Chartrons is a super chic neighborhood, located in the north part of the city right after Place des Quinconces. It developed in the 17th century when Flemish, Irish and German wine traders (négociants) have settled beyond the walls of old Bordeaux to export wines to their home countries. So it was basically the “expats” neighborhood of the time. They have built beautiful houses along the riverfront with long warehouses on the first floor where they would store the barrels and bottles of wine before sending them by ship to other countries in Europe. By the time Chartrons became officially part of Bordeaux in the 19th century, it had already become a flourishing and lively neighborhood. It was a hip bourgeois neighborhood attracting many artists, craftsmen and sailors, the “place to be” of the 19th century if you want 🙂 And while it has lost some of its glory during the 20th century, in the last two decades it was revived into a chic neighborhood with plenty of boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants and museums giving new life to the old warehouses. Today it’s one of the more posh and cool neighborhoods of Bordeaux and you can easily spend a day here when visiting the city. To help you discover it like a local I wrote a list of all the places you should visit and things you can do in the Chartrons district.
Stroll rue des Notre dame – the main street of Chartrons
Chartrons is one of the biggest districts of Bordeaux, but there’s only one street that’s really the heart and soul of this neighborhood, a street that is one of the “musts” when visiting Bordeaux. Rue Notre Dame is a posh street with plenty of coffee places, trendy boutiques, antique shops and more. You can spend several hours here admiring the beautiful architecture, shopping and trying great pastries. It’s one of the most beautiful streets in Bordeaux with a lot of tiny balconies decorated with planters full of colorful flowers. The perfect street for Instagram addicts 🙂 If you want to discover the foodie side of this street check out my article about the foodie streets of Bordeaux.
Discover some of the best pastries in Chartrons
Chartrons is home to some of the best boulangeries and patisseries in the city. On rue Notre dame you can find P’tite Boulangerie (Notre-Dame62 Rue Notre Dame), one of the best bakeries in Bordeaux. Continue South on the main street and you’ll find the cutest pastry shop of Chartrons, Micheline et Paulette (21 Rue Notre Dame). If you’re lucky, you may catch their one and only table available so you can stop for a coffee and one of their brilliant cakes or pastries. In other parts of Chartrons, you can find Maison Boileau (11 Rue Camille Godard), which has won the Meilleure boulangerie de France award (best bakery in France) in 2019 in a very popular TV show. Chartron even has the oldest bakery in the city (but more about that later).
Stop for a good cup of coffee
If you’re a coffee lover, another place you’d want to discover is la Pelle Café (29 Rue Notre Dame). The place is owned by Carlos who roasts his coffee on the spot and is a real advocate for quality coffee. It’s a very chic and popular place where both locals and tourists like to stop for a cup of coffee and homemade cakes. Before you enter, take a moment to look at the beautiful building, which used to be an oriental bath in the 19th century. Another good coffee shop that’s worth a visit is the 4e Vague Café (92 Rue Notre Dame) that makes Hawaiian coffee. You can also stop for a cup of tea (or coffee) at Juliena, a cozy Salon de thé with a nice selection of cakes (15 Rue Notre Dame).
Bordeaux can be a fun place for shopping but If you’re looking for something more than big retail stores like Zara or H&M, I highly recommend going to the Chartrons district. Here you can find plenty of chic clothing boutiques, beautiful babywear and the coolest accessories. Most of the stores are located on rue Notre dame, here are just a few examples: Do you speak français? (a chic clothing store with a funky name), Nos Minis (the cutest baby wear ever), Coutume store (for anything stylish for your home).
Look for antiques
Remember that I’ve told you that many of the houses on the east side of Chartron (the ones that are close to the river ) were originally warehouses where wine was stored? Well, today many of those warehouses are used as big antique shops. More than ten antique and vintage shops can be found on rue Notre dame alone and if you take some time to stroll the little streets around it you’ll find plenty of others. The biggest antique shop is Village Notre Dame (61 rue de Notre dame) which is settled in an old printing bureau. It’s the first antique shop of Aquitaine and it gathers several professional dealers in one huge store. Most of the antique shops on the main street are quite pricey but there are a few places in Chartrons where you can find some bargains. One example is the big hangar named Broc Alain (58 cours de la martinique).
Every October Chartrons celebrates wine and antiquities with the lively Fête du Vin nouveau & de la Brocante. If you’re in town I highly recommend going to this event.
Learn about the history of Bordeaux wine at the musée du Vin et du Négoce
The Cité du Vin is Bordeaux’s famous wine museum but in the Chartrons district, there’s another museum dedicated to the wine of Bordeaux. Musée du Vin et du Négoce is a small museum, located in what used to be a typical house of a négociant (wine trader) in the 18th century. This is the best way to learn how the Bordeaux wine area has developed over the years. It’s not as modern and interactive as the Cité du Vin but if you want to learn about the history of the Bordeaux wine region this is the place to go. It ends with a very nice wine tasting session where you get plenty of explanations about the different wine appellations in Bordeaux. The museum is located in the northern part of rue Notre dame (the entrance is from 41 Rue Borie). If you also want to continue to the Cité du Vin which is located close to Chartrons, read my article about my visit there.
Have a picnic in the central park of Bordeaux
Jardin Public, the central park of Bordeaux, is technically not a part of the Chartrons district but one of the entrances is on Course de Verdun, one of the main streets of Chartrons. It’s a beautiful park with vast green planes, a lake with ducks and geese and plenty of different facilities for kids. On a hot day, it’s a perfect spot for a picnic, just don’t forget to buy a bottle of wine before heading there 🙂
Discover one of the foodie streets of Bordeaux – Cours Portal
Cours Portal is not a very charming street but it definitely deserves a visit if you’re interested in food. It’s a long street with most of the good boutiques located close to Place du Marché des Chartrons. Here you have several good cheese shops and specialty shops for local products. If you like to make quality coffee at home, check out Café refuge, a coffee specialty shop. The coffee roaster machinery there is really impressive! Like every foodie street, Cours Portal has its own little patissier, named Taupy (19 Cours Portal). If you’re a foodie, don’t miss this street.
Have a delicious meal in one of the restaurants in Chartrons
Chartrons is one of the most gastronomic spots in the city with dozens of restaurants to try. Many of the good ones are located in the center, on rue Notre dame, place du marché des Chartrons or the little streets surrounding it. If you want an even nicer scenery go to the quai (river banks), where you can find plenty of good restaurants with tables facing the Garonne river. Two of my favorite restaurants in Chartron are located exactly there: Pastel on 2 Quai des Chartrons and Symbiose on 4 Quai des Chartrons.
Discover the oldest boulangerie in Bordeaux
Au Pétrin Moissagais on 72 Cours de la Martinique is the oldest bakery in Bordeaux, established in 1765. Serge, the baker and owner of the place, is very proud of his Gascognian traditions and still makes the original Gascognian white bread in the 18th-century oven. And yes, it’s the same oven since the opening of the boulangerie (bakery), some 24 years before the French revolution!. Don’t be shy if you want to take photos of the oven, Serge will happily show you around. The bakery has a completely different look and feel compared to a standard French bakery, it really feels like you’ve gone back in time to the 18th century. Don’t miss a visit there when in the neighborhood.
Visit the local market
There are several food markets taking place in Chartrons at different days of the week. The biggest and most famous market takes place every Sunday morning on Quai des Chartrons. It’s a very popular market with dozens of food stalls selling everything from fresh fruits, cheese, pastries and oysters. The market is usually quite busy with both locals and tourists, especially if you come towards noon, but it’s still worth the visit. Besides the fresh local products you can buy at the market it’s simply a very nice spot to have an early lunch or a plate of oysters with white wine if you want to feel like a local. A much smaller version of that market takes place at the same spot every Thursday morning. During the week you can also go to the covered market on Place des Chartrons, which is open every morning from Tuesday to Saturday.
Visit Church Saint Louis
Eglise Saint Louis is the main church of Chartrons, a gothic-revival church built in the 19th century on the remains of the former chapel of the Chartreux (a religious brotherhood, Chartrons is named after). This church is largely ignored by tourists in Bordeaux as it’s located outside of the city center, but it’s worth a visit especially thanks to its beautiful stained-glass windows. It’s located on rue Notre dame, so it’ll be hard to miss.
Go to the contemporary art museum
The contemporary art museum of Bordeaux (CAPC) is located right on the southern edge of the neighborhood. TheCAPC is worth visiting even if you are not a big fan of contemporary arts. The museum is housed in an old wool warehouse where commodities, traded down the river, used to be stored. What makes it special is the combination of modern art with the old architecture of the building. In the permanent collection, there are almost 300 works of art and it regularly hosts temporary exhibitions. I admit that I’m not always a fan of their exhibitions but I think the place in itself is very impressive. Open from Tuesday to Sunday 11:00-18:00.
Explore the street art
The street art scene in Bordeaux is blooming. You can find quite a few extraordinary works of local artists on many of Bordeaux’s buildings. One of the most interesting spots for street art is actually located here in Chartrons. Le M.U.R (the wall) of Bordeaux (located on 2 Place Paul) is a 35m2 wall where local street artists can express their art. Every month or so a different artist is invited to paint on the wall and you can come and watch them do it live. This event is usually published on their Facebook page, you can check it out here. The works are always usually amazing and worth the walk.
Discover the kids Science museum of Bordeaux
If you’re looking to occupy your kids in Bordeaux, Cap Science is a great option and it’s located here in Chartrons, on the promenade at the northern part of the district. This cool kids science museum proposes interactive exhibitions and activities all dedicated to different aspects of science. The museum is located at Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan.
Another cool place in Bordeaux for both kids and adults is the Wave Surf Café, the first coffee shop where you can also surf! The Big artificial wave in the middle of the coffee shop imitates the ocean waves and allows you to feel like a professional surfer in the city center. If you’re in Bordeaux for just a few days and have no time to go to the ocean, this can replace your surfing experience (although real surfers will probably disagree with me here 🙂 ). For more details click here.
Sing Karaoke
For all of you wannabe singers, Chartrons has recently welcomed the biggest Karaoke bar in town, called BAM Karaoke Box. The bar offers private Karaoke rooms for 6 to 15 people for blocks of two hours. The place is designed in a central American style with every room having a different theme. If you’re a group of friends this could be a fun way to finish your day in the Chartrons neighborhood. For more details click here.
Shop in the Hangars – Quai des Marques
If you’re really craving more shopping there’s another place in Chartrons you can go to. Les Hangars on the promenade are old warehouses converted into a shopping center with plenty of shops and restaurants. It’s not my favorite spot to eat but sometimes when the weather is really good I do sit there for lunch as the view on the river is just stunning. You have a decent amount of shops to visit but it’s mainly different chains rather than small boutiques. The center is called Quai des Marques and it’s located on 15-19 Quai des Chartrons.
Check out what’s happening in Hangar 14
To the north of the shopping center, you will find Hangar 14 – a venue that frequently hosts different events like wine fairs, creators’ markets and more. I usually publish these events in my weekend posts but if you’re passing by, don’t hesitate to take a sneak peek to see if there’s anything interesting going on.
There are plenty of cool bars and boutiques in Chartrons so I could continue talking about it all day long but I think I’ve intrigued you enough to make you go and visit this chic neighborhood. Hope I helped you discover some hidden spots in Bordeaux that you didn’t know about :).
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There are plenty of great articles you can find about the main attractions and monuments to visit in Bordeaux. However, I feel they don’t reveal all the treasures and hidden gems this city has to offer. You need to fully experience Bordeaux to understand why people love it so much. In this article, I summarized my 50 best things to do in Bordeaux.
