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.
When Ira suggested I write a guest post for her fantastic Lost In Bordeaux blog, I wondered what might be the best approach. Over the years my Invisible Bordeaux blog has sought to uncover the city’s more obscure and lesser-known sights and stories. This has resulted in many interesting encounters and numerous fascinating discoveries, writing about subjects as varied as Cacolac (a local beverage that is most definitely not wine), Mort Shuman (the renowned Brooklyn-born singer-songwriter who is buried in Caudéran), the innovative silent movie star Max Linder, the events of May 1968… and what can be found at the point of convergence between the 45th parallel and the Greenwich meridian (the answer is: not much).
But one of the things I’ve realized is that one of the best ways to visit the city is by finding an unusual angle, transforming it into an itinerary, and just seeing what happens. I thought it might be interesting to share a few of those tips, which you may or may not want to replicate, or which might trigger concepts of your own! So here are five alternative ways of visiting Bordeaux:
Using a Monopoly board as a roadmap to discovering Bordeaux
There are many regional variants of the legendary board game Monopoly, including one that is set in Bordeaux. Of course, the basic premise of the game is that the various squares represent streets or districts of diverse real estate values… and therefore different moods and atmospheres. So, by plotting a route across all those squares in real life, you are bound to get a feel of the city as a whole! This is something Invisible Bordeaux tested, by conceiving an itinerary that involved “collecting” all the Monopoly properties over the course of the journey, which is probably best enjoyed on a bike. The trip was made using what is now an older edition of the game and that remained within the city itself, whereas the current edition includes stops that are further afield… but the potential for an unusual take on Bordeaux remains intact! You can discover the full route in this article.
You can also read Lost in Bordeaux’s articles about things to do in the chic Chartrons neighborhood and the hip Bacalan district as this fun route goes through both of these districts.
Plaque-spotting on the waterfront
The Garonne waterfront is now synonymous with its pleasant walkways, shops and café terraces, but by hunting out some of the plaques that have been positioned here and there, it is possible to travel back in time and imagine how it once was. One of the city’s big taboo subjects is its Second World War period, but plaques commemorating the British Royal Marines’ ambitious “Operation Frankton” (between Hangar 14 and the skatepark), the altruistic actions of Portuguese consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes (Quai Louis XVIII) and the manner in which Spanish guerilla Pablo Sanchez saved the Pont de Pierre from imminent destruction (Quai Richelieu) serve as testaments of some of the city’s more inspiring wartime events.
By the “Bourse Maritime” building, a statue by Haitian sculptor Filipo that depicts the slave Modeste Testas is a poignant recently-installed memorial to the city’s slave trade past (get closer to the riverfront to see her). It is located, along with its accompanying plaque, towards the area from which ships set sail between 1672 and 1837, on the first legs of 508 triangular slave trade voyages that resulted in 150,000 Africans being deported to the Americas. Finally, on Quai des Chartrons, a plaque commemorates the legacy of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and a veritable “symbol of Franco-American friendship”. It is positioned here in honor of the five fruitful fact-finding days this renowned wine connoisseur spent in the city in 1787!
The Wallace fountain hunt
Wallace fountains are distinctive, elegant green cast-iron drinking fountains that are more naturally associated with Paris, but there are seven to be spotted around Bordeaux, in locations ranging from the Jardin Public to Place Stalingrad, via pleasant lesser-known squares such as Place Mitchell and Place de Porto-Riche. Some are original 19th-century models that were financed at the time by local philanthropist Daniel Osiris, while others are more recent replicas. Invisible Bordeaux has a very detailed article explaining where the Wallace fountains can be found in Bordeaux.
The 1950s Formula 1 circuit
In the early 1950s, the city center of Bordeaux hosted four Formula 1 Grand Prix races, attracting driving aces including Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss and Maurice Trintignant. The drivers competed on a 2.5-kilometer circuit which looped around the Esplanade des Quinconces and along the waterfront. In order to be recognized as a Formula 1 race, the total distance had to be of at least 300 kilometers; drivers would, therefore, have to go around the track no less than 123 times, amounting to a little over three hours of racing. It is easy to find maps of the circuit in order to revisit it on foot or by bike, although going around once is probably enough! Read the full article about how Bordeaux city centre became a Formula 1 racing track.
Greenery in the suburbs of Bordeaux
Finally, it can be refreshing to head out to the suburbs and enjoy some of the nice greenery and wide-open spaces to be found within a relatively small radius. You can, for instance, start out to the north of the city at the surprising Parc Floral (now part of the recently rebranded “Réserve écologique des Barails”) with its curious twin city gardens, stunning rose garden and artificial Pyrenean stream.
