30 Bordeaux Attractions You Can't Miss

This city in the southwest of France is a wonderful starting point for excursions to the land of great winemakers. Moreover, Bordeaux itself boasts numerous restaurants and bars where visitors can sample wines from 57 appellations in the region.

But Bordeaux is not just the capital of the global wine industry. Bordeaux also features a captivating combination of majestic 18th-century palaces, ancient cathedrals, and vibrant neighborhoods. Recent renovations have made the city, referred to as the 'Pearl of Aquitaine', even more appealing.

The historic center of the city has been restored to its original splendor, and the banks of the Garonne River are now lush with gardens and parks.

What to see in Bordeaux? Such a question can only be asked by those who have no idea about this amazing city. A morning spent in one of the museums, a day in lavish shops, an evening at the opera... You will always have something to do, no matter how long your Bordeaux vacation lasts.

This mirage of elegance and symmetry is arguably one of the most iconic places in Bordeaux. The Place de la Bourse was designed by architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel between 1730 and 1775.

The medieval city walls were demolished, creating a vast space in the historic center of the city along the Garonne embankment, lined with elegantly arched palaces - the Palais de la Bourse and the Hôtel de Ferm (which is now a customs museum).

In the center of the Place de la Bourse once stood an equestrian statue of King Louis XV, which was dismantled during the French Revolution in 1789. In 1869, a new landmark - the Fountain of the Three Graces (Fontaine de Trois Grâces) - was erected in its place.

Address: Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux, France.

This unusual fountain is actually the largest reflecting pool in the world. The 'Water Mirror', occupying 3,450 square meters of black granite embankment opposite the Palais de la Bourse, provides visitors with hours of entertainment on warm sunny days.

Every half hour, the square fills with a thin layer of water, which reflects the majestic buildings around it like a mirror. Periodically, fine droplets of water are misted into the air, enveloping the area in dense fog, adding to the fun for visitors and providing opportunities for stunning photographs.

Address: Le Miroir d'eau, Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux, France.

Dominating the city is the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, with its magnificent stone carvings, which is not only one of the main attractions of Bordeaux and France as a whole, but also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The oldest part of the cathedral dates back to 1096; most of what you see today was built in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Even more impressive than the cathedral itself is the Pey Berland - a massive Gothic bell tower built between 1440 and 1466.

Address: Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux, Place Pey Berland, Bordeaux, France.

The dazzling building of the 'Cité du Vin' glistening in the sun resembles a wine decanter and is an amazing example of modern architecture.

Digital guides will take visitors through 20 themed sections located over 3,000 square meters of the museum, covering all aspects of the complex world of wine - from grape growing and alcohol production to the history of wine trading and wine trends of the 21st century.

The tour concludes with a glass of wine (or grape juice for children) at the panoramic bar Le Belvédère on the 8th floor, featuring a monumental bar countertop and a massive chandelier made from recycled wine bottles.

Equally deserving of attention are the temporary art exhibitions, cultural events, and vibrant themed tasting master classes that take place here.

Address: La Cité du Vin, Quai de Bacalan, Bordeaux, France.

In this public park in Bordeaux, landscape design serves not only an aesthetic purpose but also an informational one. The park was established in 1755 and a century later redesigned in the English style.

The park features duck ponds, a meticulously cataloged Botanical Garden, whose creation dates back to 1629, and the city museum 'Science and Nature'.

Address: Jardin Public, Cours de Verdun, Bordeaux, France.

Opened in 2013, the Jacques Chaban-Delmas Bridge over the Garonne is the tallest vertical lift bridge in Europe. At night, its four 77-meter high pylons are illuminated with blue light during high tide and green light during low tide.

The bridge is named after Jacques Chaban-Delmas, Prime Minister of France (1969-1972) and the mayor of Bordeaux for an impressive eight terms, totaling 48 years (1947-1995).

Address: Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas, Bordeaux, France.

This small museum is housed in one of the oldest buildings in the city - an Irish merchant house built in 1720 - in the Chartrons district, which has long been known for its trading traditions.

A tour of the museum provides insight into the historical roots of wine trading in Bordeaux and the importance of mercantilism in the 18th and 19th centuries.

In the vaulted cellars stretching 33 meters long, dozens of exhibits are stored, including handcrafted wooden oak barrels and wine bottles of various sizes - from the 175-milliliter 'Avion' to the 18-liter 'Melchior'. The tour ends, as you may have guessed, with a wine tasting.

