Situated on the eastern side of the Gironde estuary to the north of Bordeaux, Blaye is best known for its Citadel and for the red wine produced in the surrounding region.
With 4,700 inhabitants, Blaye is a small town, but has a long history of military and strategic significance.
According to legend, Blaye is the final resting place of Count Roland of Blaye, nephew of Charlemagne and hero of Le Chanson de Roland. Unfortunately, the Basilique Saint-Romain where he was said to be buried suffered damage in the Wars of Religion and was later completely destroyed during the building of the Citadel.
Explore Blaye
Most visits to Blaye start with a visit to the citadel. The Citadel is a military complex designed by Vauban, the famous French military engineer, and constructed between 1685 and 1689.
Built with the goal of protecting Blaye, the Citadel, together with the Fort Paté and the Fort Médoc on the western side of the Gironde estuary, was able to control the flow of river traffic.
It is free to enter the Citadel and explore the village streets and ramparts, and this is the most interesting part of Blaye.
From the top of the Citadel, you have a good view across the estuary and the two forts. Within its walls, visitors can pay to take guided tours of the Abbaye Saint Romain or to enter or take a tour of the Musée d’Archéologie et d’Histoire de Blaye and the old prison in the same building.
Tours are also available of the Citadel and its underground passageways and can be organised through the Blaye Office de Tourisme.
In 2008, the Citadel of Blaye and the city walls were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites along with other fortifications designed by 17th century military engineer Vauban.
Also in Blaye you can see the ruins of the Château des Rudel, a 12th medieval century castle. It was mostly destroyed in the Wars of Religion by Calvinists, although there have been recent efforts to preserve what is left.
The region around Blaye is celebrated for Côtes de Blaye, the red wine made in the nearby vineyards along the eastern Gironde (the more famous wines of Medoc are made in the vineyards to the west of the estuary).
To taste and discover these wines, visitors can go to the Maison du Vin on the Cours Vauban or to the Cellier des Vignerons in the Citadel. Each spring, the Printemps des Vins wine tasting and sale is held inside the Citadel of Blaye.
There is a market in the town every Wednesday and Saturday where visitors can buy local produce, including asparagus of Blayais. The soil in the Blaye region is particularly good for growing asparagus and the gourmet vegetable can be bought from March to May. Blaye’s pralines, fish from the Gironde, and fruit are also notable local products.
There are no trains to Blaye, but it is accessible by bus and by car. Once in Blaye it is easy to see all of the attractions on foot.
It is possible to stay in Blaye itself - there are hotels in the centre and also bed and breakfasts in the surrounding area. Among the popular accommodation options available, the Villa Premayac offers rooms in an 18th century building in the center of the town and the Chateau Bavolier has rooms in an 18th century castle.
Attractions near Blaye
If you are here to explore the Cotes de Blaye wine region you will be interested to know that there is also a ferry across the Gironde estuary from Blaye to the village of Lamarque, which is between Pauillac and Margaux in the heart of the Medoc wine region.
One of our favourite cities in France is Bordeaux, just a short journey south of Blaye and an unmissable part of your trip to the region.
Villages that we recommend you visit include Saint-Emilion, one of the loveliest villages in France and now a UNESCO listed heritage site, and Talmont-sur-Gironde to the north of Blaye and with a lovely roman style church on a headland overlooking the estuary.
You can find more travel ideas in the Gironde guide and the Aquitaine guide.
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Map of Blaye and places nearby
Visit near Blaye with France This Way reviews
Margaux
The village and region here are known worldwide because of the prestigious wines from Chateau Margaux
Margaux guide
Pauillac
The small town of Pauillac is best known for the surrounding wine chateaux such as Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton Rothschild
Pauillac guide
Vertheuil
In this tiny village you can see Vertheuil Abbey and also the ruins of an ancient castle
Vertheuil guide
Lesparre-Medoc
A small town in Medoc, at Lesparre-Medoc you can see the remains of a medieval tower
Lesparre-Medoc guide
Les Bassins des Lumieres
The Bassins des Lumierès is the largest digital art installation in the world and is a fabulous immersive look at the works of major artists.
Les Bassins des Lumieres guide
Carcans
Although small, Carcans-Plage is one of our favourite beach resorts in the Medoc
Carcans guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Gironde
Address: Blaye, Aquitaine, 33390, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 45.1286, longitude -0.661111
Plan your visit to Blaye, Gironde
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Blaye citadelle (Vauban fortifications): heritage site
- Cussac Fort Paté (Vauban fortifications): heritage site
- Fort Médoc (Vauban fortifications): heritage site (4 km)
- Parc du château Lanessan: remarkable garden (6 km)
- Bec d'Ambès: site of natural beauty (11 km)
- Cave Pair-non-Pair: national monument (16 km)
- Jardin du Fond de l’or: remarkable garden (32 km)
- Bordeaux basilique Saint-Seurin (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (32 km)
- Bordeaux Port: heritage site (33 km)
- Bordeaux cathédrale Saint-André (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (33 km)
- Pey-Berland Tower: national monument (33 km)
- Bordeaux basilique Saint-Michel (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (34 km)
Market days in Blaye, France
Regular market(s) are held in Blaye each Wednesday & Saturday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Blaye (Francais)