The list includes everything from food, chic cafés, shopping, fun neighborhoods, music venues, art, day trips, and more. Hope you’ll enjoy it! And if this article made you feel like you already love Bordeaux, please share it 🙂
Before we start, if you have only one day in Bordeaux, check out my article about what to do and see on a one-day trip – read it here. Also, check out my Travel in the Southwest of France group on Facebook for many more tips. Now let’s start!
Let’s go!
Best things to do in Bordeaux and its surroundings
Admire the stunning gates of Bordeaux
Before becoming a modern 18th-century city with spacious squares and boulevards, Bordeaux was once a little town. The old town was surrounded by ramparts with impressive entrance gates.
Grosse Cloche
Porte d’Aquitaine
Today, five of the gates are still standing, marking the old borders of Bordeaux. La Grosse Cloche and La Porte Cailhau in the city canter, Porte de Bourgogne facing the river, Porte d’Aquitaine on Place de la Victoire, and Porte Dijeaux at the western part of the historic center.
The first two are the only original gates from the 15th century when Bordeaux was still a fortress. These are real architectural masterpieces that you cannot miss.
The city is rich with history and different architectural styles so if you have time, take a historic tour in the center of Bordeaux. Here’s a tour that’s offered by the Tourists office in several languages. If you don’t like big groups you can always take a private tour.
The Famous Water Mirror
Cross the street from Place de la Bourse towards the riverfront to get to one of Bordeaux’s main attractions, Le Miroir d’Eau. The huge water mirror is the most popular monument in Bordeaux attracting many families with kids to splash their feet on hot summer days.
Canelé is the national pastry of Bordeaux so tasting one is a must when visiting the city.
Like many other things in this region, the story of Canelé is related to the wine world. Legend has it that the first canelés were made by nuns at the Couvert de L’Annociade de Bordeaux at the end of the 17th century. Canelé is made out of flour and egg yolks that were given to nuns by winemakers who used egg whites to purify the wine.
Today the little brown striated pastry can be found in many sizes all over the city. My all-time favorite canelé is la Toque Cuivrée whose small boutiques are spread all over the city center. See all their shops here.
Bordeaux is a surprising city when it comes to good coffee places. While France doesn’t have a strong reputation for making good coffee, Bordeaux prides itself on its coffee scene, with cute little coffee places popping up on every corner.
There are quite a few great coffee places in the city center but here are some of my favorites: Kuro, Sip, and l’Alchimiste in the city center and Café Eriu, and Café Gusco within a few minutes walk of the center. Read more about some of the best coffee places in Bordeaux here.
Bordeaux is a very flat and bike-friendly city with many interesting cycling trails you can do around the city. However, the most recommended one in the city center is the bridge-to-bridge trail. The circuit goes from Pont Pierre (the central bridge of Bordeaux) to the new Pont Chaban Delmas, on both sides of the Garonne river.
Besides the very pleasant ride on the riverfront, you get to see some of the most beautiful and fun places in Bordeaux. These include the stunning 18th-century buildings along the riverfront, the Cité du Vin, Darwin, and more. You can read all about it in my article about the Bridge to Bridge trail.
In my opinion, Capucins is one of the best markets in France, here I said it! 🙂 If you love food or at least want to discover a bit of the rich gastronomic culture of the southwest of France, there’s no better place than the Capucins market.
This is the biggest daily market in Bordeaux and has everything from stands of fruits and vegetables, sweets, spices, and a bunch of lively cafés and restaurants. I have a whole article about the best places to eat at the Capucins market, so be sure to read it before going.
Don’t miss the little stall with a local pasty called le Puit d’amour, you’ll thank me later.
Drink at the Bacalan market
From a traditional market to the newer chic market of Bordeaux -Marché de Bacalan. This impressive hangar is located just in front of the famous Cité du Vin and hosts more than 20 different artisans and merchants that were chosen for the quality of their products.
Halle de Bacalan – Lost in Bordeaux
Many locals flock to the market on weekends for drinks and tapas and the great vibes. The Bacalan district is one of my favorite places in Bordeaux and I have a whole article about it – check it out here.
La Base Sous-Marine is one of the most unique art venues in Bordeaux. Built by the Germans during the Second World War, this old submarine base has been converted into a space dedicated to contemporary art.
Currently, the place is called le Bassin des Lumières hosting mesmerizing immersive exhibitions of painters like Monet, Dali, Klimt, and others.
Here are
Monet, Renoir, Chagall and others called “Voyages en Méditerranée”
This impressive piece of modern architecture is a unique cultural center, all dedicated to the discovery of wine. Through its interactive exhibition, it offers a journey to both French and global wine history. You will learn about winemaking, see movies and interviews with wine producers and then smell and taste wine.
Read about what to expect when visiting the museum in my article about my visit to the Cité du Vin. You can avoid the lines at the entrance by booking the tickets online – book here.
Visit Bordeaux’s real wine museum
I know I just talked about the big wine museum in Bordeaux but it’s not really focused on Bordeaux wine, but rather a wine all around the world. The real Bordeaux wine museum is Musée du Vin et du Négoce. This is the best place to help you discover how the Bordeaux wine area has developed over the years.
The museum is situated in what used to be a typical house of a négociant (wine trader) in the 18th century in the Chartrons district. It ends with a very nice wine-tasting session where you get plenty of explanations about the different wine appellations in Bordeaux.
It’s not as modern and interactive as the Cité du Vin but if you want to learn about the history of the Bordeaux wine region this is the place to go. You can purchase the tickets to the Musee du Vin here. You also get a free entrance if you have the Bordeaux city pass.
Le Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux is a cultural landmark you should not miss when visiting Bordeaux. It’s Arguably the most beautiful building in the city.
The historic monument, built in 1780, is home to the National Opera and Ballet of Bordeaux and its program often includes some of the best ensembles from all over the globe. The demand for tickets is usually very high so book your tickets in advance.
Even if you don’t have the time to see a concert I recommend taking a tour of the opera as the interior design is spectacular. Check out all the details here (currently the tours are in French only).
Opera House of Bordeaux
Classic music concert at the auditorium
Getting tickets to the opera at the Grand Théâtre requires buying tickets well in advice. Going to a classical music concert, on the other hand, is much easier. The Auditorium of the Opera National of Bordeaux is one of the largest music venues in Bordeaux hosting several classical music concerts every week. See the program here.
Every first Sunday of the month there’s a family-friendly concert taking place in the Auditorium. See details here.
Go to the CIBC for Bordeaux wine tasting
It’s time to sip some wine! If you want to discover the wine variety Bordeaux has to offer there’s no better place for that than le Bar à Vin. This classic wine bar is located in the 18th-century residence of the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bordeaux (the Bordeaux Wine Council). The best thing about the Bar à Vin is that they let you taste half glasses so you can discover fantastic local wines at very low prices.
L’intendant is the most beautiful and rich wine store in Bordeaux. The shop holds a collection of more than 15,000 bottles all stacked on its walls, following a 12 meters high spiral staircase.
Established almost 30 years ago, L’intendant has become one of the go-to places to shop for the famous wines of the region. It’s often referred to as the Library of Bordeaux wines.
Saint Michel is one of the most cosmopolitan and lively neighborhoods in Bordeaux. Although It’s not part of the traditional sightseeing tours of Bordeaux, I recommend spending a few hours in this cool district.
The neighborhood is home to some of the best markets of Bordeaux, numerous places where you can browse for vintage clothes and furniture, and an endless list of lively restaurants and cafes. Read about all the things you can do there in my Saint Michel guide.
Sunday flea market in Saint Michel – Lost in Bordeaux
Sunday flea and antique market
Every Sunday morning more than 80 dealers gather at the square in front of the Basilica of Saint Michel for the Brocante du Dimanche. This is the weekly flea market of Bordeaux where you can find real bargains and purchase everything from toys for kids to antique frames and electronic devices.
Discover Bordeaux’s amazing street art
Like many other cities, Bordeaux has street art fever, with plenty of stunning wall paintings decorating its streets. Darwin is one of the places that have the largest concentration of street art by local artists in Bordeaux. Other spots in the city include the Bassin a Flot district, rue Bouffard, Quai des Platitudes, the Mur in Chartrons, rue Bergeret, and more.
In the city center, you can follow the huge animals by the local artist A-mo pained on walls and shatters of many shops (don’t miss the huge gorilla and the fox) – I won’t give you the specific locations, I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun to find them by yourself. If you speak French, you can also take a street art tour.
Street art in Bordeaux -Amo
Bordeaux street art – Selor
L’entrepôt Saint Germain – the best vintage shop
L’entrepôt Saint Germain is a huge hangar with plenty of vintage furniture, beautiful house decor, antiques, and many creepy, funny, and probably unnecessary items. It’s designed like a little street with different boutiques and cafés (not real ones, unfortunately) where the items are perfectly placed.
The place is open daily and is located a few minutes walk from the train station of Bordeaux on 96 Rue Amédée Saint-Germain.
L’entrepôt Saint Germain
Time for chocolate!
There are quite a few amazing chocolate shops in the center of Bordeaux. Some are owned by young talented chocolatiers (chocolate makers) and others are established places dating centuries back.
Here are just a few of the best chocolate shops in the center of Bordeaux: David Capi (my personal favorite); Cadiot Badie, the oldest chocolate store in Bordeaux; Hasnaa, the rising star of the Bordeaux chocolate world and Saunion, founded in 1893 and considered one of Bordeaux’s classics.
Jardin Public is the largest park in the center of Bordeaux with more than 300 trees and vast green planes – a perfect place for a picnic. Besides being visually stunning, it has a large pond (with ducks and geese!), great facilities for kids, and even a nice coffee place.
If you like second-hand shops you’re going to love Freep’show, a little hipster store with an impressive selection of plaid shirts, short jeans, and colorful dresses.
Once you take your eyes off the big Slash mannequin in the entrance, you can spot plenty of second-hand items from the 80s and 90s that will make you instantly nostalgic. Add to that the vinyl records decor, uplifting music, and stylish employees dancing to its beats and you get one of the best vintage stores in town. You can read my full article about the best second-hand shops in Bordeaux here.
Have a delicious meal
In recent years Bordeaux is gaining popularity as a gastronomic city and even holds the record for the number of restaurants per person in France. So trying at least one restaurant in Bordeaux is a must!
There are a lot of excellent restaurants in the city center and choosing one won’t be easy, but let me suggest just a few. Here’s a list of a few restaurants I like in the city: l’Atelier des Faures, Au Bistro near the market, Le Bouchon Bordelais, Botanique, Mets Mots, Le Chien de Pavlov, La Belle Saison, and the list goes on and on.
I post about my foodie experiences in Bordeaux on my Instagram, so be sure to follow.
Discover one of the most charming streets in Bordeaux
Rue Notre Dame in the Chartrons district is a posh street with plenty of coffee places, trendy boutiques, antique shops, and more. You can spend several hours admiring the beautiful architecture, shopping, and trying great pastries. It’s one of the most beautiful streets in Bordeaux with a lot of tiny balconies decorated with planters full of colorful flowers. The perfect street for Instagram addicts 🙂
Au Pétrin Moissagais on 72 Cours de la Martinique is the oldest bakery in Bordeaux, established in 1765. Serge, the owner is very proud of his Gascognian traditions and still makes the original Gascognian white bread in the 18th-century oven. And yes, it’s the same oven since the opening of the boulangerie (bakery), some 24 years before the French Revolution!
The bakery has a completely different look compared to a standard French bakery and makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time to the 18th century.
Eat oysters at the Sunday Market
Every Sunday morning dozens of food trucks and stalls are installed at the Marche des Quais, on the Quai des Chartrons. These include the best oysters in the region, fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese, fish, wine, and more.
For many visitors, the main attraction is the few stalls with oysters which cost around 6/7 euros per plate and come with a glass of white wine. It kind of embodies the good life atmosphere in this region 🙂.
