Left bank
The Médoc, the left bank
The Lamarque ramp opens straight onto the D2, the Route des Châteaux. It is the most direct link between the right bank and the classed growths, without going through Bordeaux.
The port at Lamarque gives directly onto the D2, known as the Route des Châteaux. It runs from Bordeaux to Soulac over roughly 80 km and crosses five appellations: Haut-Médoc, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. You do not drive to it, you are on it the moment you leave the ramp.
That is what makes this crossing worth taking. From the right bank, reaching Margaux by road means going up to Bordeaux and back down the Médoc. By ferry it is 20 minutes of estuary and you are in the vineyard.
What lies either side of Lamarque
| Direction | Appellation | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|
| South | Margaux | With Pauillac, the appellation holding the most 1855 classified châteaux |
| Around you | Haut-Médoc | The appellation surrounding Lamarque, with estates far easier to visit |
| North | Saint-Julien | The most compact of the great appellations, almost entirely classed growths |
| North | Pauillac | Three of the five 1855 first growths: Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild and Latour |
| Further north | Saint-Estèphe | The end of the classified road, before the vineyard gives way to pine forest |
Fort Médoc, beside the ramp
At Cussac-Fort-Médoc, next to Lamarque, stands the third piece of Vauban's estuary lock: Fort Médoc. With the citadel at Blaye opposite and Fort Pâté on its island mid-river, it closed the approach to Bordeaux by crossfire.
The ferry crosses precisely that line, which makes it the only way to see all three points of the system in a single day. The citadel on the other bank.
Visiting the châteaux
The rule is simple: the better known the name, the earlier you must book. First growths receive by appointment, often several days ahead and sometimes only on weekdays. Estates in Haut-Médoc, Listrac and Moulis, around Lamarque, are far more accessible and cost less.
For a day trip, plan two visits at most. Between the driving, the tasting and the ferry time on the way back, a third turns the day into a race. The full loop from Bordeaux.
Check the last sailing before you open a bottle
In summer there are sailings into the evening. Out of season the last one goes considerably earlier, and missing it means 79 km around Bordeaux. Check the grid for your date.
Staying near the Lamarque ramp
The village itself and its immediate surroundings, for anyone who wants to be on the slipway for the first sailing.
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Getting back
The ramp is at Le Port, 33460 Lamarque. As on the way out, be there 30 minutes before departure with a vehicle. Sunday evening is when the queue fills fastest.
Questions about the Médoc
Where does the Route des Châteaux start from the ferry?
At the exit of the Lamarque ramp. The D2, known as the Route des Châteaux, runs through the village: south towards Margaux, north towards Saint-Julien and Pauillac. You are on it as soon as you drive off.
Can you visit châteaux without an appointment?
Rarely. Most classed growths receive by appointment only, often several days ahead. Smaller estates in the Haut-Médoc, Listrac and Moulis appellations are far more open to visitors who simply turn up.
Which appellations does the road cross?
Five, south to north: Haut-Médoc, Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe. The 1855 classification counts 60 Médoc châteaux, and Pauillac alone holds three of the five first growths.
Is the ferry practical for a day in the Médoc?
Yes, provided you watch the time for the return. In summer there are up to 9 sailings, but out of season the last one leaves in the early evening. A tasting that overruns can cost you the detour through Bordeaux.
Sources
Updated : September 2026