Looping your way anti-clockwise around the city’s periphery, make sure you take in the massive vegetable growing patches in Eysines, the linear Parc du Ruisseau in Le Haillan, the slightly arty Bois du Bouscat in Le Bouscat, followed by the tall and impressive wooden structures of Pessac’s Écosite du Bourgailh. Then the leafy stroll along the Eau Bourde stream in Gradignan and Canéjan is other-worldly, the Garonne riverside path between Floirac and Latresne is an absolute delight, and Lormont’s Parc de l’Ermitage Sainte-Catherine is a scenic reminder that the right bank is a hilly beast! The hustle and bustle of the city center soon feels a long way away!
A little bit about Tim, the founder and writer of Invisible Bordeaux
Tim Pike is an Englishman who has spent most of his adult life in France. On his website Invisible Bordeaux, he has been documenting the city’s lesser-known sights, stories and landmarks since 2011, also using the project as a great excuse to do a lot of cycling! During office hours Tim handles digital communications and content for the aerospace company Thales. He can also occasionally be spotted out and about singing and playing guitar.
This will be an interesting weekend as we have several festivals happening at the same time, among them the Bordeaux Rock festival, the Trente Trente art festival and the magic festival. On Sunday you can also join the fun Chinese new year parade or go to a gospel concert. This week I also published a post about the best markets in Bordeaux, so it’s a great opportunity to explore the ones you haven’t been to yet. For those of you who missed it, I have a new Facebook group that is all dedicated to traveling in the region, it’s called Travel in the Southwest of France, and you’re very welcome to join us:) If you want to see what’s on in the next few weeks check out my February list. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (January 24-26).
Le Nouvel An Chinois
This Sunday (January 26) Bordeaux will celebrate the Chinese new year with a fun parade that will start at Place de la Victoire at 14:30. For more details click here.
When: January 26, at 14:30 / Where: Place de la Victoire, 33300 Bordeaux
Trente Trente – Emerging arts Festival
Trente Trente is an annual festival, created to promote emerging artists in Bordeaux and Nouvelle Aquitaine in general. The festival includes more than twenty performances by artists from all genres, with some experimenting with interdisciplinary arts. Check out the full program that includes dance, music, theater, circus and more. The festival takes place on January 21-February 1st in different theaters and cultural spaces across the metropole (see the full list here).
When: January 21 – February 1st / Where: Different venues in the Bordeaux area (check out the full program)
Bordeaux Rock Festival
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 January 22-26 in different music venues in Bordeaux like the Iboat and Salle des fêtes du grand parc. For the full program and tickets click here. Some of the events are free.
When: January 22-26 / Where: Different venues in the Bordeaux area (check out the full program)
International magic festival
The international magic festival will take place in Théâtre Fémina on January 25-26. This year seven world-class artists (magicians and illusionists) will offer you breathtaking spectacles that you wouldn’t want to miss. For more info and tickets click here.
When: January 25-26 / Where: 10 Rue de Grassi, 33000 Bordeaux
Hostens Trails 2020
Every year the Gironde department organizes plenty of sporting events that are open to the public. The first one in 2020 will take place this weekend on January 25-26 in Hostens. The event offers several trails for both runners, walkers and Nordic walkers. The price varies according to the trail and prior registration is mandatory. For more info click here.
When: January 25-26 / Where: Secteur de la Base Nautique Hostens
Coulisses des Sciences
Coulisses des Sciences is a week dedicated to different scientific themes, organized by Dealers de Science. The program of the event includes debates, conferences, a movie and more. As usual, the event will end with the Marché des Connaissances, a special fair taking place at Cour Mably that will reunite different scientific associations and players in the cultural scientific scene in Bordeaux. The event will take place on January 21-25. For more details click here.
When: January 21-25 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux
Tremplin de 2 Rives
This is the 7th edition of the Tremplin de 2 rives festival which aims to promote the musical talents of Bordeaux. The festival includes eight evenings from January 10 to February 8 in different districts of Bordeaux. This weekend is dedicated to the southern district of Bordeaux with a night of concerts taking place this Friday (January 24) at the Centre d’Animation Argonne in Nansouty. For more details click here.
When: January 24 / Where: 1 Bis Rue Lherisson, 33000 Bordeaux
Tremplin Action Jazz
This Saturday (January 25) Rocher de Palmer will give the stage to five different local groups, all chosen by the Action Jazz association. This is a great opportunity to discover some of the young talents of Nouvelle Aquitaine. The concert is free. For more details click here.
When: January 25, at 19:30 / Where: 1 rue Aristide Briand, 33150 Cenon
New expo at the Institut Bernard Magrez
A new exhibition is inaugurated this weekend at the Institute Bernard Magrez. Matth Velvet, a talented street artist that lives and works in Bordeaux, will present his beautiful works, some of which you may have seen on building walls in the city. For more details about the artist see here. The exhibition will be presented at the museum from January 23 to March 23.
When: January 23 – March 23 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli 33000 Bordeaux
Festival International Du Documentaire Maritime
The first International Maritime Documentary Festival will take place this weekend (January 23-26) at the Musée Mer Marine. The festival will reunite film makers whose movies focus on the history of the sea, oceans, environmental effects and more. For the full program click here.
