The Path of Time at the Bordeaux Astrophysics Laboratory

de fr

A unique trail in France offering a journey through the history of our universe! The Path of Time: every metre covered represents 1 million years, and the 13.8 km of the Path of Time retrace the 13.8 billion years separating us from the Big Bang. This project was designed by the University of Bordeaux and its Bordeaux Astrophysics Laboratory (LAB) as part of the “Science with and for Society” initiative. It passes through the towns of Gradignan, Pessac and Talence, as well as the University of Bordeaux and the University of Bordeaux-Montaigne. This route also follows the GR® Bordeaux Métropole trail markings for several kilometres.

Details

n°91568337
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
–
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.70 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 33 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 131 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 151 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 43 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Gradignan (33170)
  • ⚑
    Start: N 44.775625° / W 0.633621°
  • ⚑
    End: N 44.806138° / W 0.598347°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1536OT, 1537SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather
    Discover Visorando Premium
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Photos

Saint Albe Park

Description of the walk

Access by car: parking available at 19 Chemin du Solarium, near the entrance to the Laboratoire de Physique des Deux Infinis in Bordeaux. Please note: if you wish to use the car park, check opening times and accessibility – it is closed in the evenings and at weekends.
Access by bus: get off at the “Maison Neuve” stop on Line 39 – Avenue de la Poterie, then turn left towards Chemin du Solarium.

(S) The tour starts in front of the entrance to the Laboratoire de Physique des Deux Infinis. This first point corresponds to the earliest moments of the universe, where the information panels on the Big Bang are located. Head towards Avenue de la Poterie.

(1) The first marker is located at the junction of Avenue de la Poterie and Chemin du Solarium. This is the marker labelled“13.5 billion years ago”. Cross Avenue de la Poterie, turn left and walk for about 200 m. Then turn right onto the small grassy path, near Rue du Vivier. Reach the second marker, “13 billion years ago”.

(2) Cross Allée Paul Cézanne to reach the Parc du Château d’Ornon. Continue straight ahead, then turn left, following the red and white markings of the GR® Métropolitain, and join Route de Canéjan.

(3) Cross the road and pass the marker “12 billion years ago”. Continue through the woodland, following the markings, and emerge onto Chemin des Moulins.

(4) Cross the road by taking a short first turn right then left: you will pass the signpost “11.5 billion years ago”. Continue straight on, following the GR® Métropolitain route. Reach the footbridge over the Eau Bourde, ignore it and follow the path to the left along the stream. Enter Montgaillard Park, walk alongside the Eau Bourde and pass several footbridges on your right before turning left to return to Chemin des Moulins.

(5) Cross the road and enter Parc de Saint-Albe via the path on the left, leaving the GR® markings behind. Near the bridge is the signpost “10.5 billion years ago ”. Continue straight on to the top of the park, where you’ll find information panels on the theme of the stars. Turn right and join the Route de Pessac.

(6) Turn left, continue straight on, and pass the signpost“10 billion years ago”. Cross Rue de Loustalot and head towards Parc de l’Ermitage.

(7) Turn right to enter the park, cross Avenue Jean Larrieu, walk past the Château de l’Ermitage, then head right to leave the park. Join Avenue Charles et Émile Lestage.

(8) Turn left to follow this avenue for a few dozen metres, then turn right onto Avenue Jean Coquelin to reach Route de Canéjan.

(9) Turn right, pass the sign saying “8.5 billion years ago”, then continue straight on.

(10) Go round the roundabout on the left, cross at the pedestrian crossing and turn left to walk along the right-hand side of the road for about 200 m. Turn right onto the dirt track, continue straight ahead; the entrance to Cotor-Laburthe Park is opposite. Stay on the path, pass the signpost “8 billion years ago” and rejoin the GR® Métropolitain route, which you should follow to the right.

(11) Take the path on the left, staying on the GR®. Continue straight on for about a hundred metres, pass the signpost “7.5 billion years ago” and follow the GR® route to the park exit.

(12) At the signpost “7 billion years ago”, turn left and cross the bridge over the ring road. At the roundabout, turn left then take the first street on the right, Avenue Camille Julian. Continue straight on to the next roundabout , passing the signpost “6.5 billion years ago”

(13) At the roundabout, turn left onto Rue Jean Babin and continue straight on. Pass the signpost “6 billion years ago” and continue to the junction with Rue Lucie Aubrac. Turn right and continue for a few dozen metres.

