Bordeaux, a beautiful French city that features long embankment, large squares, basilicas on each corner, and of course wine. Where to go, what to see in Bordeaux and why to take the Batman boat, that’s what today’s article will be about.
When you think of Bordeaux, first thought will probably be about wine. Most likely red wine. But that’s not the only thing to go to this beautiful French town for. Today’s article will be divided into several parts. We will start with a walk around the city center, then take a boat trip to the wine museum, and finally have something to eat and drink. So let’s do it!
But before we go around the city, we have to get to Bordeaux somehow. Chances are you will arrive to the Bordeaux airport, same way I did.
How to get from the airport and around Bordeaux
Bordeaux airport is quite small, so you won’t get lost here. If you don’t want to take a taxi, you can take the A1 bus from the airport for bargain price of €1.70. The bus takes about 40 minutes to the center, depending on where exactly you get off. I recommend having a physical card or cash with you, given that contactless payment at the machine does not work. Don’t forget to mark your ticket as soon as you get on the bus! Otherwise, it is not valid!
How to get around Bordeaux
You can walk almost everywhere which I did quite a lot. But of course you can travel around Bordeaux by bus, tram, boat, bicycle or scooter. As for boats, we took one from the city centre to the wine museum. To get back to Bordeaux’s city centre, we drove a scooter along the river. 10/10, I definitely recommend doing that.
You can choose either Dott or Tier, and when you search for promo codes, you get the first ride for free and the next one for 50%. So in the end it will cost you relatively cheap, and even if it is officially prohibited, two people can fit on it. You have to watch out for certain streets and areas that are off limits, but in my experience no one does much about it, especially if you’re a tourist.
If you need more information about Bordeaux than you can find in this article, I recommend their official website. I took most of the historic information from there, and it gives you a further idea on what’s going on in Bordeaux.
Walk around Bordeaux
I have planned the walk around the city so that you can see all the important buildings and monuments in the. way you wouldn’t be going in circles. It’s quite easy to get lost in Bordeaux but if you stick to a certain direction and know where the river is, it will be easier to find your way around.
I recommend that you pay attention to the fact that at lunch time you don’t just have a glass of wine, you have to have food as well. So there’s no going around the bars. I would also like to point out that in March many restaurants, bars and cafes are closed on Sundays and Mondays, which I did not expect. So if you want to go after a certain destination, first check on Google Maps that it is really open.
Monument aux Girondins
Let’s start with the monument to the Girondist revolutionaries which is 43 meters high, on the largest square in Europe. Don’t forget that I already told you that Bordeaux is a city of squares! Big squares! Despite its name, the Monument aux Girondins was not built to commemorate the famous Bordeaux football team.
Built between 1894 and 1902, it pays tribute to members of the Girondins political faction who fell victim to the Reign of Terror, a phase of the French Revolution. At the top of the monument, there is a statue of Liberty breaking chains. At the base of the column are bronze statues and ornamental fountains.
Grand Theatre
The Grand Théâtre is near the monument and demonstrates the brilliance of architect Victor Louis. The building that is home to the opera dominates the square and was inaugurated in 1790, in 1899 the building became a historical monument. There is also a clock in the square and when I was there, there was a strange head which you can look at in the gallery below.
Église Notre-Dame
Your journey continues with a short walk to the Place du Chapelet, where you will be greeted by the Notre Dame Church, formerly dedicated to Saint-Dominic. The church was built in the Baroque style in 1908, it was registered as a historical monument. Notre Dame, whose construction was completed in 1707, is remarkable today preserved thanks to the comprehensive restoration work carried out in 1982. Exceptional acoustics concerts are regularly held here, the exterior is regularly seen on set, as the courtyard is often used for the filming of historical films.
Porte Dijeaux
The Porte Dijeaux arch is located in Gambetta square, which is specific for its green oasis in the middle. The arch was built between 1748 and 1753 by Michel Voisin and during the reign of Louis XV. it took the name Porte Dauphine in honor of the dauphin and future king of France Louis XVI. After the revolution, it became Porte Dijeaux.
This square is also specific in that you can go from it to one of the long shopping streets – Rue de la Prte Dijeaux or Cr de l’Intendance. Cr de l’Intendance, if I’m not mistaken, is the most luxurious street in Bordeaux.
