Parc de l'Ermitage, Park in Lormont, France
The Parc de l'Ermitage Sainte-Catherine is a park in Lormont, on the right bank of the Garonne river across from Bordeaux. The grounds cover a hilly terrain with wooded slopes, winding paths of varying steepness, a large artificial lake at the center, and several lookout platforms at the top offering open views over the city and river.
The site was used as a pilgrimage destination in the Middle Ages, then saw two chateaux built on it in the 17th century, both of which disappeared in the 20th century. It then became a stone quarry until 1983, when extraction stopped and Lormont purchased the land to turn it into a park, which opened to the public in 2005.
The park takes its name from a cave hermitage once carved into the rock on this hillside. Today, visitors can still see exposed quarry walls as they walk the paths or sit near the lake, connecting the present-day green space to its older identity.
The main entrance can be hard to spot from the road because signage is limited, so it helps to approach from the Garonne riverbank and follow the path uphill. Some sections are steep, so comfortable shoes are a good idea, especially if you plan to reach the lookout platforms at the top.
The park has a small overnight shelter called "le Nuage" (the Cloud), a cluster of wooden cabins by the lake where visitors can spend the night for free by booking in advance. Sleeping there puts you right in the middle of the park after all other visitors have left, with only the sounds of the water and the trees around you.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
