visit (during the summer) its immense underground galleries (8 hectares!), for which you can make an appointment by calling: 05.57.55.56.56

Is the Château de La Rivière in Fronsac cursed? On Friday, the day after the announcement that a Chinese billionaire had purchased the Bordeaux vineyard, a helicopter flight turned tragic.
The party turned to tragedy.
The day was supposed to be a celebration, with the new owner being introduced to the teams at Château de La Rivière and its 65 hectares of vineyards in the Fronsac Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC), followed by a closing dinner.
But at the end of the day, James Grégoire, the former owner and helicopter pilot, decided to take Lam Kok, chairman of Hong Kong-based Brillant, a company specialising in prestigious teas and luxury real estate, on a flight over the property and its surroundings.
This tragedy echoes that of Jean Leprince in 2002. The former Rennes boss, who was managing director of the Pinault group from 1972 to 1988, became one of the most important wine merchants in the Libourne region in the late 1990s, notably after the purchase of Château La Rivière. He died in a plane crash near Libourne on 19 February 2002, a few kilometres from the site of James Grégoire's helicopter crash on Friday. (source: Sud Ouest)

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
Gérard 33
Gérard 33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The start of the route is not particularly interesting, but it gets better with the port of Tressac.
However, the icing on the cake was arriving at the château and its superb grounds, with a fantastic view over the Dordogne.
To be repeated in the spring.
Thank you and well done to the author.

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audepel
audepel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, a bit too much road after Château de la Rivière for my taste, but otherwise varied and easy to follow.

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leadrap
leadrap

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great walk, although we completed it in an hour less than advertised. The setting is very pleasant, and the route through the castle grounds is very enjoyable and peaceful. We'll be back!

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Closparadis
Closparadis

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Fairly average start (road and houses) but the climb up to the castle allows you to enjoy the undergrowth
The return journey down through woods and meadows is quite pleasant.

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Closparadis
Closparadis

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Mixed walk between countryside and pavilions

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!ELMAEM!
!ELMAEM!

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 09, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, easy with no difficulty, it's great for getting back into shape.
The section through the castle grounds is magnificent, very shady and very pleasant when it's hot.
I have very fond memories of this walk.

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Regis et Vesta
Regis et Vesta

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 03, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy hike, particularly worthwhile for the park and La Riviere castle. Note that at point 2, you must follow the road (Rue de Goffre) to the castle entrance gate and turn left onto the cypress-lined driveway. The park is open to the public without restriction.You can extend the walk a little on the way back by going to the village of St Germain la Riviere.

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Lilas33
Lilas33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the designer of this extremely interesting hike, especially the second part, which was a delight for all of us.
Perhaps the first part on the roads could be modified...

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Tsephei
Tsephei

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice hike. Small, quiet roads. A very pleasant walk through the Redon woods (probably very nice in summer because it's cool). Many possible variations: with a detour to extend the walk a little, heading up towards Le Moulin (La Garde), then Saint Germain de la Rivière, and returning via the magnificent wash house carved into the limestone, the remarkable plane tree, Pille Bourse, etc. A mix between this hike and the one suggested in "Les sentiers d'Émilie en Gironde": the unusual Fronsadais. Above all, when the gate is open, take a detour to the beautiful Château de la Rivière and its magnificent grounds.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to give your opinion.

For your information, "Map route" refers to assessing the accuracy of the route as it appears on the map in relation to the actual terrain.

See you soon!

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dharam
dharam

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 09, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello
if you rely solely on the technical data sheet and map, you may encounter some difficulties, particularly when leaving La Rivière Castle: several places mentioned in the data sheet do not appear on the ground. I think it is better to use the Visorando app...
The walk through the castle grounds is very pleasant in all seasons, especially in spring, with wild garlic, butterbur and hyacinths. The castle is not open on Sundays, at least in winter.
Thank you for this lovely walk.

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Bruno33500
Bruno33500

Sorry to hear about what happened to you.
I'm a bit surprised. Take a look at the comments about this route, which is Le Pout and not St Germain La Rivière. They are unanimous: no problems encountered.
Can you tell me more?
Where did you lose your way?
What support did you use?
Thank you for your answers.
Bruno 33500

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gégé33600
gégé33600

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Hello. Thank you for your information. I haven't been able to do the circular loop around St Germain la Rivière (33) yet due to bad weather. It's only a matter of time.
However, I recently did the circular around the small village of Le Pout (33), as recommended by your website. I got lost trying to follow your directions and had to walk several kilometres to find the car park where I started.
I tried to let you know, but I was unable to send my message.
Kind regards. Gérard BARTHÉLEMY. 33 PESSAC

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Bruno33500
Bruno33500

Hike completed last week without any problems.
However, fences are currently being installed at the start of the trail to prevent wild camping, so you may need to take a slight detour.
Bruno 33500

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Sylandnic
Sylandnic

The castle gates were closed, perhaps because it was Sunday? I also didn't mark the starting point of the walk, where we crossed an unkempt field with nettles and long grass. Perhaps we didn't find the real starting point? There were three of us, and we spent

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