When: January 23-26 / Where: 89 rue des Etrangers, 33300 Bordeaux
Winter Sales
The Soldes d’hiver are the winter sales lasting several weeks during which you can find really good deals on clothes, shoes, appliances, toys and more. This year the winter sales were shortened to 4 weeks from the previous six weeks period. But from my experience even if you come to Bordeaux a week or two after the sales many shops will still have a lot of items on discount. Les soldes d’hiver will take place from January 8 to February 4
Muséum de Bordeaux – Rire!
This is your last chance to see the fun exhibition at the natural history museum in Bordeaux. It’s a very interactive and kids friendly exhibition dedicated to laughter that includes videos, sounds, games, and painting. There are just a few weeks left until the end of the exhibition on March 15. For more details click here.
When: until March 15 / Where:5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux (in Jadin public)
Aerobic Collective X Central Hostel
This Saturday (January 25) will host the Aerobic Collective for a great party with music from the 80s to the 2000s. The Aerobic Collective are known in the city for their Cultures Tubes parties so it’ll probably be a fun night. For more details click here.
When: January 25, at 21:00 / Where: 2 place Saint Projet, 33000 Bordeaux
Concert Bordeaux Gospel Academy
A gospel concert of the Bordeaux Gospel Academy will take place this Sunday (January 26) at the Saint Louis church in Chartrons. The concert will start at 17:00 and you can buy your tickets at the entrance. For more details click here.
When: January 26, at 17:00 / Where: 11 rue Sicard, 33000 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 (January 24-25) two Jazz concerts will take place in the bar. See the program and all the details here.
When: January 24 – 25 / Where: 18 Rue Bourbon, 33000 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.
Markets are probably one of the most exciting experiences in France. The fresh oysters coming directly from the sea, the huge variety of cheese and seasonal fruits can get me more excited than most works of art. As the French love buying their food at the market, there’s always an impressive amount of them in every city, many of which are weekly held taking place on the main square of every neighborhood. Luckily for us, Bordeaux has one of the best market scenes in France! Besides the small weekly markets in the different neighborhoods of the city, there are several big covered ones that are open daily and offer a great shopping and dining experience. Also, this is one of the most prolific agricultural regions in France, so visiting the markets are absolutely a must here. You have the most delicious strawberries from Lot et Garonne, tomatoes from Marmande, sheep cheese from the Basque country, duck from the Dordogne, and that’s only the short list of all the delicacies you’ll find in the markets here. In this article, I will help you discover the best food markets in Bordeaux, both in the city center and in the suburbs. Let’s start!
Food Markets in Bordeaux city
Marché des Capucins
The Capucins market is one of the most visited places in Bordeaux. It’s the city’s biggest daily market and it has everything from fruits and spices, to local sweets and plenty of oysters stands. You can spend hours here strolling between the stands and discover the gastronomy of the Southwest of France. To make it an even better experience finish it with lunch in one of the many restaurants in the market. If you need help choosing what and where to eat, check out my article about the best places to eat in Marche des Capucins. This is a covered market so it can also be a perfect place to escape from one of Bordeaux’s rainy days. Weekends are especially busy in Capucins with locals meeting their friends for oysters and wine after their market run. So if you want to get a table on a Sunday be sure to be there before 11 am.
You can also join my food tours in the market which is a fun way to learn about the local food scene.
Opening hours: Open daily except Mondays / Address: Place des Capucins, 33800 Bordeaux
Marche des Quais
Every Sunday morning dozens of food stalls with the best oysters of the region, fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese, fish, wine and plenty of food trucks are installed on the Quai des Chartrons. 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 local products you can buy at the market it’s simply a very nice spot to have an early lunch. For many visitors, the main attraction is the few stalls with oysters which cost around 6 euros per plate and come with a glass of white wine. It kind of embodies the good life atmosphere in this region 🙂
On Thursdays, a smaller market takes place at the same place. It hosts only a few stalls and doesn’t have the lively atmosphere of the Sunday market but if you need good organic products to cook at home, it’s a good market to go to.
Opening hours: Every Sunday and Thursday morning / Address: Place des Capucins, 33800 Bordeaux
Les Halles de Bacalan
This fancy food market opened its gates on November 2017 and has been visited by more than 60,000 people in the first month. It’s no surprise, as Bordeaux is well known for its gourmand population. This impressive 950m2 hangar is located just in front of the famous Cité du Vin and hosts 23 different artisans and merchants that were chosen for the quality of their products (85% of which are produced in the Southwest of France). Most weekends the market hosts different events like pintxos evenings, cooking workshops, music concerts and activities for kids. This is one of the best places to go for an afternoon drink and tapas with friends.
If you have time, you can stay a bit longer and explore one of the rising neighborhoods in the city. Read about it in my article about the Bacalan district. If you would also like to visit one of the best wine museums in the world, check out my article about visiting the Cité du Vin.
Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday (the market closes between 14:30 t0 16:30 on weekdays) / Address: 149 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
Marché Royal in Saint Michel
Marché Royal is one of the biggest open-air markets in Bordeaux, taking place every Saturday morning at Place Meynard in the Saint Michel district. The surroundings of the church and bell tower are covered by tens of stalls, with merchants selling everything from fruits and vegetables to kitchen supplies, clothes and even pillows :). From my experience, this is the cheapest market in Bordeaux. However, if you are into organic produce, this one is probably not for you. On sunny Saturday mornings, the market attracts both locals, doing their weekly shopping and outsiders that come for the noisy market atmosphere and chic cafés.
On Monday mornings a different market is taking place in front of the church. You will find very diversified merchandise displayed on the stands of Marché Neuf, including books, house supplies, clothing, toys and more, however, it’s not a food market and doesn’t have the vibe of Marché Royal. This market is composed of hundreds of stands but has a more local vibe to it. On Sundays and Fridays, antiques and flea markets are also taking place on the same square so this place is always worth a visit.
Opening hours: Saturday for the food market, and Monday, Friday and Sunday for the other markets / Address: Place Meynard, 33000 Bordeaux
Marché de Producteurs Saint-Seurin
The producers market of Saint Seurin takes place every Friday morning at Place des Martyrs de la Résistance, about 10 minutes walk from the center of Bordeaux. It is a fairly small market with about 20 stalls but has a very cozy atmosphere and a variety of high-quality products from local farmers. In addition, it’s located on a beautiful square next to one of the most impressive churches of Bordeaux, la Basilique Saint Seurin, so it’s definitely worth a visit.
Opening hours: Every Friday Morning (7:00-13:00) / Address: Place des Martyrs de la Résistance
Markets around Bordeaux Metropole
Les Halles de Talence
The Talence market is the little brother of the Bacalan market, built by Biltoki in December 2018. This too has a bit of a fancy vibe to it compared to Marche des Capucins, the main market of Bordeaux. The prices are not very cheap but you have everything you need in this covered market: a butcher, seafood, a bakery, a tapas stand that also makes a great sangria and more. The Biltoki bar in the center of the market welcomes plenty of locals who love to visit the market for a beer or a cup of coffee on the bar. Like the Bacalan market, Les Halles de Talence too hosts plenty of nice events with concerts and a local vibe.
Every Wednesday there’s also an open-air market (in front of the covered market) that offers great products at much more reasonable prices. If you want to stay for lunch, a few nice food trucks are there to welcome you every Wednesday until about 14:00.
When: Daily except for Mondays, the market closes for a break between 14:30 to 16:30 on weekdays / Where: Place Alcala de Henares, 33400 Talence
Thouars Talence – Every Sunday
Let’s stay in Talence just a little bit longer as there’s another great market I must mention in this list. This one takes place every Sunday morning in the Thouars forest in Talence, just in front of the swimming pool. This is the biggest weekly market of Talence with tens of stands with great French products. I particularly love going there for the big variety of fruits and veggies and for the deals at the fish stall (if you come towards noon of course). This is not only a food market! You can also find other practical things like plants, clothing and kitchen accessories. The market is located within a few steps from a beautiful lake so you can also make a nice picnic day out of it. It’s not the easiest one to get to by public transport but if you have a car it’s worth a visit.
When: Sunday morning / Where: the parking of 235 Avenue de Thouars, 33400 Talence
Le Marché du Centre-ville de Mérignac
Another market I really love attending during the weekend is the Merignac city center market. The market takes place every Wednesday and Saturday morning on Place Charles de Gaulle, just next to Mediatheque Mérignac, the city library. A short ride on tram A from the center of Bordeaux will take you to one of the best markets in the city, with tens of stalls of regional wine, a huge variety of cheese, nuts, honey, pastries and all the basics like vegetables, meat and fish. In the center, there are tables put in place for you to enjoy a nice cup of coffee from the market’s coffee roaster stall. I visit this market quite often so I might even see you there 🙂
When: Wednesday and Saturday / Where: Place Charles de Gaulle, Merignac
Pessac center
A very nice market takes place in the center of Pessac every Tuesday and Saturday morning. Pessac is one of the more charming suburbs of Bordeaux and a market day is a good excuse to visit its lovely city center. The market is not big but the products are excellent, I especially love the cheese stall. And as a bonus, you can finish your market tour with a drink in one of the coffee places on the square. You can reach it easily by public transport, just take tram B from the center of Bordeaux to Pessac Centre.
A much bigger market is taking place not far from the center every Sunday morning. Le marché Bourrec, on Avenue Pierre Wiehn is hosting more than 150 merchants and farmers coming from all the departments surrounding Bordeaux (Lot et Garonne, Dordogne, Landes…) with the best products of our region. This market also has stalls of clothing, art and more.
When: Tuesday and Saturday and Sunday / Where: Place de la Ve République and Avenue Pierre Wiehn. Pessac.
