First pick
Bois des Sources du Peugue
Park or garden
116 ha18.4 km of path
4 h 5 minto walk all 18.4 km of path
4.4 km south-westfrom the center
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Sylvain Machefert · CC BY-SA 4.022%woodland
Outdoors in Pessac · protected areas, woods and footpaths
Pessac has more footpaths per km² than 8 in 10 French towns
Footpaths add up to 187 km across Pessac (4.8 km per km²). Mapped woodland covers 22% of Pessac. No protected area reaches Pessac; the nearest, La Garonne en Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Natura 2000), is 8.2 km from the town center. France has no Outdoors Grade yet: these are the figures, each beside the compared towns’ median.
Protected areas
0%
of the commune’s land
Nearest: La Garonne en Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 8.2 km
Woodland
22%
of the land, mapped on OpenStreetMap
Compared town: 13%
Footpaths
187 km
4.8 km per km²
Compared town: 1.7 km per km²
Hiking routes
0 km
waymarked, GR and others
Compared town: 0.3 km per km²
Parks & woods
30
named, in or within 400 m of the commune
First: Bois des Sources du Peugue
The sea
24 km
from the town center to the coast
Throughout this page, the Gironde median and the France median are the median of compared communes (those with an overall grade), each figure its own median.
What kind of place
What kind of outdoors place is Pessac?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and less good.
A place of footpaths4.8 km per km² of mapped footpath, against 1.7 km per km² for the median compared town.Protected land nearbyLa Garonne en Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Natura 2000) is 8.2 km from the town center.
What sets Pessac apart: its footpaths, then protected land close by.
Against French towns
How Pessac compares with French towns
Each figure against the 3,798 compared French towns (communes with an overall grade): the marked bar is the town’s, the line the median. Described, not graded.
Protected areas0%Share of the land in a national park, regional nature park, nature reserve or Natura 2000 site
22out of 100
Woodland22%Share of the land mapped as forest or woods on OpenStreetMap
66out of 100
Footpaths4.8 km per km²Km of mapped footpath and track open on foot, per km² of the commune
90out of 100
Hiking routes0 km per km²Km of waymarked hiking routes (GR and others), per km² of the commune
12out of 100
Percentiles among compared French towns; ties count half.
Towns its size
Pessac has the 17th most footpaths per km² of 41 towns its size
The 40 compared French towns nearest in population (58,329 to 77,637 residents), by km of footpath per km². Hover for each one’s protected land and woods; click for its page.
From Cergy (11.2 km per km²) to Saint-André (0.6 km per km²).
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Paths (km/km²) | Woodland | Protected | Coast | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cergy Val-d'Oise | 11.2 | 13% | 0% | 120 km |