Address: Musée du Vin et du Négoce de Bordeaux, Rue Borie, Bordeaux, France.

This monument, located in the Esplanade des Quinconces, represents a grand fountain with an enormous column topped by a winged statue of Liberty, while at the base of the column, a tumult of horses can be observed.

The monument was built between 1894 and 1902 and dedicated to the Girondins - representatives of one of the political parties of the French Revolutionary era, 22 of whom were executed in 1793 for alleged counter-revolutionary activities.

Address: Monument aux Girondins, Place des Quinconces, Bordeaux, France.

Gallo-Roman statues and other relics dating back 25,000 years are among the most valuable exhibits in this bright and spacious museum, often referred to as the 'Museum of Civilizations'.

Visitors to the museum get a chance to learn about the history of the region - from ancient times up to the 18th century when Bordeaux became an important seaport and one of the major centers of transatlantic slave trade.

To help navigate the museum space, pick up a bilingual floor plan at the entrance and an English-language catalog of exhibits.

Address: Musée d'Aquitaine, Cours Pasteur, Bordeaux, France.

The Grosse Cloche, which translates from French to 'Big Bell', is a Gothic bell tower flanked on two sides by twin towers topped with 'witch hats' - conical pointed roofs.

This tower was built on the ruins of a 13th-century city wall. Once, it served as a prison and later as a bell tower for the nearby Town Hall. The enormous bell, cast in 1775 and named Armande-Louise (if you didn't know: all bells have names), weighs a staggering 7,750 kg - bringing it to its place required 14 pairs of oxen.

In the past, the bell was only rung on exceptional occasions - to call the city to arms or warn of major fires or severe storms. Today, the bell tolls eighteen times a year - at 11 a.m. on January 1st, May 1st, May 8th, July 14th, August 28th, and November 11th, as well as at noon on the first Sunday of every month.

Address: Église paroissiale Saint-Éloi, Rue Saint-James, Bordeaux, France.

These grand city gates from the 15th century, which served as the main entrance to medieval Bordeaux, were built to commemorate King Charles VII's victory in the Battle of Fornovo (1495) and the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples.

During the Italian campaign, the French developed a taste for the Renaissance, and the 35-meter city gates, with their elegant slate roof, 'witch hat' towers, and castle windows above the Gothic arch, reflect the influence of Renaissance architecture. It's like a miniature Renaissance castle...

A small exhibition on the first floor tells the history of the structure and the ancient craft of masonry. From the upper windows of the Cailhau Gate, there is an excellent view of the river and the rooftops of the city.

Address: Porte Cailhau, Place Palais, Bordeaux, France.

The charming maze of narrow streets in the Saint-Pierre district will inevitably lead you to the 15th-century church, around which the medieval neighborhood once thrived.

In the 12th century, when Aquitaine came under the rule of the English crown, a parish church for English nobles and merchants was built on this site, who were buried here as well.

Inside the church, you can admire impressive 19th-century stained glass windows, a baroque altar in the Baroque style, and the incredibly beautiful 17th-century wooden sculpture 'Pietà'.

Address: Église Saint-Pierre, Place Saint-Pierre, Bordeaux, France.

This giant, grim, and somewhat eerie structure was one of five submarine bases built by the Germans on the Atlantic coast during World War II. It was designed as a bunker to protect Italian and German submarines from air strikes, and it turned out to be impossible to destroy.

At least, this task was beyond the capabilities of British troops during the war, nor could the city do so in peacetime. Today, this concrete construction serves as a cultural center, art gallery, and music concert venue. Access to the submarine base is only possible during exhibitions and other events.

Address: Base sous-marine, Boulevard Alfred Daney, Bordeaux, France.

This impressive Gothic cathedral is located in the heart of the Saint-Michel district. Its construction, which began in the 14th century, stretched over more than 200 years. The cathedral is known for its breathtaking stained glass windows. Almost all original stained glass was destroyed during World War II, but those created in its place in the 1960s turned out to be equally dazzling.

Separate from the basilica stands the bell tower La Flèche, which translates from French as 'The Arrow'. Standing at a height of 114 meters, it is one of the tallest in France. You can climb it, and not only can you, but you must, as stunning panoramic views await you from the observation deck.

Address: Basilique Saint-Michel, Bordeaux, France.

In this unique garage, which serves as an experimental cultural space, three dedicated mechanics assist locals in repairing their cars and bicycles.

Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and wander through the vast hangar filled with vintage curiosities, including an old Aquitaine bus, cinema seats, floral china, and more. If you meet mechanic Maud, she'll gladly show you around, especially since she speaks excellent English.

The best time to visit is in summer: during warm weather, friendly gatherings, cultural events, art exhibitions, and live concerts (hip-hop, electro, etc.) are held here.

Address: Le Garage Moderne, Rue des Étrangers, Bordeaux, France.

This new museum, scheduled to open in early 2019, is dedicated to the sea and its role in the history and life of Bordeaux. The history of navigation and maritime discoveries, naval battles, scientific accomplishments in the Atlantic, and the fascinating world of oceanography - all this and more will be narrated through the museum's exhibits.

The building housing the museum is also worth noting. This striking piece of modern architecture, resembling an ocean liner, was designed by local architect Olivier Brochet.

Address: Musée Mer Marine Bordeaux, Rue Étrangère, Bordeaux, France.

Sparkling glass chandeliers, parquet floors, original ceiling plasterwork, and beautiful mint-green wooden panels create an astonishingly romantic setting for the contemporary art exhibitions held at Château Labottière.

This neoclassical château was built in 1773 for brothers Antoine and Jacques Labottière, who owned a small printing business in Bordeaux. Today, the Institut Culturel Bernard Magrez owns the building.

Address: Institut Culturel Bernard Magrez, Rue de Tivoli, Bordeaux, France.

In the 5th century, there was a church on this site where Gallo-Romans buried their dead in a massive necropolis. Later, in the 11th century, a new temple was built on the ruins of this church - the Cathedral of Saint Seurin. Before long, the Saint-Seurin district grew around the cathedral, and it became one of the key stops for medieval pilgrims traveling along the Way of Saint James to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

Construction continued until the 18th century. For example, the hexagonal bell tower at the temple only appeared in the 16th century. In 1828, architect Pierre-Alexandre Poitevin designed the façade of the basilica in the neo-Romanesque style, and in the second half of the 19th century, Italian sculptor Dominique Fortune Maggesi (1801-1892) created many decorative statues and magnificent stone decorations for it.

In a tiny crypt of the church, which is easily accessed via a staircase from the nave, the relics of Saint Seurin himself are kept. There are also marble sarcophagi containing the remains of early bishops.

Address: Basilique Saint-Seurin, Place Martyr de la Résistance, Bordeaux, France.

Victoria Square is the best place in the city to just watch people. Students slowly sip their drinks on the large café terraces, waiters with trays dodge the flying pigeons, and children climb onto the bronze turtles in the center of the square... The ordinary life of ordinary French people...

The sculpture of bronze turtles, created by artist Ivan Thèmer in 2005, stands close to the marble column produced by the same master. Both works are dedicated to grapes - the main element of Bordeaux's life and culture.

Another attraction of this place is the Aquitaine Gate. They are located at the point where Saint-Catherine Street - Bordeaux's main and longest (1.2 km) pedestrian street - 'flows out' from Victoria Square, connecting it to Place de la Comédie. The Aquitaine Gate were erected in 1753 to commemorate the birth of the Duke of Aquitaine - grandson of Louis XV.

Address: Place de la Victoire, 33000 Bordeaux, France.

The story of the Hôtel de Ferm, built on Place de la Bourse between 1735 and 1738, has always been closely connected to customs service. In the 18th century, it housed royal tax collectors, and later, the customs administration. Today, part of the building is home to the National Customs Museum.

The museum's exhibits recount the history of the service, without which the life of a major trading port city is unimaginable: weapons and uniforms of French customs officers from various eras, devices and measuring instruments used during inspections, various ingenious devices employed by smugglers to illegally transport prohibited goods, and the most original confiscates.

There are also artworks related to customs themes, including 'The Customs Officer's Cabin' by Claude Monet and 'Nothing to Declare' by contemporary French artist Ben.

Address: Musée National des Douanes, Place Bourse, Bordeaux, France.

Two wings of the city hall built in the 1770s house the Bordeaux Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1801. Visitors to the museum can trace the evolution of Western art from the Renaissance to the mid-20th century.

Here, paintings by Flemish, Dutch, and Italian masters of the 17th century are collected. You will also see the last work of Rosa Bonheur (1822-1899) - one of the earliest and most famous Bordeaux artists.