Marché de Rochefort – Gradignan
Marché de Rochefort is a market I discovered just recently and I think it’s a great option for those who live in the Southern suburbs of Bordeaux. More than 70 merchands arrive here every Saturday morning selling everything from meat to cheese and fish, flowers and more. As it’s a very local market there’s a very cozy vibe to it. People are greeting each other and the customers share their cooking ideas and stories from their family dinners with the merchants who come here every week. It’s a very nice market if you’re looking for a calmer local vibe rather than a touristy atmosphere. It’s located next to the central road of Gradignan, Cours du Général de Gaulle so it’s easy to get there by public transport from Bordeaux and Talence (bus line 10 stops next to it).
When: Saturday morning (8:00-13:00) / Where: rue de Rochefort ( between the cemetery and le collège des Fontaines de Monjous), Gradignan.
Marché de Bassens
The Bassens market is less known by most tourists but it’s actually one of the biggest markets in our region and one of the most popular among people on the rive droite of the Garonne. The market takes place every Sunday on place de la Commune de Paris in Bassen, a town located just after Lormont. Almost 150 stalls are waiting for you with some of the best products in the southwest of France. There are oysters from Arcachon and from Ile de Re, charcuterie from the Basque country, tarts from the Landes and other produce from almost every corner of Nouvelle Aquitaine. Among them, there are quite a few food stalls like Morocain couscous, Portuguese grilled chicken and a coffee place. You can spend a really fun morning here, strolling the many alleys of the market and tasting local food.
When: Sunday morning (9:00-13:00) / Where:place de la Commune de Paris, Bassens
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In this article, I wanted to update you on some of the best events taking place in Bordeaux (and the region) in February. But if you need more ideas for fun things to do, here’s an article about the best things to do here in the winter.
The best things to do in Bordeaux in February 2023
Ratatam – kids festival
The fourth edition of the Ratatam kids festival will take place at the Entrepôt du Haillan from January 31 to February 5. The program includes concerts, animated movies, a painting contest, video games, meetings with cartoonists, a comics workshop, and more. Check out the full program here.
When: January 31 – February 5 / Where: Entrepôt du Haillan, Rue Georges Clemenceau, 33185 Le Haillan
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 February 2 -5 in Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux. For more details click here.
When: February 2-5 / Where: Cours Jules Ladoumegue, 33300 Bordeaux
The reopening of la Cité du Vin
The famous wine museum of Bordeaux, le Cite du Vin, is about to reopen after a month of extensive renovation. The new exhibition is supposed to be almost entirely different from the one presented at the museum since its opening in 2016. That means that even if you’ve already had the chance to visit the museum, it’s worth doing it again. The museum will reopen its doors on February 4th. You can avoid the lines at the entrance by booking the tickets online – book here.
Party at Blonde Venus
The Blonde Venus is a fun space on the Bassin a Flot with plenty of cool events taking place on weekends. They organize everything from vintage markets to kids’ dance parties and DJ sets. A few of the events about to take place in February are A Cabaret party, a 90s dance party, Jazz concerts, and more. See the list of events here.
Winter Sales
If you still haven’t found time to enjoy the winter sales yet, the first week of February is your last chance. Les soldes d’hiver are taking place until February 7.
Truffles market in Saint Emilion
Truffles are one of the most identified products of the Southwest of France. Usually, Dordogne is the one to take most of the credit when it comes to truffle markets, but Gironde is giving a fight. Every Saturday morning in February a truffles farmers market will take place at la Maison Espace Gaudet in Saint Emilion. See more info here.
When: every Saturday in February/ Where: Maison Espace Gaude
Salon Spa
A spa salon with representatives from 70 establishments will take place on February 3-4 in Hangar 14. The program includes different conferences on health and thermal medicine. For the full program click here.
When: February 3-4/ Where: Hangar 14, Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux
Les Toiles Filantes – kids cinema festival
Les Toiles Filantes is a cinema festival allowing kids to discover cinema through screenings, meeting with people from the industry, new movie contests,s and more. The festival takes place at Cinéma Jean Eustache in Pessac from February 13-19. For more details see the website of the festival.
When: February 13-19/ Where: Pl. de la 5ème République, 33600 Pessac
Fête des Bœufs Gras
Bazas in the Southern part of Gironde is a beautiful town that attracts many people with its weekly market. But what Bazas is mostly known for is its Beef. Since 1283, the Thursday before Mardi Gras, the city of Bazas hosts the famous “Fête des Bœufs Gras” that celebrates the Bazas Beef. An Oxen parade takes place on the central streets of the town which will be judged by a jury of experts. The day ends with a banquet where you can taste the famous meat. The event will take place on February 16. See more details here.
When: February 16/ Where: The Center of Bazas
Fête des Boeufs Gras de Captieux
If you can’t make it to the big Fête des Boeufs in Bazas, go to celebrate the Bazas cattle on February 12 in Captieux. The festive event includes a parade, music, and a tasting of delicious meat. For info click here.