(14) Cross Rue Lucie Aubrac and continue straight on into the car park. Cross Avenue du Docteur Albert Schweitzer and continue into the Bois de Saige.

(15) As you leave the woods, turn right at the signpostmarked “5.5 billion years ago”, follow Rue des Résédas and turn right again towards the COSEC de Saige. Enter through the small gate: on your left are the panels on the theme of exoplanets. Continue straight along the path until you reach Avenue du Docteur Albert Schweitzer.

(16) Cross the avenue, turn left then right to pass the signpost“5 billion years ago”. Thencontinue straight on along the Esplanade des Antilles.

(17) At the roundabout, turn left and cross the Esplanade des Antilles. Cut diagonally across the small parkand walk past the signs on the theme of the Solar System. As you leave the park, turn left, walk past the marker “4.5 billion years ago” and then head right. Continue straight on alongside the tram tracks, passing the marker “4 billion years ago”.

(18) Cross the tram tracks, continue in the same direction and pass the signpost marked “3.5 billion years ago”.

(19) Go round the roundabout on the right and head straight ahead. On your left are the panels on the theme of the emergence of life. Continue straight on along Avenue de Facultés, following the tram line, and pass the marker “3 billion years ago”. Carry on straight ahead until you reach the University Library of Science and Technology, where you’ll find the panels on the theme of biological diversity and the marker“2.5 billion years ago”.

(20) Cross the “La Porte des Étoiles” bridge, which spans Avenue Roul, heading towards the university campus. Continue straight on for about 500 m and pass the marker “2 billion years ago”. Go round the roundabout on the left, follow the Étang Bonnefont and head towards the University of Bordeaux exit on the Cours de la Libération.

(21) Cross over towards the University of Bordeaux Botanical Garden. Turn left at the entrance and, at the end of the path, turn right: you will pass the marker “1.5 billion years ago”. Walk around the garden, return to the Cours de la Libération and cross it again. Then head slightly to the left, walking alongside the Physics Department, then turn right towards Étang Bonnefont and walk alongside it at a distance , passing the marker “0.5 billion years ago”. Then turn left at a 90° angle; you are now 500 million years from the finish line or the present! Continue straight on for a few dozen metres, turn right, then continue straight on again for 400 m to reach the final marker “Present”, located at the Entrée Béthanie of the University of Bordeaux. Nearby you will find the final panels on the theme of the human lineage and the Anthropocene ( E).

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 141 ft - Chemin du Solarium
  2. 1 : mi 0.17 - alt. 141 ft - Avenue de la Poterie
  3. 2 : mi 0.48 - alt. 141 ft - Allée Paul Cézanne
  4. 3 : mi 1.06 - alt. 121 ft - Route de Canéjan
  5. 4 : mi 1.38 - alt. 85 ft - Chemin des Moulins
  6. 5 : mi 1.93 - alt. 72 ft - Chemin des Moulins
  7. 6 : mi 2.23 - alt. 69 ft - Route de Pessac
  8. 7 : mi 2.65 - alt. 121 ft - Parc de l'Ermitage
  9. 8 : mi 2.98 - alt. 102 ft - Avenue Charles et Emile Lestage
  10. 9 : mi 3.2 - alt. 115 ft - Route de Canéjan
  11. 10 : mi 3.47 - alt. 115 ft - Roundabout
  12. 11 : mi 3.84 - alt. 102 ft - Path on the left
  13. 12 : mi 4.3 - alt. 115 ft - Signpost: "7 billion years ago"
  14. 13 : mi 4.71 - alt. 112 ft - Roundabout
  15. 14 : mi 5.09 - alt. 108 ft - Rue Lucie Aubrac
  16. 15 : mi 5.32 - alt. 118 ft - Bois de Saige exit
  17. 16 : mi 5.54 - alt. 115 ft - Avenue du Docteur Albert Schweitzer
  18. 17 : mi 5.8 - alt. 112 ft - Esplanade des Antilles
  19. 18 : mi 6.25 - alt. 121 ft - Crossing tram tracks
  20. 19 : mi 6.53 - alt. 82 ft - Roundabout
  21. 20 : mi 7.13 - alt. 66 ft - University Library of Science and Technology
  22. 21 : mi 7.7 - alt. 52 ft - Cours de la Libération
  23. E : mi 8.7 - alt. 69 ft - Béthanie tram stop

Notes

Forest areas require waterproof shoes or boots in wet weather.

