Book Olympic Air Flights to Bordeaux

Sightseeing in Bordeaux

One of the most photographed squares in Europe is here, in the heart of the city, the Place de la Bourse. You can reach the square of the Stock Exchange by walking along the river to the Quai de la Douane, where you can admire the remarkable baroque buildings of the old Customs House and Stock Exchange that encircle it. The square is beautiful both in the day and in the evening, when the facades of the buildings are illuminated and reflected in the world’s largest water mirror, which is created by water jets at ground level, in a marvellous work by the architect Michel Corajoud.

To enjoy a panoramic view of the city, climb the steps to the top of the belfry of St Andrew’s Cathedral, which dates to 1046. This imposing cathedral is the oldest in Bordeaux.
Address: Place Pey Berland.

Behind the Place de la Bourse is the historic centre of Bordeaux, the medieval district of St Pierre. Here, you will find small churches and squares, cobbled lanes and many restaurants and bars with tables outside and which give the old district a vibrant atmosphere. The rue Sainte Catherine runs through the district, one of the largest pedestrianised roads in France and Bordeaux’s main shopping street. From this neighbourhood you can enjoy a view of the much-photographed Pont de Pierre (Stone Bridge), the oldest bridge in the city which was inaugurated in 1822 by Napoleon and which is wonderful to cross during the sunset.

Bordeaux is also home to the largest square in France and one of the largest in Europe, the Place des Quinconces, next to the river. Given its size, the square often plays host to festivals and events and is very popular with visitors, who gather here daily. A characteristic feature of the square is the impressive Monument to the Girondins, the political group that was expelled during the Terror that followed the French Revolution. On the two edges of the square you will also see the statues of the philosophers Montaigne and Montesquieu, who originate from this region.

The Grand Théâtre, the emblematic 18th-century theatre, is particularly striking thanks to its large portico that is reminiscent of an ancient temple. Book your tickets to experience a performance in this historic theatre in advance. Its interior is stunning, with a luxurious foyer and wide staircases.

Of Bordeaux’s museums, you should not miss the CAPC- Musée d’art Contemporain (Museum of Contemporary Art), http://www.capc-bordeaux.fr, which is housed in an old warehouse and exhibits the work of important painters. It has an excellent café and restaurant, for a great brunch or meal.

Also, of great interest is the Museum of Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts) http://www.musba-bordeaux.fr/en, which is housed in the Hôtel de Ville and has a collection that includes masterpieces from the 15th to the 20th century, by artists such as Titian, Rubens, Delacroix, Renoir and Rodin. The Galerie des Beaux Arts next door features works of contemporary art.

The centre of Bordeaux has undergone renovation in recent years, and so many of its mansions and former warehouses have today been converted into museums or events venues. The centre now also has an excellent network of bicycle lanes, and so thousands of cyclists gather daily, especially in the area of the port, while every Sunday, except for in August, there are organised guided bicycle rides around the sights of the city.

Things to do in Bordeaux

Bordeaux, famous for its excellent wine production, is a wonderful place to visit for its oenological routes. This is where the huge vineyard of 113,000 hectares, which produces 800 bottles of select red, white and rosé wines a year, the appellation of origin Clairet and Crémant de Bordeaux. Both these wines are known for their delicate flavour which, it is said, is due to the limestone subsoil of Aquitaine. The period of the grape harvest is a great time to visit Bordeaux, when the wine producers work furiously to prepare the nouveau wines from the crop.

You can find all the necessary information at the city’s Tourist Office (12, Cours du 30 Juillet, tel. 0033 5 56006624, fr.bordeaux-tourisme.com), which organises coach rides through the vineyards, guided tours of the castles in the Médoc region, visits to cellars and wine tastings.

Excellent wine routes are also organised by specialist agencies that you will find in the city, with day trips to the countryside of Bordeaux and excursions to the fairytale medieval villages that are located within the huge expanses of vineyards.

Visit the charming medieval village of Saint Emilion, with its amazing cellars, impressive catacombs and interesting architecture. The activities organised by the tourist agencies include guided wine tours and wine tasting, gourmet picnics and meals in the vineyards as well as classes on how to make your own wine.

Bordeaux is well known for its many beautiful châteaux, for which you will find several organised tours, or you can take your own road trip. In the Médoc region you will encounter images of exceptional beauty, with stunning châteaux that appear to have emerged from a fairy tale.

Shopping in Bordeaux

In Europe’s largest shopping street, as the pedestrianised rue Sainte Catherine is said to be, you can enjoy window shopping along three kilometres of shop windows filled with French and international brands. Every Saturday there is an antiques fair in Saint Michel Square, near the old banana ripening warehouse, where you can find all sorts of treasures, such as old maps, engravings and porcelain tableware. In this land of most excellent wines, you can buy bottles in special travel packages and unique souvenirs relating to the region’s wine tradition, and even chocolates with the flavour of a deep red Bordeaux wine.

Food and Entertainment

Aside from the medieval neighbourhood of St Pierre with its cafes, bars and brasseries offering live music and tables set outside on the street, the city of Bordeaux has a vibrant university community with numerous student hangouts, many of which can be found around Gambetta Square.

Bordeaux has many restaurants, with chefs who work hard to maintain the high standard of local French cuisine, creating new gastronomic trends for visitors to enjoy. Their “bistronomie”, bistro-style gastronomy that is, includes lamb fricassee or in a wine sauce, vegetable tart, tartare – dishes that are cooked with carefully selected ingredients and served without any excess.

On the banks of the Garonne you will find little restaurants serving oysters and other seafood that you can wash down with a glass of the right wine.

In the bakeries, patisseries and even at the airport, everywhere you will find the city’s local sweet, the cannelé. A golden cake made of rum, soft and liquid on the inside and lightly caramelised on the outside, perfect either as dessert or with a cup of tea.

Getting from the airport to Bordeaux

Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport has many shops, restaurants and cafes for waiting passengers. There are also banks, currency exchange bureaus and car rental agencies, while Wi-Fi is free in the departures zones.

Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport is located close to the city, just 12 km west of Bordeaux and can easily be reached by bus or taxi. The quickest way to get from the airport to the city centre is to take the 30' Direct shuttle bus that connects Hall B in the airport with Hall 2 in Saint-Jean train station. These buses have free Wi-Fi and are accessible for passengers with mobility issues. There is a 10% discount if you buy your ticket online. You can also take the bus and tram line 1. Taking a taxi is also very convenient and the journey from the city centre to the airport costs around 30 euros in the day and 45 euros at night. There is a taxi rank at the airport, outside Hall A.