When: February 12 / Where: 33840 CAPTIEUX
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
See a dance show at Pin Galant
Pin Galant is a theatre in Merignac (Bordeaux’s suburb) that often hosts some of the best theatre, dance, and circus shows coming to Bordeaux. In February the program includes dance spectacles by the Tutu company and the Blanca Li company, A Tom Sawyer musical, and more.
Go to a concert at Arkea Arena
Artists are finally starting to come back to Bordeaux, as we can clearly see in the program of Arkea Arena, one of the biggest concert venues in Bordeaux. See the full program 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:
Before we go on to this weekend list, I want to update you with something cool that I’ve started this week! I previously said that there are some new initiatives for Lost in Bordeaux this year and this is the first one for 2020! A few days ago I created a group dedicated to traveling in our beautiful region, called “Travel in the Southwest of France”. It’s new but already very active with plenty of beautiful photos and recommendations that will make you pack your bags and start discovering the region. So join us and share your own recommendations for the places you love the most! Also, this week I released an article about the best music festivals in and around Bordeaux, so go ahead and check it out. If you want to see what else is happening in Bordeaux in the next few weeks go to my January list of events. Now back to this weekend. I’ll be honest, January isn’t the liveliest month in Bordeaux. There are no big events taking place this weekend, but you can take the time to enjoy an exhibition and some good concerts as well as discover some lively markets. Also, there is a Silent March for Australia this Sunday, so come if you can. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux.
Marche pour l’Australie
A silent march to support Australia during these difficult days will take place in Bordeaux this Sunday (January 12) at 14:00. The march will start at the Maison éco-citoyenne on the riverfront and will finish at the Chaban Delmas bridge. For more details click here.
When: January 12, at 14:00 / Where: Quai Richelieu, 33000 Bordeaux
Trial Indoor International de Bordeaux
This is a great show for motorbike and action lovers. Trial Indoor International de Bordeaux will take the stage of Arkéa Arena this Saturday (January 10). The show will include plenty of acrobatic stunts and amazing urban decorations. For tickets and more details click here.
When: January 10, 20:30 / Where: Arkéa Arena, 48-50 avenue Jean Alfonséa, 33270 Floirac
Tremplin de 2 Rives
This is the 7th edition of the Tremplin de 2 rives festival which aims to promote the musical talents of Bordeaux. The festival includes eight evenings from January 10 to February 8 in different districts of Bordeaux. For more details click here.
When: January 10- February 8 / Where: See location in the program of the festival
Le Yoga des Animaux
The natural history museum of Bordeaux offers a super cool workshop for kids this Sunday. The animal yoga workshop will combine the discovery of animals with practicing yoga. The activity will start with a guided discovery of different species presented at the museum and will continue with a yoga practice imitating some of the postures of those animals. The activity is for kids aged 6 to 10 years old. For more details click here.
When: January 12, 11:00 / Where: 5 place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux
Muses – Cie Rêvolution / Anthony Egéa
Muses is a dance spectacle choreographed by Anthony Egéa that beautifully mixes classic and hip-hop dance. The shows will run at the Auditorium de Bordeaux from January 9-11. For more info and tickets click here.
When: January 9-11/ Where: 8 – 13 Cours Georges Clemenceau, 33000 Bordeaux
Winter Sales
The Soldes d’hiver are the winter sales lasting several weeks during which you can find really good deals on clothes, shoes, appliances, toys and more. This year the winter sales were shortened to 4 weeks from the previous six weeks period. But from my experience even if you come to Bordeaux a week or two after the sales many shops will still have a lot of items on discount. Les soldes d’hiver will take place from January 8 to February 4
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 (January 10-11) two Jazz concerts will take place in the bar. See the program and all the details here.
When: January 9-11 / Where: 18 Rue Bourbon, 33000 Bordeaux
Black History Month in Bordeaux
The third edition of the Black History Month in Bordeaux will take place from January 9 to February 18. It is a month of reflection on the dark history of slavery that Bordeaux was part of as well as a celebration of black culture in France and around the world. The program of the Black History month includes conferences, music concerts, exhibitions and more. This time the main two themes are the one hundred years mark to the sinking of the “French Titanic” with 192 Senegalese workers onboard and the role Boxing played in the Black liberation. For more info and the full program click here.
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: January 12 / Where: 19, rue Poquelin Moliere, 33000 Bordeaux
Ouverture Paula Kitchen
The opening of a new restaurant, Paula Kitchen in the Saint Croix neighborhood will take place this Saturday (January 11). For the occasion, the restaurant will give the first 100 bowls for free. For more details click here.
When: January 11, at 12:00- 16:00 / Where: 5 Quai de Sainte Croix, 33800 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: January 2-5 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux
Go to the Sunday market on the Quai
Every Sunday morning dozens of food stalls with the best oysters of the region, fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese, fish and plenty of food trucks are installed on the Quai de Chartrons. 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 local products you can buy at the market it’s simply a very nice spot to have an early lunch. For many visitors, the main attraction are the few stalls with oysters which cost around 6 euros a dozen and come with a glass of white wine, this plate kind of embodies life in the region 🙂
If you have already visited this market try other good markets in Bordeaux metropole. Two of the best ones on Sunday morning are the Bassens market and The Thouars market in Talence.