| 2 | Issy-les-Moulineaux Hauts-de-Seine | 10.9 | 2.2% | 0% | 149 km |
| 3 | Marseille 10e Bouches-du-Rhône | 10.6 | 23% | 37% | 4 km |
| 4 | Ivry-sur-Seine Val-de-Marne | 8.5 | 0.6% | 0% | 155 km |
| 5 | Évry-Courcouronnes Essonne | 8.4 | 9.5% | 0% | 174 km |
| 6 | Clamart Hauts-de-Seine | 8.4 | 26% | 0% | 151 km |
| 7 | Pantin Seine-Saint-Denis | 8.3 | 1.9% | 0% | 148 km |
| 8 | Levallois-Perret Hauts-de-Seine | 7.7 | 0% | 0% | 143 km |
| 9 | Villeneuve-d'Ascq Nord | 7.6 | 8% | 2.3% | 65 km |
| 10 | Villejuif Val-de-Marne | 7.4 | 1% | 0% | 156 km |
| 11 | Noisy-le-Grand Seine-Saint-Denis | 6.6 | 25% | 0% | 160 km |
| 12 | Antony Hauts-de-Seine | 6.2 | 4.8% | 0.6% | 157 km |
| 13 | Chambéry Savoie | 6 | 15% | 1.5% | 235 km |
| 14 | Vénissieux Rhône | 5 | 3.8% | 0% | 247 km |
| 15 | Marseille 9e Bouches-du-Rhône | 5 | 39% | 83% | On it |
| 16 | Sarcelles Val-d'Oise | 4.9 | 6.9% | 0% | 139 km |
| 17 | Pessac Gironde | 4.8 | 22% | 0% | 24 km |
| 18 | Clichy Hauts-de-Seine | 4.6 | 0.6% | 0% | 143 km |
| 19 | Lorient Morbihan | 4.6 | 1.8% | 0.6% | On it |
| 20 | Cannes Alpes-Maritimes | 4.6 | 15% | 10% | On it |
| 21 | Le Blanc-Mesnil Seine-Saint-Denis | 4.6 | 2.1% | 0% | 147 km |
| 22 | Neuilly-sur-Seine Hauts-de-Seine | 4.4 | 0.1% | 0% | 143 km |
| 23 | Marseille 14e Bouches-du-Rhône | 3.9 | 1.4% | 23% | 2.7 km |
| 24 | Troyes Aube | 3.7 | 1.2% | 0% | 272 km |
| 25 | Saint-Nazaire Loire-Atlantique | 3.4 | 7.2% | 37% | On it |
| 26 | Marseille 11e Bouches-du-Rhône | 3.3 | 43% | 42% | 7.5 km |
| 27 | Antibes Alpes-Maritimes | 3.3 | 7.3% | 1.3% | On it |
| 28 | Calais Pas-de-Calais | 3.3 | 2.1% | 0% | On it |
| 29 | Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Val-de-Marne | 3.3 | 0.5% | 0% | 161 km |
| 30 | Fréjus Var | 3.1 | 48% | 33% | On it |
| 31 | La Seyne-sur-Mer Var | 2.9 | 21% | 15% | On it |
| 32 | Quimper Finistère | 2.9 | 25% | 0% | On it |
| 33 | Marseille 12e Bouches-du-Rhône | 2.7 | 6.8% | 0% | 5.2 km |
| 34 | Drancy Seine-Saint-Denis | 2.3 | 0% | 0% | 147 km |
| 35 | Bourges Cher | 2.3 | 4.9% | 0.4% | 283 km |
| 36 | Valence Drôme | 2.1 | 3.3% | 0% | 164 km |
| 37 | Niort Deux-Sèvres | 2 | 6.2% | 100% | 51 km |
| 38 | Ajaccio Corse-du-Sud | 1.5 | 9.8% | 16% | On it |
| 39 | Colmar Haut-Rhin | 1.2 | 19% | 29% | 473 km |
| 40 | Montauban Tarn-et-Garonne | 0.8 | 5.4% | 1.3% | 175 km |
| 41 | Saint-André Réunion | 0.6 | 16% | 31% | On it |
The map
Parks, woods, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park or wood. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is the commune’s boundary.
Green: parks, gardens and woods mapped on OpenStreetMap, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · INPN / PatriNat · IGN
Places to walk
Parks and woods to walk in, in and around Pessac
Named parks, gardens and woods in the commune or within 400 m, the biggest and best-pathed first: Bois des Sources du Peugue leads, at 116 ha. Directions go to a point inside.