See a concert on the Iboat
The Iboat is a big three-level ferry anchored to one of the docks of Bassins a flot, the port of Bordeaux. Since its opening in 2011, this funky concert venue has been promoting emerging artists, especially in the electronic music scene.
Over the years it has become a multidisciplinary place with a concert hall and a club hosting more than 250 events a year, a terrace hosting Dj sets and happy hours. During summer you could also enjoy the outdoor area on the deck, with an exceptional view of the basin. Take a look at the program of events.
There are a few cute cheese shops in Bordeaux where you can find all the famous French cheese. However, this can be a great opportunity to try out regional cheese from the southwest of France. When going to the shop ask about Ossau- Iraty from the Basque country, the goat cheese Rocamadour, or the excellent Tomme de Bazas.
My two favorite cheese shops in the city center are Fromagerie Beillevaire (8 bis Rue Michel Montaigne) and Fromagerie Deruelle (66 Rue du Pas-Saint-Georges).
Can you really visit a French city without tasting at least one pastry? There are several amazing patisseries in the center of Bordeaux. Here are a few that I particularly love: David Capy next to Marché des Grands Hommes, Pâtisserie Valantin in the Nansouty district, Pâtisserie S. with a special French-Japanese vibe, and Mi-Cielo with a sweet creative collection.
Don’t miss the main Cathedral of Bordeaux
Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux is a Roman Catholic church and the seat of the Archbishop of Bordeaux. Located on the main square of Pey Berland, the cathedral is one of the most impressive monuments of Bordeaux and is labeled as a national monument of France. In the evening the Cathedral often hosts concerts of classical music, choirs, and an organ festival during the summer. You can check out more info about the concerts here.
Cathédrale Saint-André – Lost in Bordeaux
Shopping of course!
Bordeaux is not Paris when it comes to shopping but it doesn’t mean we don’t have a lot of great boutiques here 🙂
All the main clothing retail stores are located on the main shopping street, rue Sainte Catherine. For the more fancy shops head to the Triangle d’Or district and you’ll find all you need around le Marché des Grands Hommes. However, if you’re interested in small independent boutiques here are a few recommended ones in the center of Bordeaux: Jane de Boy, Blue Madone, Boutique Addict, and several other boutiques on rue Saint James and rue Notre Dame.
A day trip to Saint Emilion
Saint Emilion has long gained a reputation as one of the greatest wine regions in the world. It’s no wonder it attracts more than a million tourists every year. For many decades this picturesque town has been an economic and religious center attracting royals, winegrowers, and pilgrims. Every square in the small village center is packed with history and some incredible architecture.
Utopia is an independent cinema theater installed in an ancient church, l’église du Vieux Bordeaux. It’s the cheapest cinema in Bordeaux and the one with the most diverse program, from little independent productions to big-budget movies and old classical ones. Utopia has also a big terrace café which is particularly fun on sunny days. See the program here.
The Bordelais might love their wine but they sure do appreciate a good cocktail, and the number of great cocktail bars is a testament to that. Here are some of my favorite chic cocktail bars in the center of Bordeaux: Mama Shelter (cocktails with an amazing view of Bordeaux), Madame Pang, la Comtesse, Simone, and the Ayawasca Cocktail Club.
Mama Shelter
Take a boat ride on the Garonne
Bordeaux is situated on the Garonne River and seeing it from the water is a fun experience you should try.
Several companies offer boat tours on the Garonne, but you can sail on the Garonne for at least a few minutes for the price of a tram ticket. As part of its public transport system, the city of Bordeaux provides a ferry (navette fluviale), that has five stops: Stalingrad, Quinconces, Les Hangars, La Cité du Vin, and Lormont (take a look at the ferry timetable here).
You don’t have to do the whole line, you can use it to just cross the river to the other side. You can use it for free if you have the Bordeaux city pass.
Darwin is probably one of the most surprising places in Bordeaux. An old military base turned into an urban space with a workspace/incubator for startups, a skate park for all ages, a restaurant, and many other surprises, all with an agenda of ecological awareness.
Darwin is also an extraordinary place for street art and includes some amazing works by a lot of talented artists on every one of its buildings. They host many cool events so don’t be surprised if suddenly you see an artisan market or a collection of old cars on display.
See a concert at La Guinguette chez Alriq – the best tavern in town
The Guinguette chez Alriq is a big tavern located on the right banks of the Garonne in the Bastide neighborhood (right in front of Darwin), hosting plenty of open-air concerts every summer. The performing bands and artists are coming from all over the world and create a laid-back party atmosphere.
There’s usually a small price to pay for the concerts taking place on Wed-Sat and Sundays the entry is free. You can see their program here. The place is very popular so expect to see a line at the entrance.
The Parc of Lormont, or by its official name: Parc de l’Ermitage Sainte-Catherine, is a beautiful hilly park located on the east bank of the Garonne River. If you climb on the upper side of the park you can enjoy a stunning view of the Aquitaine bridge covering the Garonne.
If you’re coming with strollers or generally with little kids, beware that it’s not a very easy climb to the top of the park. In that case, I would advise you to spend your time near the lake at the bottom of the park and then re-enter the park again through Haut Lormont (the higher part of Lormont) to visit the hilly part.
In Bordeaux you don’t need to travel far to enjoy the beach, you just have to take a 15-minute tram ride from the city center to the lake.
Bordeaux Lac has a sandy clean beach and a lot of shade from the nearby trees for those who don’t enjoy the sun. The beach is open to the public daily from June 1st to August 31 and starting July 1st it offers water and beach activities such as sailing, kayaking, mini-golf, and more. Check out the list of daily activities here.
Strolling the city center you’ve probably noticed a lot of impressive monuments dating back to the 13th,14th, and 15th centuries such as the Grosse Cloche or the Saint Michel Basilica. But Bordeaux’s oldest monument is actually located outside of the old city walls.
Palais Galien is the ruins of a Gallo-Roman amphitheater dating back to the second century when Bordeaux was called Burdigala. The site is located a few minutes walk from Jardin public and you can see all of it from the street. There are guided tours to Palais Galien during the summer season. You can book them by calling +33 5 56 00 66 00.
Palais Galien
Buy French alcohol
If you want to discover what other spirits France has to offer besides wine, you must go to Émile et Marguerite. This cute little shop on 13 Rue Parlement Saint-Pierre has a huge collection of French alcohol, from Cognac, Armagnac, local gin, craft beer, and many more. They are super nice and offer tastings to those interested to discover more about local liqueurs.
However, if you have time I advise traveling to Cognac and Armagnac, both located about 1.5 hours from Bordeaux.
Visit the Natural history museum
After years of renovations, the natural history museum of Bordeaux has opened its doors on March 2019. Created in 1971, the museum has one of the biggest collections in France hosting more than a million specimens.
Besides the new design and incredible collection, one of the new features in the renovated museum is the “Early Years Museum” for kids under 6 years old. The museum regularly hosts great temporary exhibitions which are usually very kids friendly. The entrance is free every first Sunday of the month.
The Bordeaux wine region has thousands of wine châteaux spread all over the Gironde department. Luckily there are several great wineries within the Bordeaux metropole you can visit by tram or by bus and I have a full article about it. Here are two chateaux on my list that I particularly like: Château Pape Clément in Pessac Take line B to Pessac Centre and then continue for 20 minutes by foot or take a direct bus from Place Tourny in Bordeaux (line 4). You can book the tour online – just click here. Château du Taillan in Le Taillan-Médoc You can reach it by bus line 5N from Place Tourny in Bordeaux. For more info click here.
Librairie Mollat – one of the oldest bookstores in France
Librairie Mollat,a Bordelais establishment, opened in 1896, is the first independent bookstore in France and is one of the most iconic shops in Bordeaux. It is situated on rue Porte-Dijeaux where the latest house of Montesquieu was once located.
Visit one of the most beautiful parks in Bordeaux – Parc Majolan
Parc Majolan in Blanquefort is a great example of beautiful landscape design. Following the paths in the park feels like walking through a forest but then you suddenly discover the ruins of an old gate, beautiful flowers, and finally a stunning lake. The best part of the park is the artificial caves created in the 19th century. This park is so rich that it will take you hours to explore it all!
The gigantic sand dune is one of the wonders of the area, with its 60 million metric cubes of sand it’s quite astonishing the first time you see it. Dune du Pilat is Europe’s tallest sand dune, rising to an impressive 110 m high while also being 500 meters wide and 2.7 km long so you’ll have plenty of room to wander.
Dune du Pilat
You can climb the dune by stairs that are installed from the end of April/May to early November. If you come during the low season or just feel energetic, you can just climb straight up the sandy slopes. Once you reach the top, a stunning panoramic view will be revealed with the Cap Ferret peninsula on one side, a huge pine forest on the other, and the magnificent Banc d’Arguin nature reserve just in front.
Discover the oyster-farming villages of Cap Ferret
Cap Ferret is a peninsula on the Western part of Bassin d’Arcachon and has been traditionally known as a summer getaway for the French upper class. Although it’s been recently gaining popularity among tourists visiting the south of France, it has yet to lose its relaxing beach village atmosphere.
The peninsula is known for its many oyster-farming ports that are located in small charming villages such as L’herbe and Le Canon. You can rent a car and go on a full relaxing day in this little paradise. Eat oysters directly from the farmers, go on a walk along the bay beaches, take a bike and discover the pine forest, and go surf on the beaches of the Atlantic coast.
To discover all the treasures of Bordeaux you need to go out of Bordeaux center. Some of the most interesting things in the metropole can be found in Pessac, one of Bordeaux’s biggest suburbs. You can take a bike (or use the tram) and go on a full day of history, nature, wine, and street art in this beautiful historic town. I wrote an extensive guide on all you can see there, read all about it here.
Visit the chateau of Montesquieu
There are several historic castles in Gironde but there is one I particularly love and it’s located only 25 km south of Bordeaux. Château de la Brède was built in a Gothic style during the 13th to 16th centuries and is today surrounded by water-filled moats and an English garden.
The Château is famous for being the place of birth of Montesquieu, the great French political philosopher. The interiors of the castle are only accessible through guided tours which take you through the main room, the guest room, and his beautiful library where he wrote many of his works. See more details here.
Château de la Brede
See contemporary art in a beautiful building
CAPC is the contemporary art museum of Bordeaux located in the chic Chartrons district. The museum is housed in an impressive former warehouse from the 19th century where commodities, traded down the river, used to be stored.
In 1984 the city decided to transform this unique space into a museum of contemporary art, an idea that was very innovative at the time. In the permanent collection, there are almost 300 works of art and it regularly hosts temporary exhibitions that are dedicated to the history of art. I’ll admit that I’m not always a fan of their exhibitions, having said that, I think the place in itself is very impressive and worth a visit.
Taste the delicious dunes blanches
Last yummy thing before I finish my list! While most outsiders think of the canelé as our regional pastry, there’s another modern contestant that has become very popular amongst locals. The delicious dunes blanches were created in 2008 by the pastry chef Pascal Lucas in his patisserie in Cap Ferret.
The little choux pastry filled with whipped cream became an immediate success with several dedicated shops opening up in Arcachon, Bordeaux, and Paris. In the center of Bordeaux, you can find them at 7 Rue de la Vieille Tour, 33000 Bordeaux
Dunes Blanches
Where to stay in Bordeaux
Before we end I want to help out those who are looking for accommodation in Bordeaux! If you’re looking for a hotel, I have an article with recommendations about the best hotels in Bordeaux for different budgets. If you’re looking for an Airbnb or just want to understand where you should stay in Bordeaux, you should definitely read my Bordeaux districts guide.
Need more ideas for things to do in and around Bordeaux? you should definitely join my newsletter where I share a lot of info about the area – sign up here.