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.
I feel like Bordeaux needs a break after this holiday season as finding events for this weekend’s list was a bit challenging. Nevertheless, there are a few nice events you can attend and a lot of good exhibition you can see this weekend. The good news is that starting next week, Bordeaux is back on track with plenty of events and activities. You can read about all the interesting events taking place in January here. Like last week, I added some suggestions for more stuff you can do while in Bordeaux, so check them out at the end of the list. If it’s raining check out my article about things to do in Bordeaux when it’s raining. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (January 3-5).
Ateliers Light painting
This Sunday the Base sous Marine invites you to a workshop of light painting as part of the Light painting exhibition that is currently being presented there. The workshop is free but you must register in advance. For more details click here.
When: January 5, at 15:00 / Where: Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33000 Bordeaux
A traditional marionette theater
Guignol Guérin is the oldest family-run marionette theater in France. While their well-known show runs in the summer, the theater’s winter edition is only two years old and plays at the center of Bordeaux. Their traditional spectacle takes place in Théâtre l’Inox between December 26 and January 5. For more details click here.
When: December 26 to January 5 / Where: 13 Rue Fernand Philippart, 33000 Bordeaux
Atelier Enfants – Mucha Et L’art Nouveau
This Saturday (January 4) Institut Bernard Magrez will host a creative workshop for kids. The theme of the workshop is Muche and Art Nouveau style of art. The workshop is open to kids over 5 years old. For more details and registration click here.
When: January 4, at 14:30 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux
Free museums Sunday
Like in most cities in France, the first Sunday of the month is a free museums day. You have a free entrance to all the public museums and to most exhibitions. Check out the full list of museums in Bordeaux that you can visit for free this Sunday.
IBOAT • Groove bordel party
The Groove Bordel hosted by the Iboat, is a fun event for groove lovers, mixing different music genres from disco to funk and hip hop. The event will take place this Saturday evening, for more details click here.
When: January 4, at 23:00 / Where: Bassin à Flot n°1, Cours Henri Brunet, 33300 Bordeaux
Sport sur les quais
A free sport event will take place this Sunday (January 5) on the Quai des Chartrons. If adding some sport to your life is on your new resolutions list this year, why not join a fun guided session at the center of Bordeaux :). You can then quit in February like everybody else. For more details click here.
When: January 5, at 15:30 / Where: 24 Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux
Arcachon still celebrates Christmas
If you’re moody about Christmas being over there is one place that continues the Christmas spirit just a little bit longer. The Christmas market in Arcachon will be open until January 5th and it even has an ice skating rink, so it’s a great place to go to with kids. For more details click here.
When: December 14 – December 5 / Where: Place Thiers, Arcachon
Exhibitions to see this weekend
Visites commentées – exposition Memphis Plastic Field
Memphis is a movement founded in 1981 by Ettore Sottsass, an Italian architect and designer, which united many young artists who dreamed of shattering the codes of modernism and rationalism. The works of this movement had a great effect on the European design landscape in the past three decades. It has radically changed the language of shapes and colors, focusing on the presence of the object rather than its functionality. Bordeaux’s museum of design is hosting the Memphis exhibition until January 5, so it’s your last chance to see it. The museum will offer guided tours of the exhibition every day this weekend (January 3-5). For more details click here.
When: January 3-5, at 15:00 / Where: 39 Rue Bouffard, 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 deal 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: January 2-5 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux
La déferlante surf – last chance to see it
The Atlantic coast of the south-west of France is a popular destination for surfers these days and it looks like this sport has always been here. But did you know that surfing was actually introduced to Europe through our region in the 50s? it then only makes sense that Musée d’Aquitaine, which explores the history of the region, will also explore the surfing culture in Aquitaine. The déferlante surf exhibition deals with different aspects of surfing from the sport itself to its economic and environmental influences. Among others, the items presented include videos, sounds, different traditional objects, images from different beaches and more. The exhibition will be presented until January 5th. If you go to the museum on January 5th the entry will be free. For more details click here.
When: Until January 5th / Where: 20 Cours Pasteur, 33000 Bordeaux
Muséum de Bordeaux – Rire!
According to scientific research, we laugh 18 times a day on average. Laughter, however, is not unique to us human beings, different animal species also have different expressions of laughter in their language. The super fun exhibition at the natural history museum in Bordeaux offers different activities that provoke laughter. It’s a very interactive and kids friendly exhibition that includes videos, sounds, games, and painting. This is your last chance to see the exhibition as it ends on January 6! For more details click here.
