Bordeaux, places to visit?

Unesco heritage city with a vast protected area

Bordeaux is the chief town of the region of Aquitaine, a wonderful land and place of production of the celebrated wine of the same name. A wine so famous that the entire world attributes its name even to a particular shade of the colour red.

The city of Bordeaux stands on the banks of the River Garonne, near the estuary. Thanks to its strategic position, it was and still is an important river port, and this allowed to develop a flourishing economy that led to a lively artistic and cultural life.

An important trade centre, Bordeaux has a beautiful city centre which, since 2007, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the UNESCO patronage in this case is rather large since the protected area extends over 1,800 hectares and even includes the river.

Bordeaux, Place de la Bourse. Photo: Sisiterscom.com, Shutterstock

Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux

The riverside, with its imposing facades, opens onto the splendid Place de la Bourse, which for many centuries has been the symbol of Bordeaux. The square, designed by Jacques Gabriel (architect of King Louis XV), opens the city towards the river and is today enriched by the Miroir D’eau (Mirror of Water), the world’s largest reflecting pool of water (3,450 m²), a spectacular work that alternates moments when it reflects the square and others when the water flows in the form of vaporised jets.

Pont Sait Pierre, Bordeaux. Foto: Sisiterscom.com, Shutterstock

Saint Pierre, heart of the ciy in Bordeaux

The true heart of the old town of Bordeaux is the quarter of Saint Pierre. Here you can stroll among the characteristic alleyways and numerous restaurants that offer excellent local dishes accompanied, of course, by a glass of good Bordeaux. The current Place Saint Pierre was the entrance to the Roman port. In this area trade flourished, and this is testified by the names of the streets which still today evoke the professions that were practised there at the time: Rue des Argentiers (goldsmiths), Rue des Bahutiers (chest makers) Rue du Chai des Farines (grain warehouse).

Museums and Gotich Cathedrals of Bordeaux

The Hotel de la Ville, headquarters of the municipal authority, houses the Museum of Fine Arts of Bordeaux, which preserves an important collection of masterpieces by artists such as Titian, Rubens, Delacroix, Renoir and Matisse.

Nearby is the splendid Cathedral of Saint André which, like most Bordeaux churches, is in French Gothic style.

Among the other churches of Bourdeaux, a visit to Saint Eloi is well worthwhile, as is a tour of the nearby Grosse Cloche and Basilique of Saint Michel with its 114 metre belfry that stands over the quarter of the same name, the liveliest and most multi-ethnic of the entire city.

The perfect conclusion to a visit of the city of Bordeaux is a trip to the Grand Théâtre, one of the most beautiful eighteenth-century theatres in the world. For its beauty it is compared to the celebrated theatres of Versailles and Turin. This temple to the fine arts holds numerous opera, ballet and symphony concert performances of international level.

The 6 wine routes and 60 tasting circuits of Bordeaux

Chateau Cos D'Estournel in the Bordeaux region. Photo: Sisiterscom.com, Shutterstock

Certainly you can’t leave Bordeaux without discovering how its very famous wine is made. In Bordeaux, the vineyards are so vast that there not just one wine growing region, but six. The first is the same city of Bordeaux, entrance gate to the vineyards, which is an excellent starting point for the other five: Médoc; Sauternes and Graves; Saint-Emilion, Blaye and Bourg; Bordeaux and Entre-deux-Mers. There are over 60 tasting routes and the Chateaux can also be reached by boat along the River Garonne, a truly fascinating experience.

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Update by Alisè Vitri

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Where to sleep in Bordeaux

Bordeaux. Photo: Sisiterscom.com, Shutterstock

Bordeaux is a welcoming city and offers different possibilities for accommodation.

To find the ideal hotel and the best offers you can do a search for the stars but also for districts or landmarks.