Address: Musée des Beaux-arts, Place Albré, Bordeaux, France.

If you want to mingle with the Bordeaux bohemia, head to Jean-François Boisson's workshop - one of the local artists who creates fantastic sculptures and art installations from scrap metal. Many of his works adorn the public garden. The neoclassical pavilion built in 1785 where Boisson works was once a military base for the Royal Marine Corps.

The art workshop also serves as a venue for theatrical performances, dance and music events, and on weekends, it's enlivened by DJ sets and live concerts.

Address: Les Vivres de l'Art, Rue Achard, Bordeaux, France.

Exquisite decorative sculptures depicting greed, lust, and other timeless human vices adorn the striking Romanesque facade of this elegant church in Saint-Croix. Built in the 11th-12th centuries as a temple for a Benedictine monastery, it is the oldest church in Bordeaux.

Between 1740 and 1755, the church of the Holy Cross housed a famous organ crafted by the skilled Francois dom Bedos de Celles. However, in 1812, it was moved to the Cathedral.

In 1984, a modern replica of the organ, meticulously reproducing the original, was installed. You can hear the new organ during free concerts held on Wednesdays in July and August.

Address: Église Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux, Place Pierre Renaudel, Bordeaux, France.

Built in 1824 as a warehouse for colonial products such as coffee, cacao, peanuts, and vanilla, this building creates an impressive backdrop for exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Visitors are particularly interested in the works of Keith Haring and photographs by French photographer Georges Rousse, showcasing the abandoned interior of the warehouse in the 1980s.

Address: CAPC musée d'art contemporain de Bordeaux, Rue Ferrere, Bordeaux, France.

This cutting-edge science museum occupies a sizable concrete hangar on the waterfront. Temporary exhibitions held at CAP Sciences cover a wide variety of aspects of modern science - from the mysteries of time and light to digital meditation, robotics, and renewable energy sources.

The exhibitions are always interactive, giving a new twist to traditional museum practices and captivating the youth. Occasionally, thematic workshops on astronomy, filmmaking, photography, 'green' chemistry, and culinary arts for children are also held at CAP Sciences.

Address: Cap Sciences Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux, France.

This 66-meter Gothic bell tower in the Flamboyant Gothic style was built between 1440 and 1466 for the nearby Cathedral of Saint Andrew. In 1863, the tower's spire was topped with a golden statue of Notre-Dame de l'Avétyne (Our Lady of Aquitaine).

If you conquer the 230 narrow steps leading up, you will be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the city (only 19 visitors are allowed on the observation deck at the same time, so be prepared to wait in line during the season).

Address: Tour Pey Berland, Place Pey Berland, Bordeaux, France.

In this small cozy museum, 'hidden' in an old house in the Chartrons district, you can learn more about navigators, shipowners, traders, explorers, and even poets and philosophers who contributed to the rich maritime history of the city.

The museum features historical maps, navigational instruments, model ships, and other exhibits that vividly illustrate this aspect of Bordeaux's life throughout the ages - from ancient times to modernity.

Address: Musée de l'Histoire Maritime de Bordeaux, Rue Borie, Bordeaux, France.

Gold, iron, and glass items, faience, porcelain, and furniture are displayed in the small Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, located in an elegant private mansion built of golden stone in 1779.

There is a café in the museum's courtyard where you can relax with a cup of coffee in the fresh air.

Address: Musée des Arts Décoratifs et du Design, Rue Bouffard, Bordeaux, France.

In a city that is becoming increasingly known for its street art, it was only a matter of time before a gallery dedicated exclusively to this form of creativity appeared.

Cox Gallery impresses with its enchanting repertoire of temporary exhibitions and is consistently popular with both tourists and locals.

Address: Cox Gallery, Rue Ferrere, Bordeaux, France.

This magnificent baroque church with a strikingly carved façade and light-filled interior was built between 1684 and 1707 and belonged to the Dominican order for a century. It gained its current status and name - Notre-Dame de Bordeaux - only in the 19th century.

The church is famous for its exceptional acoustics and is worth visiting simply for organ music concerts. Art lovers will surely be interested to know that it was here, on April 17, 1828, that the great Spanish artist Francisco Goya was buried, having spent his final years just a stone's throw from this place.

The easiest way to find the Church of Our Lady is to walk through the Sarguet Passage, an elegant gallery with a glass roof built in 1878.

Address: Église Notre-Dame, Rue Mably, Bordeaux, France.