You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:
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*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂
Welcome back to my “What to do this week in Bordeaux” list – a post where I give you an idea of something to do in the Bordeaux region each day of the week. These include events, markets, tours, and generally fun places to visit. If you want a full list of things to do on the weekend, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter (I send an email with plenty of events every Friday). Also, don’t forget to check out my September and October lists if you want to plan your stay in Bordeaux ahead.
Here’s your list of things to do in Bordeaux this week (September 12-18)
Monday (Sep 12)
Go for a glass of wine in La Cabane dans les Vignes a charming wine bar, located in the vineyards of the Cadillac appellation. The bar is about to close its doors for the winter in less than two weeks so that’s your last chance to enjoy it. You can combine it with a day trip to Cadillac, see more details about that little town in my article about the most beautiful villages around Bordeaux.
Tuesday (Sep 13)
Go to the morning market of Audenge on the Arcachon Bay that is taking place every Tuesday morning near the Halle du marché and on Avenue du Général de Gaulle. You can then continue to the Audenge beach or for a hike at the beautiful natural reserve called The Domain of Certes-Graveyron. See more details about this trail in my article.
Wednsday (Sep 14)
Enjoy the last weeks of summer in Bordeaux with a drink at the Les Planches Ephemeres, a summer bar that will be open until the end of September. See other open bars in Bordeaux in my article.
L’Astroshøw Open Air – a party at les Vivres de l’Arts – see details here.
Friday (Sep 16)
Le Caraïbos Cocktail Club – this fun cocktail bar will be installed for two weeks (Sep 15- October 2nd) at La Belle Saison in the Bastide. See the full program here.
If you don’t mind traveling outside of Bordeaux, don’t miss the night visit at Château Royal de Cazeneuve in Préchac. This visit is part of the Noctambules event, organized by the tourist office of Sud Gironde – see more details here. Take it as an opportunity to visit a chateau in the Sauternes wine region – find my recommendations in this article.
Weekend in Bordeaux
Here are a few ideas for things to do this weekend, however the full list with all the events taking place this weekend will be sent to you by email this Friday – you can subscribe to my newsletter here.
Saturday (Sep 17)
La Grande Fête in Ayguemorte les graves – enjoy three days (September 16-18) of festivities in this little town in the South of Gironde. See all the info here.
2. Travel to the Basque country for the Anglet Jazz festival – see details here.
Sunday (Sep 18)
1. Journées Européennes du Patrimoine – the European Heritage Days will be taking place on September 17-18 and it’s an amazing opportunity to discover the most interesting buildings in Bordeaux, some of which are usually closed to the public. You can see the full list of the places that will be open for visits here.
2. Go to Saint Emilion to celebrate the harvest with the Ban des Vendanges – see the full program here.
You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:
This summer was all about music festivals, Autumn however brings a variety of events to Bordeaux. The big climax festival in Darwin, the European patrimony days, a Latin music festival and the Velotour are only some of the things to do this month in Bordeaux.
If it’s your first time in the city, you should definitely check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux to get familiar with all the must-see places. To help you choose a hotel I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux . Here’s the list of things to do in Bordeaux in September 2019 🙂
Climax Festival
The Climax festival taking place in Darwin focuses on environmental issues and climate change. Conferences and debates will take place throughout the four day festival (September 5-8) and will be accompanied by art and cultural events. Every night, a rich lineup of electronic music will make the festival more attractive and dynamic. This is one of the biggest festivals in the center of Bordeaux located in one of the hippest places in the city. Take a look at the site of the festival for the full program.https://www.youtube.com/embed/FKcZOb91ZpY?feature=oembed
When: September 5-8 / Where: 87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Medoc Marathon
Running 42km is only a small part of the Medoc Marathon experience. It’s mostly about enjoying great wine, food and the great scenery. No wonder that it’s considered the longest marathon in the world. This year the marathon will take place in the vineyards of the Médoc region on September 7 and will include plenty of activities such as: musical breaks, wine tasting stops and eating a steak at the 39th km!! You don’t have to run to enjoy this event, many activities will take place on the day of the marathon and the day before, follow the program here. For more info check out the website of the marathon.https://www.youtube.com/embed/-sFl_knJbyg?feature=oembed
When: September 7 / Where: the Marathon will start in Pauillac
Get to know your neighbors at the Pique-nique des Quartiers
Do you ever feel like you have no idea who is living around you? Then this is your chance to socialize a bit with your neighbors. On September 6, Pique-nique des quartiers with take place all around Bordeaux. The picnics are organized by the local associations operating in the neighborhoods. Find the event near you in the list published by the town hall.
When: September 6 at 19:00 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux, check out the program
Bordeaux Food-truck Festival
The food truck festival aims to mix street food with the finesse of the wine world. The program of the festival also includes free concerts, exhibitions, escape games, activities for kids and more. The next event will take place on September 7-8 at the Château de Rayne-Vigneau in the Sauternes appellation. The events are free but require a reservation – you can do it here. For more details click here.
When: September 7-8 / Where: 4 Le Vigneau, 33210 Bommes
Ouvre La Voix Festival
Ouvre La Voix Festival gives you the opportunity to discover the beautiful Entre-Deux-Mers region in Gironde in a special way. The three-day program of the festival (September7-8) combines concerts, wine, and gastronomy with biking routes taking you to places like Créon, Frontenac, Sauveterre de Guyenne and more. Concerts and gastronomy events will take place in the towns on the bike trail. Most of the concerts are free, some activities (including the shuttle from Bordeaux to Créon) require a reservation. Check out the full program here.https://www.youtube.com/embed/H-sVGfi86Kk?feature=oembed
When: September 7-8 / Where: Different places at the Entre-Deux-Mers region (check out the program)
Vélotour Bordeaux
Did you ever ride a bike in a museum or a hotel? Discover Bordeaux by bike through places where bicycles are usually not allowed: museums, sports centers, cultural and historic places and more. More than ten places have opened their doors for this unusual experience. The tour will take place on September 15 and will start at the Maison Écocitoyenne Bordeaux. For tickets click here and for more info about the event click here.
When: September 15 / Where: Quai Richelieu, 33000 Bordeaux
Vign’ en Ville
This is the 4th edition of Vign en Ville, an event dedicated to the know-how of winemaking. During the weekend of September 14-15, winemakers from the Bienvenue à la ferme network will teach you all about wine production through a series of workshops and activities. The event will take place in Jardin Public and is free. For more info check out the facebook page of the event.
When: September 14-15 / Where: Jardin Public
Vélotour Bordeaux
Did you ever ride a bike in a museum or a hotel? Discover Bordeaux by bike through places where usually bicycles are not allowed: museums, sports centers, cultural and historic places and more. More than ten places have opened their doors for this unusual experience. The tour will take place this Saturday (September 15) and will start at the Maison Écocitoyenne Bordeaux. For tickets click here and for more info about the event click here.
When: September 15 / Where: Quai Richelieu, 33000 Bordeaux
Festival Love Tattoo Urban Street
The Love Tattoo Urban Street festival will take place on September 14-15 at the Parc des Expositions in Bassin d’Arcachon. In the program tattoos, creative market, concerts, fashion, workshops for kids and more. For more info click here.
When: September 14-15 / Where: 940 Avenue de l’Europe, 33260 La Teste-de-Buch
The big scooter race
The Nire Laguna Thomas association organized a wonderful event to help raise funds for research on pediatric cancer. A kids scooter race will take place on September 14 on the Quai of Bordeaux, starting from la Maison Eco-citoyenne. More than 300 kids, ages 5 to 10 will take place in the event. If you want your kids to participate in the race, register here.
When: September 14 10:30 to 16:30 / Where: la Maison Eco-citoyenne , 33000 Bordeaux
Journées Européennes du Patrimoine
The European Heritage Days are a great opportunity to discover some of Bordeaux’s most beautiful and interesting buildings. During the weekend of September 21-22 many public and private edifices will open their doors to the public and allow you to peak into parts of this city’s history otherwise hidden from our daily view. Some of the most interesting places to visit during the weekend are: the Opera of Bordeaux, Grosse Cloche, Tribunal de grande instance de Bordeaux and many more. You can see the full list of the places that will be open to visits here.
Abbaye de La Sauve-Majeure
When: September 21-22 / Where: Many places across the city, check out the program above.
Festival Arts Mêlés
Arts Mêlés is a festival of magic and supernatural experiences organized by the town of Eysines. As always the program is full of magic shows, illusionists, acrobats and more making it super fun for kids. The event is free and will take place on the weekend of September 21-22 . Check out the full program here. Read more about the festival and the performing artists here.
When: September 21-22/ Where: 10 Rue de l’Église, 33320 Eysines
Latin Music Festival
Corazon Latino, a Latin Music and dance festival will take place this weekend (September 20-22) in Rocher de Palmer in Cenon. The Program includes music concerts, dance shows, three Latin parties and international dancers that came especially to teach you some moves. And of course plenty of Salsa , Bachata, Kizomba, Chacha, Semba, Tango, Lady Styling and Forró. For more info and tickets to some of the concerts check out the website of the event.
When: September 20-22 / Where: 1 rue Aristide Briand, 33150 Bordeaux, France
Festival Cadences d’Arcachon
Festival Cadence is a famous dance festival taking place every year in Arcachon. The program of the festival is known for its diversity including classic, contemporary, hip-hop, flamenco and more. The festival will take place on September 19-22, for the full program click here, for tickets click here. https://www.youtube.com/embed/FaIIfsfiIXM?feature=oembed
When: September 19-22 / Where: Arcachon
Open Air Festival
Bordeaux Open Air continues into September with more cool electronic music parties at different locations in the city center. The next events of the Open Air Festival will take place on September 8, September 15 and September 29. The exact locations have not been published yet. They will be announced here together with lineups and other details.
When: September 8, 15, 29 / Where: the locations haven’t been published yet
Les Campulsations
Les Campulsations is a students festival, celebrating the beginning of the new academic year in different locations in the Aquitaine region: Bordeaux, Talence, Pessac, Gradignan, Bayonne, Périgueux, Agen and Pau. In Bordeaux Metropole, the events will take place in many different locations from university campuses to museums and theaters. The program is varied and includes such events as a brocante party, music concerts, theater shows, exhibitions and more. Check out the full program and find an event near you. The festival will take place from September 26 to October 5.
When: September 26 to October 5 / Where: Different locations, consult the program.
Salon ABC Kidz
A big event dedicated to future parents and young families will take place on September 28 – 29 in Hangar 14. Salon ABC kids is the annual gathering of all the important companies and organizations related to babies and little kids from clothing to room decoration, toys and different services like childcare companies and health providers. The event allows young parents to meet all the relevant products and services in one place. Many activities will take place at the Salon to make it more entertaining, among them a massage space, workshops for kids, soft play for toddlers and more. For tickets and more info click here.
When: September 28-29 / Where: 115 Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux
Classical music in the Cathedral
During the month of September, Saint-André, the main Cathedral of Bordeaux will host more than 10 classical music concerts. You can see the full program here.
When: see dates in the program / Where: Place Pey Berland, 33000 Bordeaux
Dance at la guingette chez Alriq
La Guinguette chez Alriq is a tavern at the Bastide neighborhood, on the rive droite of the Garonne. During the summer the place is full with locals who escape the more touristy rive gauche and come to enjoy live concerts on the river bank. The Guinguette is open from Thursday to Sunday. For the concerts program of September click here.
When: every weekend during September / Where: ZA Quai des Queyries, Port Bastide, 33100 Bordeaux
Go see an exhibition
If you’re in a mood for some art there are plenty of good exhibitions in Bordeaux. you can read about some of the best ones here.
Bordeaux natural history museum
Finally, if you are looking for a fun and delicious activity in Bordeaux, check out my food tours in which I’ll take you through a three hours journey in the culinary scene of the Southwest of France.