STARS

Hotels for stars, differentiated by type of services:

DISTRICTS

Hotels in the districts

LANDMARKS

Hotels in tourist areas

Fine Arts Museum

Town Hall

Musee d'Art Contemporain

Saint-André Cathedral

AIRPORT

Hotels near the airport

Bordeaux Airport (BOD)

WHERE TO GO in bordeaux

Monuments in Bordeaux

Photo: Sisiterscom.com, Shutterstock

SAINT ANDRE' CATHEDRAL

Located near the Hotel de la Ville, the Saint Andrè Cathedral of Bordeaux is the most beautiful religious building in the city. Great celebrations, concerts and exhibitions take place periodically in the cathedral as well as religious services.

Photo: Sisiterscom.com, Shutterstock

GRAND THEATRE

The Grand Théâtre, Victor Louis's Palace Bordeaux's city centre features a marvellously elegant monument. The Grand Théâtre has delighted visitors and been the pride and joy of Bordeaux for over two centuries.

Photo: Sisiterscom.com, Shutterstock
GROSSE CLOCHE

The Grosse Cloche (literally "Big Bell") is one of the oldest belfries in France, and it is settled in the heart of the city of Bordeaux.

Photo: Sisiterscom.com, Shutterstock

SAINT MICHEL BELL-TOWER

Enjoy the panorama of Bordeaux from the Saint Michel belltower, a ”needle in the sky”. It is the second tallest belltower in France (114 metres).

Museums of Bordeaux

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MUSEUM OF FINE ART

20 cours d'Albret
Built in 1881, the Bordeaux Musée des Beaux-Arts displays works by some of Europe's greatest painters as well as Bordeaux artists from various periods and schools.

Among other artists, the collection includes works by Brueghel, Chardin, Corot, Pierre de Cortone, Delacroix, Van Dyck, Van Goyen, Kokoschka, Le Pérugin, Magnasco, Matisse, Picasso, Renoir and Rubens.

CAPC - MUSEUM OF MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART

7 rue Ferrère-Chartrons-Jardin public
Bordeaux has one of the richest collections of modern and contemporary art in France.

Created 40 years ago in a former colonial warehouse (Entrepôts Lainé), the CAPC Museum of Modern and contemporary Art of Bordeaux focuses on emerging art forms. With a permanent exhibition of some 1,300 works by 190 artists.

MADD - MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ARTS AND DESIGN

39 rue Bouffard

The original furniture and objects of the MADD Museum of Decorative Arts and Designe of Bordeaux express an important example of typical art of the Bordeaux aristocracy during the French Revolution. The museum’s collection exhibits furnishings, ceramics, glassware, gold and silver work, musical instruments, miniatures, tableware and personal items.

BORDEAUX WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE

2-8, place de la Bourse

Bordeaux is listed as a “Word Heritage Site” by UNESCO, this is a special exhibition dedicated to its heritage, the history of the city and major urban projects. The city has in fact more than 350 buildings classified as historical monuments, including 3 religious buildings that are on the list of World Heritage since 1998, as part of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. The Bordeaux World Heritage Centre is in place de la Bourse 2-8.

Excursions in Bordeaux

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WINE CRUISE, MEDOC VINEYARDS- RIVER CRUISE

Discover the famous Route des Châteaux and enjoy a cruise to discover the famous vineyards of the Médoc along the Garonne, the Bordeaux River.

Médoc hosts some of the greatest wines of the Bordeaux region: Margaux, Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Saint-Julien. On the way you will also discover the Vauban Fortress in Cussac-Fort-Médoc, a UNESCO site.

Half-day cruise in Médoc for a wine tour.

Photo: Sisiterscom.com, Shutterstock

PARKS OF BORDEAUX

The Bordeaux region is home to many natural landscapes. In the city, you can enjoy the nature at Bordeaux Caudéran Park, the Public Garden, the Cenon Palmer Park or at the Bastide Botanical Garden.

To the north of Bordeaux are located instead of Jalles Park. In 10 minutes by car, you reach the beautiful grottos of Majolan Blanquefort Park. On the right bank, the Park of Coteaux, joining Bassens, Lormont, Cenon and Floirac, offers over 25 km of walking trails and great views over the Garonne.

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