The trail is fully accessible until 7pm: the gates to the University of Bordeaux Botanical Garden near Parc Peixotto are closed.

Worth a visit

Visits to the parks in Gradignan, Talence and Pessac.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Other walks in the area

Walking Walk through the parks in the centre of Gradignan

Visorando Member
Promenade des parcs du centre de Gradignan
↔4.52 mi ↗+69 ft ↘-69 ft ◔2h 10 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Gradignan (Gironde)
A circular route through the parks in the centre of Gradignan.

Walking Mandelieu and Mandavit parks in Gradignan

Visorando Member
Les parcs Mandelieu et Mandavit à Gradignan
↔4.45 mi ↗+46 ft ↘-66 ft ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Gradignan (Gironde)
A very green circular loop, without concrete or tarmac, in Gradignan, very close to Bordeaux. Suitable in all seasons (paths are not muddy and there is shade). There are benches dotted along the route. There may be mosquitoes near the river (the Eau Bourde).

Walking The Eau Bourde green corridor between Canéjan and Gradignan

Visorando Member
La coulée verte de l'Eau Bourde entre Canéjan et Gradignan
↔5.76 mi ↗+39 ft ↘-33 ft ◔2h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Gironde
Having a river near your home is always a blessing. Our Eau Bourde is modest but full of charm, offering around fifteen kilometres of almost continuous walking or cycling along its tranquil course, alone or with the family, whatever the season.

Walking Chemin du temps in the Bois de Thouars

Visorando Member
↔0.90 mi ↗+10 ft ↘-20 ft ◔0h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Talence (Gironde)
A unique trail in France that takes you on a journey through the history of our universe. The Path of Time: each metre travelled represents 10 million years, and the 1.38 km of the Path of Time retraces the 13.8 billion years that separate us from the Big Bang. Project designed by the University of Bordeaux and its Bordeaux Astrophysics Laboratory (LAB) as part of the "Science with and for society" label and in partnership with the city of Talence.

Walking From Lac Vert to Lac Bleu, between pine trees and vineyards in the Gironde moors

Visorando Member
Du Lac Vert au Lac Bleu, entre pins et vignes dans les landes girondines
↔9.42 mi ↗+39 ft ↘-39 ft ◔4h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Gironde
Between Cestas and Léognan, there are wide open spaces for beautiful, healthy walks, whatever the season. This is a walk that can be enjoyed with the family at a leisurely pace, but is also perfect for Nordic walking. Between the two lakes, the landscape is constantly changing, as both the vineyards and the forest take on a different appearance depending on the season and how they are used.

Walking Cap de Bos and Bourgailh Parks in Pessac

Visorando Member
Parcs de Cap de Bos et du Bourgailh à Pessac
↔4.86 mi ↗+20 ft ↘-20 ft ◔2h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Pessac (Gironde)
Here is a short walk on the edge of the urban area of Pessac, in a tamed but no less pleasant natural setting where you can gain a bit of height thanks to cleverly placed viewing points. A walk you can do with your children, who will find plenty of opportunities to let off steam in a fun way.

Walking The Eau Bourde between two mills in Cestas

Visorando Member
L'Eau Bourde entre deux moulins à Cestas
↔5.11 mi ↗+52 ft ↘-52 ft ◔2h 25 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Cestas (Gironde)
In the privileged environment of the Bordeaux suburbs, there are many opportunities for walks and hikes. This loop, with its varied landscapes, can be enjoyed as a quiet and relaxing stroll, or, on the contrary, covered at a brisk pace using the techniques of power walking or Nordic walking. I opted for the latter, for a workout circuit lasting about an hour and a half.

Walking Fitness trail in the Bourghail Forest

Visorando Member
↔4.33 mi ↗+26 ft ↘-26 ft ◔2h 00 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Pessac (Gironde)
An easy 7 km walk, with no significant elevation gain, through the Bourghail forest and the Cap de Bos basin.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.