Lost in Bordeaux helps you enjoy the city and region in many ways so be sure to follow us on facebook/Instagram for more daily updates on things to do and see. Or better yet, join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.
April is such a fun month in Bordeaux! It starts to be warm outside, everything blossoms, and a lot of places are slowly opening up for the summer season. It’s also one of the best months to discover the surrounding of Bordeaux before they become too crowded with visitors from around the world.
If you live in the region or planning to visit soon, you’d love to know that there are many fun and interesting events taking up this month so let’s discover what are the best things to do in Bordeaux in April 2023!
The best events in April in Bordeaux and its surroundings
Open doors in Médoc
To celebrate the beginning of the spring the Maison du Tourisme et du Vin de Pauillac will hold an open doors weekend on April 1-2. During the weekend you can visit plenty of châteaux in the Medoc region and taste some of the finest wines in the world. For details about all the participating chateaux click here.
If you want to know more about the event you should read my post about the Open doors weekend.
When: April 1-2 / Where: different locations (see the site)
Bordeaux Electronic Week-end
Bordeaux Electronic Week-end 2023 is a fun music festival taking place on April 7-9. The lineup includes more than 10 electronic artists that will take the stage at Quai des sports, Saint Michel and Hangar FL. See the details here.
When: April 7-9 / Where: Quai des sports and Hangar FL in Bordeaux
Grande Brocante Antiquites À Rauzan
Every year the village of Rauzan in the Entre deux Mers region is hosting one of the best brocantes (antiques and flea market) in the SW of France. This year the big market will take place on April 7-10. See all the details here.
When: April 7-10 / Where: Village Antiquités in Rauzan
Treasure Hunt on Pâques Weekend
The second weekend of April is the long weekend of Easter in France and the area of Bordeaux offers plenty of activities to entertain you and your kids. Egg hunting, visits to beautiful chateaux, and chocolate workshops are only some of the activities you could do this weekend.
Territoires Sauvages is a nature festival that will take place at the Halle du Port in Teich (Arcachon Bay) on April 7-10. You’re invited to spend your Easter weekend discovering the natural treasures of the region. For more info click here.
When: April 7-10/ Where: Halle du Port, 33470 Le Teich
Promenade en Scène!
Promenade Sainte-Catherine is the shopping center located in the middle of Bordeaux’s main shopping street – rue Sainte-Catherine. On April 14-16, Promenade Sainte-Catherine is hosting a festive weekend with a very entertaining program: dance, music, a magic show, and more. See all the details here.
When: April 14-16 Where: Face à la FNAC, 51-53 Rue Sainte-Catherine, 33000 Bordeaux
The Blaye Spring Wine Festival
The Blaye Spring Wine Festival will take place on April 15-16 at the Blaye Citadel. The annual wine festival brings together more than 80 winemakers.
The Blaye Spring Wine Festival – Lost in Bordeaux
The program includes discovery workshops (introduction to tasting, mixing, and food and wine pairing), guided visits to the citadel by train or horse, and more. For the full program and tickets click here.
When: April 15-16/ Where: Citadelle de Blaye, 33390 Blaye
Week-end des Vins Vivants
On April 15 -16, the town of Monségur in Entre-deux-Mers is hosting a wine festival. The event is dedicated to organic and natural wines. See all the details here.
When: April 15-16/ Where: Halle de Monségur
BLIB – the beer festival of Bordeaux
The 7th edition of Bordeaux’s beer festival will take place on April 15. The event will take place at Hangar 14 in Chartrons. Check out the Facebook page of the event for more info.
When: April 15 / Where: 115 Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux
Search for beautiful antiques at the Brocante
The big brocante of Bordeaux is hosted twice a year at Place des Quinconces with 200 antique dealers, horticulturists, restaurants, and craftsmen. It’s the biggest brocante event in the area and the selection is huge, from vintage home decor to paintings, antique furniture, garden accessories, and more.
Brocante de Bordeaux – Lost in Bordeaux
The market is taking place from April 21 to May 8. For more info and the list of exhibitors click here.
When: April 21 – May 8 / Where: Place des Quinconces, Bordeaux
Open doors at Lalande de Pomerol
An open doors weekend will take place on April 22-23 at the châteaux of the Lalande de Pomerol appellation. During the weekend, the châteaux of this appellation will offer plenty of activities such as guided tours, tastings, markets, an old cars exhibition, and many other activities. If you want to learn more about the Lalande de Pomerol appellation and its châteaux, click here.
When: April 22-23/ Where: Lalande de Pomerol (see the list of chateaux in the link)
Violette Sauvage X Madeingreen
Violette Sauvage is a big vide-dressing event (second-hand clothes sale) taking place every year in several cities in France (including Bordeaux).
This year the organizers of the event have collaborated with Madeingreen, a Bordeaux fair that promotes green creators. Together they will host a huge sale of second-hand fashion items. The event will take place in Hangar 14 on April 21-23. See more details here.
When: April 21-23 / Where: Hangar 14, Quai des Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux, 33300 Bordeaux
Salon Nautique d’Arcachon
The big Salon Nautique d’Arcachon will take place the weekend on April 21-23 at the Port de Plaisance d’Arcachon. More than 170 exhibitors will participate in the Salon, with 450 boats stationed all over the port. For more details click here.
When: April 21-23/ Where: Port d’Arcachon, 33120 Arcachon
Open doors in Saint-Emilion
An open-door weekend will take place on April 29 – May 1st in Saint Emilion where tens of wine producers will open their chateaux to the public.
The weekend will include many activities such as wine tastings, visits to the chateaux, games for kids, and bike rides. Check out the full program for the participating châteaux, the activities, and the wine tasting proposed for that weekend – here.
When: April 29- May 1st / Where: different locations around Saint Emilion
Tauzia Fête les Jardins
Tauzia is a gardening festival that takes place on April 29-30 at the Tauzia chateau in Gradignan. The popular event brings together more than 80 exhibitors specialized in the world of plants: plant producers, landscape designers, artists, collectors, horticulturists, and in general people with exceptional knowledge of plants. See more details here.
When: April 29-30 / Where: Château de Tauzia, 216 Cours du Général de Gaulle, 33170 Gradignan
Fete de la Lamproie
Sainte-Terre, the world capital of the Lamproie, will celebrate this creepy jawless fish with a fun, festive weekend. The event will take place on April 28 – 30. See the program here.
When: April 28 -30/ Where: Sainte-Terre
Fête de l’Asperge du Blayais
la Fête de l’Asperge du Blayais in Etauliers is a big event celebrating asparagus and its farmers. More than 8000 visitors are expected to stroll along with the 50 exhibitors of local delights and enjoy the activities offered to both adults and kids (make-up sessions, mini farm, pony rides, and more). The event is taking place on April 29-30 at the center of Etauliers. See the full program.
La Fête de l’Asperge du Blayais in Etauliers
When: April 29-30 / Where: Place principale, 33820 Etauliers
Big events in other parts of the SW of France
Foire au Jambon à Bayonne
Like every year, Bayonne will celebrate its famous ham with a big fair called, Foire au Jambon. The event will take place on April 6-9. See all the details here.
When: April 6-9 / Where: Center of Bayonne
Châteaux En Fête
Châteaux En Fête is one of the best evets the Dordgone department has to offer. 71 castles all over Dordogne will open their doors to visitors and offer guided visits, activities, and festive evenings. The Châteaux En Fête event will take place from April 15 to May 1st. See the list of chateaux and their programs here.
When: April 15- May 1st / Where: different towns in Dordogne
Winestock Festival
The Winestock Festival is a new wine-gastronomic festival that will take place for the first time this year in the villages of Monestier and Thénac in Dordogne. The program of the event includes concerts, tastings, workshops, a wine fair, masterclasses, and more.
The event will take place on April 28-30. See all the details here.
When: April 28-80 / Where: Monestier and Thénac
Année Du Dessin En Dordogne
This year the Dordogne is celebrating the Drawing year with an impressive amount of art exhibitions all over the department. The exhibitions and different art-related events will take place in famous chateaux, churches, libraries and other art venues. See all the dates and locations in the program of the event.
When: February – December 2023 / Where: different towns in Dordogne
Marché aux Fleurs
The pretty town of Duras is hosting a big flower market on April 16. For more details click here.
When: April 16 / Where: Duras
Exhibitions and concerts not to miss this month in Bordeaux
Itinéraires des Photographes Voyageurs – photography festival
The 32nd edition of the “traveling photographers routes” festival will take place on April 5-30. During one month, 17 photography exhibitions will be presented at the main cultural institutions in the city, among them, the Rocher de Palmer in Cenon, the Bibliothèque in Meriadeck, Espace Saint-Rémi, and others. Get the full list of all artists and more info about the event here.
When: April 5-30 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux (see program)
Dali and Gaudi – Les Bassins de Lumières
Les Bassins de Lumières is hosting a new amazing exhibition! This time the immersive exhibition is dedicated to Dali and Gaudi. Les Bassins de Lumières is a visual arts space, situated in an old submarine base, that is known for its immersive exhibitions.
You can see a video I took in their previous exhibitions just to get the vibe. The new exhibition will be presented from February 3 to January 7, get your tickets here.
When: February 3 – January 7, 2024 / Where: Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux
Go to a concert at Arkea Arena
Arkea Arena is the place to go to if you want to see big concerts in Bordeaux. The program in April includes the Celtic Legends, the Swan lake ballet, Jennifer, and more. See the full program here.
Street are at L’institue Bernard Magrez
L’institue Bernard Magrez is a beautiful chateau in Bordeaux that regularly host street art exhibitions and events. Currently, there are three different street art exhibitions presented at the gallery. You can visit the chateau only on weekends. Buy tickets here.
If you need more tips for things to do in the SW of France I invite you to join my Facebook group ” Travel in the South West of France“. Also, every Friday I send a newsletter with plenty of additional events you can enjoy during the weekend, so hurry up and subscribe to my email list now 🙂
You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:
The annual Carnival of Bordeaux is happening this Sunday and let’s just pray that they won’t cancel it due to bad weather because it’s a really cool event for both kids and adults. This weekend also has vintage vibes with events like the Vintage Salon and the Swing Festival. If you just want to take it easy and explore the city, you can read my new article about the cycling route on the riverfront of the Garonne river. I assume that now with Coronavirus uncertainty some of you are canceling your trips abroad? Well, then it’s a good opportunity to discover the southwest of France. Join my “Travel in the southwest of France” for the best tips of things to do in the region. If you want to see what else is taking place in March in Bordeaux, check out my March list. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (March 6-8).
Le Carnaval des 2 rives
Le Carnaval des 2 rives (March 8) takes place on both sides of the Garonne river. This is a modern festival (created in 1996) that has all the best features of a traditional carnival such as costumes, shows, and a big parade. The parade will start at 14:00 at the Allée Serr, on the right side of the river and will pass to the other side through Pont de Pierre ending at the Village Carnival at Place Pey-Berland at 16:00. The Village Carnival will be open until 18:00 with a big scene including dancers and demonstrations of augmented reality. For more details click here.
When: March 8 / Where: Starts at Allée Serr, Bastide, Bordeaux
Les Toiles Filantes – kids cinema festival
Les Toiles Filantes is a cinema festival that invites kids aged 3-12 years old to discover cinema through screenings, meeting with people from the industry, new movie contests and more. This year the Festival’s theme is “Sur la route”, meaning that all the movies and animation films will be in some way related to traveling journeys. The festival takes place at Cinéma Jean Eustache in Pessac fromMarch 2-8. For more details see the website of the festival.
