Choose from 27 Fun Things to Do in Bordeaux
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Pyla Dune (Dune du Pilat)
Standing more than 360 feet (110 meters) above sea level in Bordeaux, France, Pyla Dune (Dune du Pilat) is the tallest sand dune in Europe. In the summer months, a staircase is constructed to allow visitors to climb the dune—an activity that draws over one million visitors every year.
The Basics
Sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and an expansive forest of pine trees, Pyla Dune is a unique sight that seems to belong in the Sahara Desert, not the genteel surroundings of the Bordeaux countryside. Climbing the dune is possible either on your own or as part of a tour. Taking photos of the monumental sandbank is also a popular activity, especially at sunset, and the strong winds that often blow here draw hard-core kiters and paragliders.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Pyla Dune is a must-see for the whole family, though the 250-step staircase is quite a climb for little ones.
- There is no entrance fee to access the dune.
- For a real challenge, try walking up the sand itself instead of the staircase!
- This activity is not suitable for people with limited mobility.
How to Get There
Pyla Dune is located near the towns of Arcachon and La Teste-de-Buch, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Bordeaux. TGV trains run from Paris to Arcachon, and bus 1 runs from town to the beach, or you can choose to walk or cycle here. Alternatively, you can drive to the dune or join a guided tour with transportation provided.
When to Get There
The Pyla Dune is open year-round. It’s much easier to climb the dune when the staircase is in place—from Easter weekend until the end of October—but you can attempt the climb at any time of year. Sunset is a particularly lovely time to visit.
Visit Bordeaux’s Cité du Vin
For many people the Bordeaux region is synonymous with wine, and for good reason. The red wines produced here are some of the most loved—and most expensive—in the world. In Bordeaux city, the Cité du Vin (City of Wine) is a tourist attraction entirely devoted to wine, and features interesting exhibits, wine-tasting opportunities, movies on the subject, and more.
Address: Dune du Pilat, Archachon, Bordeaux, France
Hours: Varies
From $ 80
Porte Cailhau
Built in 1495, this dramatic Gothic Revival 35-meters tall city gate was built to commemorate King Charles VIII's victory at Fornovo in Italy during the Italian War of 1494. At the time, it was the main entry point to Bordeaux from the port. It faces Place du Palais and features several ornamental sculptures and towers, something that is very typical of architecture built under the reign of Charles VIII; indeed, the monarch wanted this gate to showcase his power and affluence. The gate, which was once part of the Bordeaux city wall, was later on used as a defensive tower (the multitude of portcullis, murder holes, and machicolation features are there to prove this), and as a salt scale and storehouse.
Nowadays, it houses an informative exhibition dedicated to the tools and materials with which the tower was built as well as the urban development of Bordeaux. There is a wonderful view of the old town center, the Garonne River, and the Pont de Pierre Bridge from the top floor.
Practical Info
Porte Cailhau is located on Place du Palais in central historic Bordeaux. It can by reached by public transit from Place du Palais tram station on line A and Porte de Bourgogne on line C; although it is not advised to get to the historic center of Bordeaux by car, there is paid underground parking at Bourse-Jean Jaurès. The entrance is on Quai du Maréchal Lyautey. The small exhibition is open daily (except January 1st) from 10am to 12pm, and from 1pm to 6pm.
Address: Porte Cailhau, Bordeaux, Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes 33000, France
Hours: Open daily from 10am to 12pm, and from 1pm to 6pm. Closed on January 1st.
From $ 35
Port of the Moon
Bordeaux in southwest France was once a vibrant port city. The port itself was known as the Port of the Moon because it sat on a semi-circular part of the Garonne River. Historically the left bank of the port has been the center of commerce and culture. Throughout the past 2,000 years, the port has played an important role in shaping the city's history and its place as a world city of wine.
When the automobile became more prominent, the historical buildings in this area began to degrade and turn black. The roads were not meant for cars, and traffic jams clogged up the port area. The port's importance declined, and it was eventually moved downstream to the northern suburbs. In the 1990s great efforts were made to clean up the area, including the buildings, and the waterfront is now lined with pedestrian walkways, bicycle paths, shops, and museums. In 2007 the Port of the Moon waterfront was named a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Practical Info
The Port of the Moon waterfront is located along the northwest banks of the Garonne River. The road changes names from Quai Louis XVIII to Quai des Chartrons.
Address: Bordeaux, France
From $ 14
Quinconces Square (Esplanade des Quinconces)
Stretching more than 12 hectares (30 acres) along the banks of the Garonne River, Quinconces Square (Place des Quinconces) is Bordeaux’s largest square. Comprising a vast esplanade flanked by tree-lined walkways and fronted by the grand Monument to the Girondins, it’s among the most important sites of the city’s UNESCO-listed historic center.
The Basics
No sightseeing tour of Bordeaux would be complete without a stop at Quinconces Square. Located a short stroll from the Golden Triangle, Place de la Comédie, and Rue Sainte-Catherine, it’s also a strategic starting point for a walking tour. There are plenty of other ways to get around; you can join a Bordeaux Segway tour, cycle the city on an electric bike, or enjoy a self-guided tour by electric car.
Things to Know Before You Go
- There are no public amenities in Quinconces Square itself, but there are a number of bars and restaurants just south.
- Bordeaux’s main tourist information office is located at the southwest corner of the square and has restrooms and free Wi-Fi.
- Quinconces Square is easily accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.
How to Get There
Quinconces Square, located between Quai Louis XVIII and Place Tourny in central Bordeaux, is within walking distance of many central attractions. A number of bus routes and tram lines (B and C) pass by the square, and there’s a large car park at the northern end of the square.
