The route reaches the beach in Royan starting from the city of Bordeaux, running along the right bank of the Gironde estuary, the broadest estuary in Europe. The trail corresponds to the shortest walking distance between the two cities: 145 km with 740 m elevation gain, maximizing dirt tracks (65%). The route is a parallel to the touristic Green Road.
The route starts from Bordeaux, the French capital of wine, nearby the fountain on the pretty “Place de la Bourse”, an emblematic place of the city. It crosses the two affluent rivers of the Gironde estuary: la Garonne and la Dordogne, to reach the backcountry around Saint-André de Cubzac and Bourg-sur-Gironde, where the vineyards, world widely reputed, paint the fabulous scenery. Then, the route goes along the right bank of the Gironde estuary to reach the Pontaillac seafront, where the first waves from the Atlantic Ocean strike the beach, also historically recognized as a singular neighborhood of Royan. Royan is a famous seaside resort, classified in 2010 as a ”Art and historical city” due to its very special historical background, since the city was bombed during World War II and re-built with a unique modernist style (designed by Le Corbusier et Niemeyer) which makes the city an architectural curiosity. The route includes (from Bordeaux to Royan):
- The protected natural area of Vitrezay including swamps and a bird sanctuary;
- The monolithic hermitage nearby Mortagne-sur-Gironde;
- The old fortified city of Talmont-sur-Gironde, classified among the (159) most beautiful French villages and with the Sainte-Radegonde church classified as historical monument;
- The troglodyte cities along the limestone cliffs nearby Meschers-sur-Gironde (Régulus and Matata caves).