When: March 2-8 / Where: 7 rue des Poilus 33600 Pessac
Salon du Vintage
The annual vintage salon will take place this weekend (March 7-8) at Hangar 14 (Quai des Chartrons). This chic event will gather more than 150 exhibitors with a great selection of accessories, furniture, vinyl records, classic cars, jukebox, paintings and more. Just outside of Hangar 14, plenty of food trucks will wait for you during lunch. For more details check the Facebook page and the website of the event. Entry is 5€ and free for kids under 8 years old.
When: March 7-8 / Where: 173 Quai des Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux
Swing Festival
Every March, for more than a decade now, Bordeaux has been hosting the Swing Art Festival with swing dancers from all around the globe coming to teach the dancers of Bordeaux their art of Swinging. This festival is much more than just swing dancing, it’s three days of live music, art, vintage markets, workshops, and a get together of many people from all around the world to celebrate this sweeping dance. The event is taking place this weekend (March 6-8) at le Halle des Chartrons and it’s Free! For more details click here.
When: March 6-8 / Where: 10 Place du Marché Chartrons, 33000
Fête de l’Orange
Fête de l’Orange, the feast of the Orange is celebrated every year in Podensac, the town of the famous Lillet liqueur. The program includes a big market dedicated to the fruit and different orange specialties, a guided visit in the Lillet cellars, traditional dancing and more. The event that will take place this weekend (March 7-8), you can read more about it here.
When: March 7-8 / Where: the center of Podensac
Voir & Avoir – handmade fair
This Voir & Avoir is a handmade fair taking place every year in Talence. The event will take place this weekend (March 7-8) in château de Thouars. For more details click here.
When: March 7-8 / Where: avenue de Thouars, 33400 Bordeaux
Foire aux Plaisirs
The spring edition of the traditional Bordelaise Fair is taking place at Place des Quinconces from February 21 to March 23. It’s a perfect activity for kids and for those who are young in spirit as La Foire aux Plaisirs de Bordeaux has it all: a big wheel, roller coasters, ghost trains, bumper cars, donuts, crèpes, barbes à papa and more. The fair is open daily from 14:00, you are not required to pay any entry fee, only for some of the attractions. See more info about the fair here.
When: February 21 to March 23 / Where: Place des Quinconces , 33000 Bordeaux
Bacalan au féminin
To celebrate women’s international day, Halle de Bacalan invites you ladies for a special weekend (March 7-8) with workshops and conferences dedicated to the wellbeing and success of women. For the full program and registration details click here.
When: February 7-8 / Where: 10 esplanade de pontac, 33300 Bordeaux
Vide-dressing for charity
This weekend (March 7-8) a big second-hand sale will take place at Cours Mably. The sale will include everything from clothing to bags, shoes, stylish accessories and more. The profits from the sale will go to La Maison Rose, an association supporting women diagnosed with cancer. For more details click here.
When: March 7-8/ Where: Cours Mably, 33000 Bordeaux
Arnaud Rebotini et le Don Van Club
Electronic music arrives at the Opera of Bordeaux! Yes you got that right 🙂 This Saturday (March 7) one of France’s leading electronic music composers, Arnaud Rebotini will give one special concert at the Auditorium de Bordeaux. Rebotini will be accompanied by the Orchestra of Bordeaux for a unique collaboration of electronic and classical music artists. For more details click here.
When: March 7/ Where: 9-11 crs Clémenceau, Bordeaux
IBOAT • Roller Disco Dancing
A Roller Disco party will take place this Saturday evening (March 7) on the docks of the Iboat. The entry is free. For more details click here.
When: March 7, starting at 19:00 / Where: Bassin à flot n°1, 33300 Bordeaux
Nansouty fête le Carnaval
A smaller carnival will also take place this Sunday (March 8) in the Nansouty district in Bordeaux. The Carnival will take place at Place Nansouty in the morning hours, so you can actually make it to both the Nansouty and the big Carnival of Bordeaux. For more details click here.
When: March 8, from 8:00 to 13:00 / Where: Place Nansouty, 33000 Bordeaux
Kids Room in Halles de Bacalan
Every Sunday (11:00 to 16:00), the market runs activities and workshops for kids with two operators, meanwhile, you can enjoy your drink and snack with friends without running after your kids. The activities are for kids over 3 years old and the price is 5 euros.
When: Every Sunday / Where: 10 esplanade de pontac, 33300 Bordeaux, France
Activities for kids during school break
During the two weeks of the school break, Cap Sciences, Bordeaux’s science museum is running plenty of activities and exhibitions for kids, and this weekend is no exception. You can see the full program here.
When: the school break / Where: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
Afrique, Savane Sauvage – New Exhibition
The museum of natural history in Bordeaux opened its new temporary exhibition for 2020 – Africa, wild Savannah. The new exhibition focuses on different aspects of the relationships between animals in the African Savanna, from the food chain to their coexistence, seasonal migration and survival strategies. It’s a very fun and interactive exhibition that both kids and adults will love. The exhibition will be presented until December 31, 2020. For more info click here.
When: February 4 – December 31 / Where: 5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux (in Jardin Public)
I truly believe that the best way to discover the center of Bordeaux is by foot, simply because every building in this city is an architectural work of art worthy of your full attention. One exception is the waterfront of Bordeaux, which is the perfect place for cycling in the city. Surely if you’ve been living here for a while you would think that there are many other interesting trails around the city, but for a newcomer, this cycling route is the best way to discover some of Bordeaux’s most interesting and entertaining spots. In this article, I’m going to introduce you to the “Bridge to Bridge” cycling route in Bordeaux. This trail starts from “la rive gauche”, the western side of Pont Pierre (the central bridge of Bordeaux). It then continues north all along the waterfront until you get to the most modern bridge of Bordeaux, Pont Chaban Delmas. From there you will cross to the Bastide neighborhood, the local’s favorite weekend getaway.
In this article, I’m going to mention all the beautiful monuments and interesting places you should pay attention to as well as recommend places that require a longer stop. I do want to want to warn you that there are quite a lot of stops here, I wrote them all just for you have all the options, but if you really want to feel like you’re cycling you might want to skip some of them 🙂 I am only referring to places located along the waterfront so If you want a deeper introduction to Bordeaux go to my ultimate guide to a weekend in Bordeaux. There is so much to see on the way and I don’t want you to miss any of it, so tune in and let’s start cycling. *For information on bike rentals go to the bottom of the article.
What not to miss while cycling in Bordeaux
The “rive gauche” – the 18th-century charm of Bordeaux
Start your tour next to the central and oldest bridge of Bordeaux, Pont de Pierre. The first bridge of Bordeaux was commissioned by Napoleon I at the beginning of the 19th century. Prior to the building of this bridge, the only way to get to the other side was by boat. If you’re using the city bikes, there is a station just a minute walk north of Port de Bourgogne, otherwise, look on the map of available bikes here.
Now that you have your bike, you can start cycling north, all along the Garonne river. Look at the shape of the river, does that remind you of anything? The Garonne river is shaped like a moon and that’s where Bordeaux got its’ nickname “la Port de la Lune” – the moon port.
It’s time for some sightseeing! It will be very hard to miss the first monument on our route, the spectacular Porte Cailhau, one of the two original gates to the old city of Bordeaux. It was built in 1495 to commemorate the glory of king Charles VIII and you can find the statue of the king right in the center of it.
Stop 1 – the most popular monument of Bordeaux
We are in front of the Miroir d’eau, which is by far the most popular location in Bordeaux during the summer. And although you’ve been cycling for only a couple of minutes this place demands a stop. This modern monument, built in 2006, is the world’s largest reflecting pool. The surface is made from blue granite covered in water, reflecting the 18th century Place de la Bourse. During the summer months, the system of le Miroir d’eau operates in cycles of 15 minutes creating a shallow pool where you can wet your feet and a fog at the end of the cycle when the water is coming down.
I would highly recommend crossing the road to Place de la Bourse and take a look at this masterpiece of classic French architecture from the 18th century. Don’t miss the famous mascarons of Bordeaux, these are the little faces looking on you from the arches of the buildings. There are more than 3000 mascarons decorating the buildings and monuments of Bordeaux, taking inspiration from Greek mythology, wild animals, religion and the economical development of Bordeaux. To learn a bit more about the architecture of Bordeaux go to the Bordeaux Patrimoine Mondial, an architectural and heritage interpretation center. The center hosts a modern exhibition presenting various stages in the development of Bordeaux and the factors that have influenced its construction.
You can now pop on your bikes and continue to our next stop, but before we get there, here are a few places I don’t want you to miss.
Place des Quinconces Place des Quinconces is the largest city square in France! On one of the sides of this enormous square, you will find the beautiful monument dedicated to the Girondins (members of a political faction) who were killed during the French Revolution. Throughout the year the square hosts many different events, festivals and fairs such as the Brocante de Quinconces. I tend to write a lot about the events that take place on Place des Quinconces so be sure to check out my monthly and weekly updates about things to do in Bordeaux for up to date recommendations.
Remembring the slave trade in Bordeaux In the last few years, Bordeaux has become more engaged in trying to acknowledge its dark past of slave trade that took place from the 17th to the 19th century. A decade ago you could barely find any remanence of Bordeaux’s role as the second biggest slave trade port in France. Today, however, several statues of slaves can be found in the city and Bordeaux’s triangular slave trade voyages carrying more than 150,000 slaves are documented in the Musee d’Aquitaine.
One of the most beautiful statues was created by a Haitian sculptor named Filipo and is located right here on the waterfront, just in front of the Bourse Maritime. The statue depicts a young slave named Modeste Testas who was bought when she was only 15 years old by two Bordelaise brothers. She worked on their plantation in Saint-Domingue and was set free after the death of her owner. You can read about her story on the panel explaining the statue.
If you’re in an artistic mood our second stop is for you! CAPC is the contemporary art museum of Bordeaux located between the Quinconces and Chartrons districts. The museum is housed in an impressive former warehouse from the 19th century where commodities, traded down the river, used to be stored. In the permanent collection, there are almost 300 works of art and it regularly hosts temporary exhibitions that are dedicated to the history of art. I have visited the place several times and while the exhibitions are not always the best, the building itself is very impressive. On top of the building you can find a very chic restaurant, a nice place to stop for lunch or a drink.
If you want to see what other museums Bordeaux has to offer, check out my article about the Museums of Bordeaux.
Stop 3 – lunch on the Quai des Chartrons
If you’re feeling peckish, Quai des Chartrons is the perfect location for a good lunch. You have many good restaurants along the waterfront to choose from, two of my favorite ones are Symbiose and Pastel.
If you’re doing the cycling tour on Sunday, don’t miss one of the best markets taking place every Sunday morning on Quai des Chartrons. This market hosts dozens of food stalls selling everything from fresh fruits, cheese, pastries and oysters. Besides the fresh local products you can buy at the market it’s simply a very nice spot to have an early lunch or a plate of oysters with white wine if you want to feel like a local.
If you are not time constrained take an hour or two to discover the super chic Chartrons district. You can simply follow my article about the best things to do in Chartrons.
Stop 4 – Cap Sciences
If you’re doing this bike tour with kids here’s another cool place to keep in mind. Cap Science is a nice science museum that proposes interactive exhibitions and activities all dedicated to different aspects of science. The museum is located at Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan. For other activities for kids check out my list of 30 things to do with kids in Bordeaux.
See the ship parade in Bordeaux
Just next to it don’t miss Pont Chaban Delmas, a modern bridge that was inaugurated in 2013 and named after one of the mayors of the city. It’s the longest vertical-lift bridge in Europe and seeing it elevating to let the tall ships pass is a very impressive sight.
Before you cross the bridge to the other side let’s discover another hip neighborhood in Bordeaux
The Bacalan neighborhood – the cool kid on the block
Bacalan is a northern district of Bordeaux, an area that, until recently, has largely been avoided by tourists and locals. The grungy landscapes of the port and its distance from the city center aren’t as appealing as the beautiful architecture and lovely squares of the historic center of Bordeaux. In the last few years, however, the Bacalan district has been changing its face, emerging to be one of the most interesting places in Bordeaux, with plenty of new neighborhoods and places to explore.