When to Get There
The most atmospheric time to visit Quinconces Square is during its many seasonal events and festivals. There’s something happening almost every weekend, including a summer funfair, a large Christmas market, sporting events, and arts and crafts fairs.
Monuments of Quinconces Square
The Monument to the Girondins, located at the western end of Quinconces Square, was built to honor the Girondists who were executed during the French Revolution. Today it’s a striking sight to behold, with bronze horses and warriors surrounding a central column, all crowned with a statue of liberty. Other monuments of interest include statues dedicated to the Bordeaux philosophers Montaigne and Montesquieu, as well as rostral columns that symbolize the city’s maritime and commercial prowess.
Address: Bordeaux, France
From $ 35
Pont de Pierre
What is perhaps one of the most iconic bridges in all of France is definitely a must-see for visitors to Bordeaux. Connecting the left and right bank of the city since 1819 but ordered by Napoleon I during the First French Empire, Pont de Pierre–the stone bridge– was the first bridge to cross the mighty Garonne River. Indeed, its construction was a challenging one, as the current is extremely strong at this point in the river; more than 4,000 workers were needed to build it, using an English diving bell to stabilize the pillars. Consequently, Pont de Pierre was actually the only bridge to connect the two banks for nearly 150 years!
The red-stone bridge consists of seventeen spans–the exact number of letters in the name Napoléon Bonaparte–lined with elegant iron light posts; each of the bridge’s pillars is capped by a medallion to honor both the emperor and Bordeaux’s coat of arms. A transport route was created in 2004 to convey the over-sized structural sections of the Airbus A380 airliner from the manufacturer to the headquarters in Toulouse; Pont de Pierre had to be slightly modified to allow the passage of barges, and thus became a new quintessential thing to do in Bordeaux in the process.
Practical Info
The Pont de Pierre is one of the main entrance points to the historic center and the easiest way to travel between the left and right bank of Bordeaux. The best place to admire the bridge, the newly renovated quays and the cityscape in the background is from the right bank on Quai Deschamps or Quai des Queyries, or better yet, from the middle of the bridge. It is possible to cross it on foot, by tram via Route A (stop at either Porte de Bourgogne or Stalingrad) or by car.
Address: Pont de Pierre, Bordeaux 33000, France
From $ 14
Rue Sainte-Catherine
Bordeaux’s main shopping street stretches 1.2 km (0.7 miles) through the city center and is one of the longest pedestrianized shopping streets in Europe, only beaten by Strøget in Copenhagen and ul. Knyaz Alexander I in Bulgaria’s second city Plovdiv. It is bookended by the Place de la Comédie in the north, which is home to the city’s Neo-Classical Grand Theater, and the Place de la Victoire in the south, dominated by a pink marble obelisk and an 18th-century triumphal arch that marks the position of the city’s original gates.
Narrow and lined with majestic four-story townhouses, Rue Sainte-Catherine is a mecca for international, big-name and mid-range brands such as Zara, H&M and the Czech shoe chain Bata. There’s an Apple Store and a vast outpost of FNAC for DVDs, mobiles and kids’ toys, but the biggest draw along the street is the branch of Paris’s glamorous Galleries Lafayette, which sells everything from high-end designer fashion to gourmet olive oils. Another highlight is the elegant glass-roofed Galerie Bordelaise shopping arcade near the intersection with rue de la Porte Dijeaux; opened in 1837, this is a treasure trove of chic cafés and small, independent boutiques.
Visiting during the annual sales – usually lasting through January and February – may well turn up some real bargains in the 250 stores along Rue Sainte-Catherine and the network of little streets that dive off it. By night the street hums to the sound of happy diners enjoying late suppers in the many restaurants scattered along its length.
Practical Info
Take Tram B to Place de la Victoire.
Address: Bordeaux, France
From $ 14
Saint-Emilion
Surrounded by the vineyards of Bordeaux, the medieval village of Saint-Emilion is pure eye candy. The picturesque town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, takes its name from a Benedictine monk who—according to local legend—took refuge in a cave here in the eighth century. Centered around a monolithic church that was painstakingly carved from limestone in the 12th century, the village comprises a cluster of cobbled streets lined with historic stone houses, Romanesque ruins, and shops selling Saint-Emilion wines.
The Basics
Saint-Emilion is easily accessible from Bordeaux on a day trip. Many visitors opt for an organized group or private tour, which often includes a guided walk around town as well as free time to wander at will. Some tours also include wine tastings and occasionally lunch in a chateau in Saint-Emilion, or in the neighboring wine regions of Pomerol or Medoc. Active travelers can do a cycling tour around the vineyards of Saint-Emilion, stopping at a winery along the way. Many Bordeaux wine tours also allow time for participants to explore the village of Saint-Emilion. The local tourist offers loans out keys for the Monolithic Church’s bell tower; the views from the top are superb.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Wear comfortable shoes as Saint-Emilion’s streets are cobbled and sloping.
- Organized tours from Bordeaux typically last for between four and nine hours.
How to Get There
Trains for Saint-Emilion depart from Bordeaux several times a day, with the journey taking around 35 minutes. From the Saint-Emilion train station, it’s a 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) walk into town.
When to Get There
One of the best times of the year to visit Saint-Emilion is in September and October, after summer crowds have dissipated. If you do go during summer, try to get there early in the day. To see the town without the crowds, stay overnight. After the day-trippers have left, things quiet down considerably.
Wines of Saint-Emilion
Saint-Emilion is as much famed for its fine wines as it is for its beauty. First classified in 1954, Saint-Emilion is now one of France’s most lauded wine-making appellations. Its wines are labelled as premier grand cru classe A (the highest classification), premier grand cru classe B, and grand cru classe. The region is particularly well known for its silky smooth merlot and cabernet sauvignon–based red wines.
Address: France
From $ 49