Accessible route : The Bourgailh forest
Come and discover this forest which takes its name from the Château Haut-Bourgailh which belonged to Cyprien Bourgailh in the 19th century. After a period of gravel pit activity, the site became a garbage dump in 1981. Following its closure, the landfill was covered by ericaceous plantations, thus becoming the Bourgailh hill. Reaching of 70 metres'altitude, it is the city's highest point on the left bank. Today, the Bourgailh forest appears as a symbol of the recapture of a degraded area. The route has been awarded the Tourism & Handicap label (hearing, intellectual and physical impairments).
With your mobile phone, follow the route in real time:
- No need for a specific application
- Simply activate the geolocation via the icon on the map
Steps
From the car park take the central path, at the first crossroads continue straight ahead on the concrete path towards the belvedere.
This open-air amphitheatre has 400 seats. During the summer, it hosts several shows during the City of Pessac's cultural season. When not use by the municipality, it is made available for associations and artists.
This observatory is the highest of the 3 site's lookouts reaching 18 metres high. It offers a unique panoramic view of the scenery. It is a privileged place to contemplate the birds and the Bourgailh hill.
Cross the wooden bridge and turn left. At the next intersection, turn right. At the GR marker, turn left onto the undeveloped paths. When you reach a tarmac lane, turn right. At the next junction, turn left. Continue straight ahead on this large driveway.
At the next intersection, take the first right. At the crossroads, go straight on to pass over the "grand culvert du Tarin". Continue straight across the tarmac driveway. Continue straight across another lane. Follow the "cercle de la Savane" and the GR markings. Take the "grand ponceau du Verdier", then turn immediately right at the GR markings.
It was designed by the team of landscape architects in charge of the forest's development. It raises canopy, and was inspired by water spiders. It offers a view of the lagoon.
Follow the GR on the tarmac path and continue on this path. Nearby, you will see a suburban refuge.
Created in 2013, the tronc creux is one of eleven peri-urban refuges. In the Bourgailh, Yvan Detraz imagined a refuge in the shape of a tree trunk. For him, "trunks are natural refuges for many animals...". This work also remembers that the site used to be a dump.
Continue along this path to your starting point.
This greenhouse covers 1300m². With its 3500 exotic plants from all around the world, it is the largest collection of tropical and subtropical plants in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Open in the afternoon from 1pm to 6pm, closed in winter.
Designed by the artist David Steinfeld, the structures represent emblematic animals of the Bourgailh forest: a newt, a black kite...
Points of Interest (POI)
Here you will find a car park, accessible for people with reduced mobility.
The Bistrot de l'Alouette offers dishes cooked only with fresh products. The restaurant is accessible to the disabled and open from Monday to Sunday (times to be consulted according to the day). Enjoy your meal! Learn more.