Forêt du Bourgailh
Park or garden
83 ha14.9 km of path
3 h 20 minto walk all 14.9 km of path
1.6 km north-westfrom the center
Piste du Bourgailh
Directionsto a point inside
Bois de Thouars
Park or garden · 270 m outside the commune
43 ha10.6 km of path
2 h 20 minto walk all 10.6 km of path
4.6 km eastfrom the center
Rue Georges Carpentier
Directionsto a point inside
Bois du Burck
Wood or forest · 0 m outside the commune
42 ha10.5 km of path
2 h 20 minto walk all 10.5 km of path
2.3 km north-eastfrom the center
Bois du Burck
Directionsto a point inside
Parc de Cotor-Laburthe
Wood or forest · 20 m outside the commune
41 ha6.3 km of path
1 h 25 minto walk all 6.3 km of path
3.3 km south-eastfrom the center
Piste APiste BPiste A2+3 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Parc de Cap de Bos
Park or garden
11 ha3.2 km of path
40 minto walk all 3.2 km of path
2.6 km westfrom the center
Directionsto a point inside
Parc du Campus de l'Université Bordeaux Montaigne - Doyen Brus
Park or garden
11 ha1.9 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.9 km of path
3.6 km eastfrom the center
Route désaffectée
Directionsto a point inside
Bois de Saige
Park or garden
8 ha1.3 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
2.5 km eastfrom the center
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks, gardens and woods
Bois des Sources du PeuguePark or garden · 116 ha · 18.4 km of path
DirectionsForêt du BourgailhPark or garden · 83 ha · 14.9 km of path
DirectionsBois de ThouarsPark or garden · 43 ha · 10.6 km of path · just outside
DirectionsBois du BurckWood or forest · 42 ha · 10.5 km of path · just outside
DirectionsParc de Cotor-LaburtheWood or forest · 41 ha · 6.3 km of path · just outside
DirectionsParc de Cap de BosPark or garden · 11 ha · 3.2 km of path
DirectionsParc du Campus de l'Université Bordeaux Montaigne - Doyen BrusPark or garden · 11 ha · 1.9 km of path
DirectionsBois de SaigePark or garden · 8 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsDomaine de CazaletPark or garden · 6.9 ha · 1.5 km of path
DirectionsParc de FontaudinPark or garden · 5.2 ha · 1.9 km of path
DirectionsParc de CrabettePark or garden · 6 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsParc du CamponacPark or garden · 4.2 ha · 1 km of path
DirectionsParc de l'Université Bordeaux MontaignePark or garden · 3.4 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsParc RazonPark or garden · 2.7 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsParc du LucheyPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside
DirectionsParc de JozereauPark or garden · 2.7 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsParc de TenetPark or garden · 2 ha · 0.8 km of path · just outside
DirectionsParc LaviellePark or garden · 2 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsBois de L'UniversitéPark or garden · 2.8 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsParc PompidouPark or garden · 1.5 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsParc du Château Pape ClémentPark or garden · 1.2 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsParc de l'Université Bordeaux Montaigne - ArtsPark or garden · 1.3 ha
DirectionsSquare Alfred SmithPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside
DirectionsSquare Saint-JulienPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside
DirectionsBois des RosesPark or garden · 0.5 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsThéâtre de verdurePark or garden · 0.7 ha
DirectionsSquare MadranPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsPlace du PrintempsPark or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsLe jardin de la cuvéePark or garden · 0.2 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsParc AlouettePark or garden · 0.6 ha
DirectionsSource: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL): named parks, gardens and woods; sizes are the whole site.
Protected areas
La Garonne en Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the nearest protected area, 8.2 km away
The protected areas reaching the commune, and the nearest: national parks, regional nature parks, nature reserves and Natura 2000 sites.
Natura 2000 site
La Garonne en Nouvelle-Aquitaine
8.2 km from the town center
Share of the commune’s land
Any protected area0%
Designations overlap (a regional park can hold a Natura 2000 site), so the rows don’t add up; the first counts each piece of land once.
Source: INPN / PatriNat, protected areas July 2026, Natura 2000 December 2024; shares of IGN’s commune boundary.
Footpaths and woods
Footpaths and woods in Pessac
Paths, bridleways, steps and tracks open on foot, and waymarked hiking routes, mapped on OpenStreetMap inside the commune; woods are mapped forest and woodland, private woods included.
Footpaths
187 km
4.8 km per km²
Hiking routes
0 km
waymarked: 0 km per km²
Woodland
22%
about 8.7 km² of mapped woods
Km per km² of the commune · mapped on OpenStreetMap
PessacGironde medianFrance median
Footpaths4.8
Hiking routes0
036 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
PessacGironde medianFrance median
Woodland22%
0%50%100%
That is more than in 90% of compared French towns for footpaths per km², and for woodland more than in 66% of compared French towns. Hiking routes often follow paths and lanes already counted, so the two lengths overlap: don’t add them. Every home in Pessac is within 800 m of a mapped park or wood, as in most French towns.
Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), extracts of October 25, 2026 (Geofabrik).
When to get out
The best walking months in Pessac: April to September
Météo-France’s 1991–2020 normals at Bordeaux-Merignac, 4.5 km away, and the daylight at the town’s latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 15 to 30 °C and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 15.3 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| High (°C) | 11 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 11 |
| Rain (mm) | 87 | 67 | 63 | 76 | 71 | 70 | 49 | 57 | 81 | 83 | 115 | 106 |
July is the driest month (49 mm) and August the warmest (highs of 28 °C). 115 mm of rain falls in November, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 23 nights a year. The climate in Pessac →
Gardens
2 gardens to visit in Pessac
Named gardens in the commune.
Jardins partagés AOCIn Pessac
DirectionsLe jardin de la cuvéeIn Pessac
DirectionsSource: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Wikidata.
Neighbors
Next to Pessac
The nearest towns of 2,500 or more, colored by the share of their land in protected areas.
MérignacGradignanCanéjanTalenceCestasVillenave-d'OrnonPessac
Under 1%1–10 %10–25 %25–50 %50 %+
Villenave-d'Ornon has at least twice as much protected land. Canéjan and Cestas are more wooded.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Protected areas. National-park cores, national parks’ outer areas, regional nature parks, nature reserves and Natura 2000 sites, from INPN. A national park’s core is strictly protected; its outer area and a regional park are charters between communes, not bans. Designations overlap, so the total counts each piece of land once.
- Woodland. Forest and woods as OpenStreetMap maps them, private woods included: woods nobody has mapped are missing, and a mapped wood isn’t necessarily open to walkers.
- Footpaths and hiking routes. Footpaths, bridleways, steps and tracks open on foot, then waymarked hiking routes (GR and others) measured apart. A route often follows a path or lane already counted: the two overlap. Paths nobody has mapped are missing.
- Green space nearby. The share of residents (INSEE’s 200 m grid) within 800 m, as the crow flies, of a mapped park, garden or wood edge. It measures nearness, not a way in. Guadeloupe and French Guiana have no grid: their pages say whether the town center is within 800 m.
- The coast. The straight-line distance from the town center to OpenStreetMap’s coastline, which follows the tide line into estuaries. A commune is on the coast when the coastline crosses its boundary.
- No grade yet. U.S. and UK towns have an Outdoors Grade; French towns don’t yet. Each figure is set beside the median of compared communes (those with an overall grade) in the département and in France, each figure its own median.
Questions about the outdoors in Pessac
Is Pessac in a national or regional nature park?
No. The nearest protected area is La Garonne en Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 8.2 km from the town center.
Are there good walks in Pessac?
OpenStreetMap maps 187 km of footpaths and tracks open on foot in the commune, 4.8 km per km² (the median compared town: 1.7 km per km²).
How much of Pessac is woodland?
22% of the commune is mapped woodland, private woods included; the median compared French town has 13%.
Is Pessac near the sea?
No: the coast is 24 km from the town center, as the crow flies.
When is the best time for walking in Pessac?
April to September: long days, mild highs and little rain, from Météo-France’s 1991–2020 normals at the nearest suitable station.
Why is there no Outdoors Grade for French towns?
TownRatings grades the outdoors in the U.S. and the UK; the French figures are new and not graded yet. This page sets each one beside the median compared French town instead.
Sources: INPN / PatriNat (protected areas 2026, Natura 2000 2024) · © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL (paths, hiking routes, woods, coast, gardens) · INSEE, Filosofi 2021 200 m grid (residents) · IGN Admin Express (boundaries) · Météo-France normals 1991–2020 · Medians and percentiles: TownRatings, over compared French towns, updated November 9, 2026. Under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab).
Contains public sector information under the Licence Ouverte / Open Licence 2.0 (Etalab): INSEE, DGFiP, the Interior Ministry’s statistics service (SSMSI), the Ministry of Education (DEPP), the Health Ministry’s statistics service (DREES) and the Housing Ministry (Carte des loyers). Commune boundaries: IGN Admin Express.