You can spend a few hours discovering this cool place, using my guide to the Bacalan district. But as we’re in the midst of our “Bridge to Bridge” cycling trail, I’ll point out two of the places close to the river that I think you should visit.
Stop 5 – La cité du Vin
La Cité du Vin is Bordeaux’s famous wine museum. This impressive piece of modern architecture is one of a kind cultural center, all dedicated to discovering the wine world. Through its interactive exhibition, It offers a journey to both French and global wine history. You will learn about winemaking, see movies and interviews with wine producers and then pass on to smell and taste wine. The Cité du Vin allows you to discover a selection of wines from all over the world and offers one of the best panoramic views of Bordeaux. You can think of it as a kind of wine amusement park that can be very enjoyable to both wine lovers and people who don’t drink at all.
Learn everything about wine making
Read more about visiting the world’s best wine museum in my article about the Cité du Vin.
Stop 6 – the Bacalan Market
It’s time for a little break from sightseeing to go for a drink in one of Bordeaux’s chic markets – les Halles de Bacalan, located just in front of the wine museum. This impressive 950m2 hangar hosts more than 20 artisans that were chosen for the quality of their products (85% of which are produced in the South-West region of France).
Marché de Bacalan – a new covered market
The “rive droite” – the hipster hub
You can now go back to the modern bridge and cross it to the eastern side – la rive droite. The Bastide neighborhood represents another side of Bordeaux’s charm. Instead of the classic monuments, it has a much more tranquil and funky spirit that attracts many local families and young hipsters of Bordeaux on weekends. This district is especially charming from May to October when you can enjoy all its green areas and all the summer bars and restaurants on the riverfront.
Let me walk you over some of the best places to stop by at the Bastide neighborhood.
Stop 7 – Fabrique Pola
Our next stop is definitely not a must, but it can be a nice place to discover for art lovers. La Fabrique Pola is an artistic hub that brings together associations related to the visual arts. They always have different (usually free) exhibitions running and sometimes on weekends, they have live music on the banks of the Garonne. For the program take a look at their site.
Stop 8 – Darwin
Darwin is probably the main reason to cross the river to the east part of the city. It’s an old military base turned into an urban space with a huge chic restaurant and a cafe/organic food shop, a skate park for all ages, a second-hand shop and many other surprises, all with an agenda of ecological awareness. Whether alone or with kids you can spend hours in Darwin. It is also one of the most extraordinary places for street art and includes some amazing works by a lot of talented artists on every one of its buildings.
Darwin by Lost in Bordeaux
If you’re interested in plants or just love beautiful gardens, don’t miss the neighboring Jardin Botanique. This little park was created to allow the wide public to discover the world of plants, biodiversity and sustainability.
Stop 9 – finish your day with a fabulous picnic
Your cycling route along Quai des Queyries (the waterfront of “rive droite”) goes through one of the best green corners of Bordeaux. That part of the Bastide district is called Parc aux Angéliques, a wide green space with a stunning view on some of the most stunning monuments in the center of Bordeaux. Closer to Darwin, the vibe gets more hipstery.. further away and it’s more of an extended family kind of atmosphere 😉
The Bastide district by Lost in Bordeaux
On summer days it’s one of the best places for a picnic in the city. If you don’t have any food with you, just go over to Magasin Général in Darwin and buy some cheese and wine (the perfect set for a French picnic). For a larger selection go to the Carrefour supermarket on Allée Serr. For other beautiful green spots in the city, check out my article about the best places for picnics in Bordeaux.
Before you go back to the center of Bordeaux through Pont Pierre, stop by one of the most famous statues of “rive droite”, Le Lion. The blue lion on Place Stalingrad is created by a famous French artist Xavier Veilhan as a tribute to the victory of the Soviet army during the Second World War.
That’s it, our cycling route in Bordeaux has come to its end. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop! Bordeaux is a super friendly city for cycling and you can continue discovering other neighborhoods and parks. You might get some ideas from the article about the Five alternative ways to discover Bordeaux.
Where to rent bikes in Bordeaux
There are plenty of places to rent bikes in Bordeaux, one of them is located just next to our starting point, next to Pont Pierre. The shop is called Bordeaux Velo and the address is 46 Quai Richelieu.
However, if you’re on a budget or just don’t want to commit to a bike for several hours you can use city bikes that are spread all over the city. The price is only 1.7 euros for 24 hours if you return them to the station every 30 minutes (you can take another bike right away). If you rather not spend your time looking for a station in the middle of your trip you can return them after you finish your ride and pay 2 euros for every additional hour.
If you live in Bordeaux you also have the possibility to rent a free bike for several months. The organization is called la Maison métropolitaine des mobilités alternatives (MAMMA) and it’s located at 69 cours Pasteur – 33000 Bordeaux. You can check out all the details here.
I hope you enjoyed this beautiful city and if you have a few more days in the area don’t forget to check out my article about the best day trips from Bordeaux. If you want more tips on restaurants, concerts and exhibitions follow me on facebook/Instagram. Or better yet, join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.
As many people have left the city for school break, there aren’t as many events this weekend compared to the rest of March. But there are still a few nice things to do. My favorite one this weekend is the Vide-greniers des Bordelais with garage sales taking place all over the city. It looks like it’s going to be a rainy weekend so my article about what to do in Bordeaux when it’s raining is going to be quite useful. If the weather is nice you can always escape for a day trip to Arcachon, for that you can follow my new article about the best places to visit on the Arcachon Bay. If you want to see what else is taking place this month don’t forget to read my March list. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (February 28 – March 1).
Vide-greniers des Bordelais
One of my favorite things to do in France is to wander around vide greniers (the French version of a garage sale) discover what French people hold in their homes and buy a lot of stuff I don’t really need at ridiculously low prices. On March 1st, more than 20 vide-greniers will take place all over the city. Check out the list of all the locations here.
When: March 1st / Where: different locations (see the link)
Go to one of Bordeaux’s museums – it’s free Sunday
It’s the first Sunday of the month meaning that many of Bordeaux’s museums have free entrance to all their exhibitions. Bordeaux has a great variety of museums, from street art to science and history, just choose one from my list of museums in Bordeaux. In my article, I also mention which are the free ones this Sunday.
Foire aux Plaisirs
The spring edition of the traditional Bordelaise Fair is taking place at Place des Quinconces from February 21 to March 23. It’s a perfect activity for kids and for those who are young in spirit as La Foire aux Plaisirs de Bordeaux has it all: a big wheel, roller coasters, ghost trains, bumper cars, donuts, crèpes, barbes à papa and more. The fair is open daily from 14:00, you are not required to pay any entry fee, only for some of the attractions. See more info about the fair here.
When: February 21 to March 23 / Where: Place des Quinconces , 33000 Bordeaux
Activities for kids during school break
During the two weeks of the school break, Cap Sciences, Bordeaux’s science museum is running plenty of activities and exhibitions for kids, and this weekend is no exception. You can see the full program here.
When: the school break / Where: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
Mama’s night out – Carnaval
This Friday (February 28) Mama shelter will host its own carnival with a strong Latino atmosphere. For more info click here.
When: February 28 / Where: 19 Rue Poquelin Molière, 33000 Bordeaux
FIMEB : Circuit Court • Darwin
This Saturday (February 29) Darwin will host an electronic party with a line up of DJs from different local collectives like the Bordeaux Open-air and the Electrocorp. The party will start at 18:00, no entries are allowed after 23:00. For more details click here.
When: February 29, starting 18:00 / Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Les Véhicules de l’Amour
Les Véhicules de l’Amour is an exhibition by the artist Jonas Laclasse that takes you on a journey in ex-Yougoslavia combining graffiti and linguistics. The exhibition will be presented at the Les Vivres de l’Art from February 13 to February 29. For more details and other events taking place during the exhibition check out the Facebook page of the event.
If you want to discover more places in this cool neighborhood check out my article about the Bacalan district.
When: February 13-29 / Where: 4 rue Achard, 33300 Bordeaux
Festival les Granadines Givrées
Festival les Granadines Givrées is a great event for both kids and adults taking place over several days (February 22- 29) at La Salle Des Fêtes Bordeaux Grand-Parc. The program of the festival includes plenty of fun activities like dance workshops, kids’ palace, musical theater, lectures for adults and more. For more details click here.
When: February 22- 29 / Where: 39 Cours de Luze, 33300 Bordeaux
Carnaval de Bergerac
Like Bordeaux, Bergerac also likes celebrating its carnival. Le Carnaval de Bergerac will take place on March 1st at place de la République. For more details click here.
When: March 1 / Where: 97 Rue Neuve d’Argenson, 24100 Bergerac
Pintxo Gaua
Pintxo Gaua is a fun event taking place in Halles de Bacalan every last Friday of the month. As the name indicates, this event is all about Pintxos, with ingredients coming solely from the market. Finish your week this Friday (February 28) with Pintxos, some wine and a DJ set. For more info click here.
When: February 28 / Where: 10 Esplanade de Pontac, 33300 Bordeaux
Matth Velvet – expo at the Institut Bernard Magrez
Matth Velvet, a talented street artist that lives and works in Bordeaux, presents his beautiful works at the Institute Bernard Magrez, some of which you may have seen on building walls in the city. The exhibition is being presented at the museum from January 23 to March 23. For more details about the artist see here.
When: January 23 – March 23 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli 33000 Bordeaux
Afrique, Savane Sauvage – New Exhibition
The museum of natural history in Bordeaux has presented its new temporary exhibition for 2020 – Africa, wild Savannah. The new exhibition focuses on different aspects of the relationships between animals in the African Savanna, from the food chain to their coexistence, seasonal migration and survival strategies. It’s a very fun and interactive exhibition that both kids and adults will love. The exhibition will be presented until December 31, 2020. For more info click here.
When: February 4 – December 31 / Where: 5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux (in Jardin Public)
Carnaval Englouti – Exhibition
The big carnival of Bordeaux will take place on March 8 and this year the designer of the festival is the artist Guillaumit. Like every year, the organizers of the festival will let us see the design process of the costume in a special exhibition that will be presented several weeks prior to the carnival itself. This year the exhibition takes place at Fabrique Pola starting February 14. For more details click here.
When: February 14- March 6 / Where: 10 Quai de Brazza, 33100 Bordeaux
Go to a Jazz concert
Winter is a perfect time to discover some Jazz bars in Bordeaux and one of the best ones is Thélonious in Chartrons. This weekend (February 28-28) two Jazz concerts will take place in the bar. See the program and all the details here.
When: February 28-29 / Where: 18 Rue Bourbon, 33000 Bordeaux
March is the month of uncertainty here in Bordeaux. There will be sunny days which will make you crave a glass of rose on one of the squares of Bordeaux. It can even be hot enough to go to the beach, and in that case, you should check out my article about the best beaches near Bordeaux.
However don’t be surprised if suddenly you’ll wake up to a cold or a very rainy day, these are very common in March as well.
However, in this article, I’m going to talk about all the best events, exhibitions, and concerts taking place in Bordeaux and its surroundings in March 2023. If you’re reading this article in February check out my article about what to do in Bordeaux in February.
You can also subscribe to my newsletter where I update you about all the best things happening in the city every weekend.
Le Carnaval des 2 rives (March 5) takes place on both sides of the Garonne river. This modern festival (created in 1996) has all the best features of a traditional carnival such as costumes, shows, and a big parade.
The big parade starts start at 14:00 at the Allée Serr, on the right side of the river, and then passes to the other side through Pont de Pierre and ends at the Village Carnival at Place Pey-Berland at 16:00. The Village Carnaval will be open until 18:00. For more details click here.