Bordeaux Cathedral & Pey-Berland Tower
The cathedral is on the right if you go down one of those shopping streets. The cathedral was built in Gothic style between the 12th and 16th centuries, 15 metres high, and listed as a monument. The cathedral is really beautiful, it’s free to enter, and there is a tower next to it.
You can climb up the Pey-Berland Tower and there is a wonderful view. If you’re here on the first Sunday of the month, entry is free. But you will have to come and book a place and show up at the given time. The stairs are really small and winding, and you will be walking about 233 steps.
Photogallery
Let’s pause for a moment and look at Bordeaux through the camera. Because after all, a photo is worth a thousand words…
Grosse Cloche
This structure is also referred to simply as “The Great Bell” and the bell is rung on 6 exact dates each year: May 1st, May 8th, July 14th, August 28th, November 11th and the first Sunday of each month at noon. In case you doubted the legitimacy of the name, the said bell weighs some 7800 kg! It was cast in 1775 and lives out its days in the company of the golden lion (symbol of the English kings) that sits atop the tower. Today, the monument is the last remnant of the 13th century defensive gate that once stood here.
Porte Cailhau
We’ve already seen Porte Dijeaux, now it’s time to meet its cousin, Porte Cailhau! This gate served as a defensive gate and a triumphal arch, dedicated to the glory of the French king Charles VIII. You can still see a stone effigy of his crowned head on the facade. In 1883 it was registered as a historical monument.
Place du Parlement
The geography and history of Bordeaux can be explored through its squares. Place du Parlement takes you to Italy with its architecture. The square was created in the Saint Pierre district in 1754 and is lined with beautiful facades that date from the first half of the 18th century. Built in the English Gothic Revival style, its fountain was added in 1865. Like other squares in the city, it has seen many different lives. It was created as Place du Marché Royal (“Royal Square”) and was renamed Place de la Liberté (“Liberty Square”) during the Revolution before taking its current name in honor of the institution, which was abolished in 1790.
Place de la Bourse
The Place de la Bourse is the icing on the cake in Bordeaux. If you imagine something under the word France or Bordeaux, it will be this square. Located by the river, it was formerly known as Place Royale. The Three Graces Fountain is located in its center. This sculptural ensemble, which is the symbol of the city, illustrates the figures of Greek mythology named: Aglaé, Euphrosine and Thalia. The three Charities, daughters of Zeus, are goddesses who translate seduction, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility.
Miroir d’Eau
With an area of 3450 m² and an underground reservoir of 800 m³, the Miroir d’Eau (“mirror of water”) in Bordeaux is the largest water mirror in the world! It was inaugurated in 2006 as one of the key elements of the waterfront redevelopment initiated by Mayor Juppé. With views of the Garonne and the Place de la Bourse, the Miroir d’Eau has become a symbol of the city and one of the most popular spots for locals and visitors alike. Unfortunately, it was very cold at the time of my visit, so the water was not filled.
Speaking of the Garonne River, I would like to remind you that you can take a Batman boat for €3. Just look out for the public transport stop and you don’t have to pay for an overpriced touristic boat. The waterfront is beautiful in Bordeaux. If the weather is nice, take a short walk or maybe ride a scooter.
Wine Museum (Cité du Vin Bordeaux)
Speaking of Batman, that’s how we got to the Wine Museum. The Wine Museum is a wonderful building in the shape of a decanter. You could easily spend a whole day here if you wanted to really listen and try all the interactive parts of this museum. But two or three hours will be enough for you. The museum is really worth it, and at the end a glass of wine awaits you with a beautiful view.
Marché des Capucins
Another thing that is definitely worth checking out is the Marché des Capucins, which is a wonderful market where they sell everything from vegetables to fish to canapés. You can eat here, have a glass of wine before lunch and taste French delicacies. They are usually open until two in the afternoon, so come early.
In conclusion
There isn’t much about France on this blog, even though I spent most of our youth vacationing in Corsica. Bordeaux was wonderful, I would definitely recommend it for a long weekend. It is a city of beautiful architecture, good wine, food and not many tourists in March. Another city to visit in March would be Rome, my favourite city in the world!