When: March 5 / Where: Starts at Allée Serr, Bastide, Bordeaux
Grand Salon Habitat De Bordeaux
Bordeaux’s big habitat fair will take place on March 3-5. The salon will include a huge variety of stands and professionals specializing in construction, house renovation, interior design, and more. The event will take place at Hall 3 of le Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux – Hall 3. For more details click here.
When: March 3-5 / Where: Cours Jules Ladoumègue, 33000 Bordeaux
Fête de l’Orange
Fête de l’Orange, the feast of the Orange is celebrated every year in Podensac, the town of the famous Lillet liqueur. The program includes a big orange market and different orange specialties, a guided visit to the Lillet cellars, traditional dancing, and more. The event will take place on March 4-5. The full program will be published here.
When: March 4-5 / Where: the center of Podensac
Foire aux Plaisirs
This is the spring edition of the traditional Bordelaise Fair that is taking place at Place des Quinconces from March 3-26. It’s a perfect activity for kids and for those who are young in spirit as La Foire aux Plaisirs de Bordeaux has it all: a big wheel, roller coasters, ghost trains, bumper cars, donuts, crèpes, and more.
Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants de Bordeaux
The Salon des Vins of the Bordeaux independent winemakers will take place on March 10-12 at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux (Bordeaux Lac -Hall 3). Wine producers from the region will present their wines and will invite you to a free taste. This event is not geared toward professionals but rather toward all wine lovers. For more info click here.
When: March 10-12 / Where: Parc des expositions de Bordeaux Lac – Cours Charles Bricaud – 33000 Bordeaux
Bordeaux Rock Festival
The Bordeaux Rock festival is a big gathering of independent and alternative bands that takes place every year in Bordeaux. This year it will take place on March 9-12 at la Salle des fêtes du grand parc. For the full program and tickets click here.
When: March 9-12 / Where: 39 Cours de Luze 33300 Bordeaux, France
Salon du Vintage
The annual vintage salon will take place in Darwin on March 11-12. This chic event will gather more than 50 exhibitors with a great selection of accessories, furniture, vinyl records, classic cars, jukebox, paintings, and more. For more details check the Facebook page and the website of the event.
When: March 11-12 / Where: 87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Saint Patrick’s day
Saint Patrick’s day is always a good opportunity to get drunk from an Irish beer or whiskey while listening to good music.
Most Irish (and English) bars in Bordeaux make a big Saint Patrick’s day celebration with music and a lot of drunk and happy people. Check out my list of Irish/English bars in Bordeaux and choose one for March 17!
The European short film festival
The 26th edition of the European Short Film festival (festival européen du court métrage de Bordeaux) will take place on March 16-17 at the UGC Ciné Cité Bordeaux. The festival includes a program of about thirty movies from all over the world and a jury of famous personalities from the French cinema industry, from actors to directors and screenwriters. For more info and tickets check out the website of the festival.
When: March 16-17 / Where: 13-15 rue Georges Bonnac, 33000 Bordeaux
Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux
Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux (March 18-25) is a very unique humor festival hosting more than 80 artists and different activities taking place all over the city. The festival is an opportunity to experience humor in different forms, such as live on stage, in pictures, and even through cooking! See the full program here.
When: March 18-25 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux
Swing Art Festival
Every March, for more than a decade now, Bordeaux has been hosting the Swing Art Festival (March 23-26) where swing dancers come from all around the globe to teach the dancers of Bordeaux their art of Swinging.
The program includes a lot of dancing, live music, art, vintage markets, workshops, and more. The event takes place at la Halle des Chartrons and it’s Free! For more details click here.
When: March 23-26 / Where: 10 Place du Marché Chartrons, 33000
Fête les Vins kms de Saint-Emilion
Les Vins Kms de Saint-Emilion is a walking and running race of 11 km, 21km, and 40k, taking place at the stunning village of Saint Emilion. The event starts at Château Soutard, one of Saint Emilion’s most popular wineries. The event takes place on March 26.
Exhibitions and concerts not to miss this month in Bordeaux
Go to a concert at Arkea Arena
Arkea Arena is the place to go to if you want to see big concerts in Bordeaux. The program in March includes the Irish Celtic, an electronic music festival, Stromae, and more. See the full program here.
Dali and Gaudi – Les Bassins de Lumières
Les Bassins de Lumières is hosting a new exhibition and I’m sure it’s going to be amazing as usual! This time the exhibition is dedicated to Dali and Gaudi. Les Bassins de Lumières is a visual arts space, situated in an old submarine base, that is known for its immersive exhibitions.
You can see a video I took in their previous exhibitions just to get the vibe. The new exhibition will be presented from February 3 to January 7, get your tickets here.
When: February 3 – January 7, 2024 / Where: Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux
Street are at L’institue Bernard Magrez
L’institue Bernard Magrez is a beautiful chateau in Bordeaux that regularly host street art exhibitions and events. Currently, there are three different street art exhibitions presented at the gallery. You can visit the chateau only on weekends. Buy tickets here.
What’s happening in other parts of the SW of France in March 2023
Piano Festival
The town of Saintes is hosting its annual Piano festival on March 3-4. The festival will take place at the Abbaye aux Dames, one of the highlights of this beautiful town in the Charentes Maritimes department. See more details and tickets here.
When: March 3-4 / Where: 11 Place de l’Abbaye, 17100 Saintes
Sarlat en Périgord Fest’oie (Goose Festival)
Every first weekend of March, the town of Sarlat is hosting the Goose festival. In the program, you find live music, great food, a big market, tours of the historic city, and more. The event will take place on March 4-5. See more details here.
When: March 4-5 / Where: Sarlat, Dordogne
South Town Jazz Festival
The South Town Jazz festival is an annual festival taking place in Soustons, a charming beach town in the Landes department. The festival will take place on March 20-25. For more info and tickets click here.
If you need more tips for things to do in the SW of France I invite you to join my Facebook group ” Travel in the South West of France“. Also, every Friday I send a newsletter with plenty of additional events you can enjoy during the weekend, so hurry up and subscribe to my email list now 🙂
You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:
The list this week is very kids friendly with events like the Disney on ice show, a sportive event in Villenave (Trail Urbain) and the Jumping Bordeaux that both adults and kids will love. If you start planning any short weekends from Bordeaux this Spring ckeck out my adticles about the best things to do in Biarrtiz and Cognac. If you want to see what’s going on in the next few weeks check out my February list. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (February 7-9).
Jumping International de Bordeaux
Jumping International de Bordeaux is a big riding equestrian event that includes competitions, spectacles and a fun fair. The event will take place on February 6-9 in Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux. More than 250 exhibitors will present their horses at the event which will include activities such as Jumping world cup, amateurs competition, Equine Health Forum, a show of Iberian horses and more. For more details click here.
When: February 6-9 / Where: Cours Jules Ladoumegue, 33300 Bordeaux
Disney on ice
One of the most popular events for kids in Bordeaux is happening again! All the popular Disney characters reunite for an ice skating spectacle. Disney Sur Glace includes three shows during this weekend (February 7-9) at the Arkea Arena. For tickets and more details click here.
When: February 7-9 / Where: 48-50 Avenue Jean Alfonséa, 33270 Floirac
Salon Spa
A spa salon with representatives from 70 establishments will take place on February 7-8 in Hangar 14. The program includes different conferences on health and thermal medicine. For the full program click here.
When: February 7-8 / Where: Hangar 14, Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux
Braderie d’Hiver
Every winter the main streets of Bordeaux are getting filled with stands of clothes, shoes, toys, house supplies and more – this is the Bordeaux winter Braderie. If you’re in town for winter sales take the opportunity to check out the stands of more than 250 merchants on rue Porte Dijeaux, rue Sainte Catherine and rue des Trois Conils. The Braderie will take place on February 6-8.
When: February 6-8 / Where: Center of Bordeaux: rue Porte Dijeaux, rue Sainte Catherine and rue des Trois Conils
Villenave Trail Urbain
Villenave Trail Urbain is a sportive weekend taking place in Villenave d’Ornon on February 8-9. The weekend includes four different running/ hiking trails in the landscape of Villenave d’Ornon, starting with a Nordic night walking trail on February 8 and three other trails ranging from 5 to 21km. On February 9, there will also be two hiking trails tracks for kids: the Cross du CAV for kids from 11 to 14 years old and the Pouss’cross for ages 6 to 10. The tracks will start from Espace D’Ornon and will go through several chateaux in the area. You can see all the details and inscription forms here.
When: February 8-9 / Where: 147, route de Léognan 33140 Villenave d’ornon, 33140 Villenave-d’Ornon
Green Market au Château des Tours, Bouscat
A green market will take place on February 9 in Château des Tours in le Bouscat. The market will host local producers of organic fruit and vegetables, patisserie, natural cosmetics and more. Check out the full list of merchants here. The entry is free.
When: February 9, from 10:30 / Where: 246 Avenue de la Libération Charles de Gaulle, 33110 Le Bouscat
Truffles market in Saint Emilion
Truffles are one of the most identified products of the Southwest of France. Usually, Dordogne is the one taking most of the credit when it comes to truffle markets, but Gironde is also giving a fight. Every Saturday morning in February a truffles farmers market will take place at Logis de Malet in Saint Emilion. See more info here.
When: February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 / Where: rue des anciennes écoles, in front of la maison du vin), Saint-Émilion
Afrique, Savane Sauvage – New Exhibition
The museum of natural history in Bordeaux has presented its new temporary exhibition for 2020 – Africa, wild Savannah. The new exhibition focuses on different aspects of the relationships between animals in the African Savanna, from the food chain to their coexistence, seasonal migration and survival strategies. It’s a very fun and interactive exhibition that both kids and adults will love. The exhibition will be presented until December 31, 2020. For more info click here.
When: February 4 – December 31 / Where: 5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux (in Jardin Public)
Jazz Concert at Auditorium de l’Opéra
This Saturday (February 8) the Auditorium of Bordeaux will host a Jazz concert of the Jean-Marc Montaut Quartet. For more details click here.
When: February 8, 20:00 / Where: 9-11 Cours Clemenceau, 33000 Bordeaux
Mama’s Brunch
Another fun event this Sunday is Mama’s Brunch. Mama Shelter invites you to its big buffet brunch which is a bit pricey (39 euros per person) but includes almost four hours of activities and artistic workshops for kids, so it’s like brunch with a babysitter :). For more details and the menu click here.
When: February 9 / Where: 19, rue Poquelin Moliere, 33000 Bordeaux
Exposition Humans – Exhibition
For the first time in Bordeaux, L’institut Bernard Magrez will reunite some of the best contemporary artists of China in one exhibition. Exposition Humans deals with the representation of the human body at the heart of the evolution of Chinese society in the last few years. The exhibition includes more than 50 works of photographers, sculptors, painters and more. The exhibition will be presented until February 16. For more details click here.
When: Until February 16 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux
Explore the Region
I love February so far, the weather has been so lovely! But we all know that in this region it’s not going to last long. So before the rain strikes back, use the beautiful days to explore Gironde. In my article about the best trips from Bordeaux, you can find plenty of ideas for places to see around Bordeaux, from beautiful wine chateaux to beaches and charming villages. If you need more ideas just go to my Travel in the southwest of France group.
Discover the foodie streets of Bordeaux
Staying in foodie mood, you can also explore some of the foodie streets in Bordeaux. These are the places where you can find the best bakeries, coffee shops, cheese shops and more. They aren’t always on the tourist trail and not always easy to find and that’s why I decided to write an article about the foodie streets of Bordeaux.
I hope you enjoyed the weekend list and if you need help with some Bordeaux basics check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux that will help you get familiar with all the must-see places in the city. Also, don’t forget to join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.