When: Until January 26 / Where: 5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux (in Jadin public)
More things you can do while in Bordeaux
Explore the main market in Bordeaux
Capucins is the main market of Bordeaux and its a real treat for foodies with plenty of cafes, restaurants and stalls with local produce. If none of the events this weekend interest you, you can always spend your time there, sipping white wine with oysters from Arcachon. When heading there check out my article about the best places to eat at Marche des Capucins.
Eat the sweet specialties of Bordeaux
The Christmas weekend is a good time to discover the local sweets of the region. Bordeaux offers a variety of pastries and chocolates that you can find only in the southwest of France. If you want to discover these sweet spots you can follow my article about the sweet specialties of Bordeaux.
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 are not 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.
Go to one of Bordeaux’s museums
Last but not least, if it’s too cold outside, going to a museum is always a good idea! Bordeaux has a great variety of museums, from street art to science and history, just choose one from my list of museums in 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.
Another very rainy and Christmasy weekend is ahead of us! This weekend’s list is super long with an endless amount of events so it’s gonna be fun 🙂 There is a free Christmas market (yes you heard it right, all the items are free), a big wine tasting event and plenty of Christmas markets all over the region. If it’s too rainy for a Christmas market you can always check out one of the museums in the city, just go to my article about the best museums to visit in Bordeaux. Or just go to my list of things to do in Bordeaux when it’s raining. If you want to see what else is happening in Bordeaux this December check out my December list. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (December 13-15).
Les lumières de la ville
Les lumières de la ville is a great chance to discover how Bordeaux’s monuments look at night. It’s an hour and a half biking tour that will start at Place Pey-Berland and will finish with Christmas drinks. On the way you will get to see the most important monuments and all the beautifully decorated little streets of Bordeaux. The event will take place on December 13 at 19:00, it’s free and open to all. For more details click here.
When: December 13, at 19:00 / Where: Place Pey-Berland, 33000 Bordeaux
Taste the best French wines
This month you have a chance to taste some of the best French wines in one place at an event called “Bordeaux Tasting”. During two days (December 14-15) more than a hundred wine houses from Bordeaux and other regions in France such as Bourgogne, Rhône, Alsace and Loire will be there to present their best wines. The tastings will take place at different sites around Place de la Bourse. For more details click here.
When: December 14-15 / Where: Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux
Grande Gratuiterie de Noël
This is one of the best events this weekend, and technically it should be in the Christmas list below, but I decided to highlight it here at the top of my weekend list. Grande Gratuiterie de Noëlis a FREE market where you can bring stuff you don’t need and take whatever you like. It doesn’t have to be an exchange, you can just come and take some stuff for free! In the market, you’ll find plenty of clothes, books, accessories and plenty of other surprises. The free market will take place this Saturday (December 14) at Placette au droit des Allées De Munich. For more details click here.
When: December 14 / Where: placette au droit des allées de Munich, Quai Louis XVIII, 33000 Bordeaux
International Animated Films Festival
Les Nuits Magiques is an annual international festival of animated movies taking place at “Le Festival” cinema in Begles on December 4-15. This is the 29th edition of the festival, which over the years gained a reputation in the animation and special effects world. The rich program includes plenty of events and activities for both kids and adults: premiers of new movies, workshops, meetings with film creators and more. Check out the full program here and all other details you might need here.
When: December 4-15 Where: 151 Boulevard ALBERT 1er, 33130 Bègles
Un an déjà! La Boca t’invite à son anniversaire
Boca, the fancy food market, is celebrating its first anniversary this weekend (December 13-14) with music, a disco party, good food and drinks and a big cake :). For more details click here.
When: December 13-14 / Where: Euratlantique, Quai de Paludate, 33800 Bordeaux
Grande Vente de Plantes et Sapins BIO Bordeaux
A big sale of plants and organic Christmas trees will take place this weekend (December 13-16) on the Quai des Marques Bordeaux. Santa Claus will also be there with some surprises for kids. For more info click here.
When: December 13-15 / Where: Hangar 15 à 19 – Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux
Casse-Noisette – Opéra National Russe
The Russain National Opera is arriving once again to Bordeaux with the classic Christmas ballet, the Nutcracker, or Casse-Noisette in French. Don’t miss this masterpiece of Tchaikovsky performed by one of the best ballets in the world. The show will take place on December 15 at the Arkea Arena in Floirac. For more details and tickets click here.
When: December 15 / Where: 48-50 Avenue Jean Alfonséa, 33270 Floirac
Vide Dressing d’Hiver Solidaire
A solidarity second-hand sale will take place this Saturday (December 14) in Jardin Botanique. The goal of the sale is to raise money for the Robins des Rues association that helps and supports people in difficult situations. For more info click here.
When: December 14 / Where: 74 Avenue Thiers, 33100 Bordeaux
CHRISTMAS MARKETS THIS WEEKEND
Xmas Market – Darwin
This market is gradually gaining status as one of the main Christmas markets in Bordeaux. Like Darwin itself, the Xmas market is an alternative event with craftsmen and regional creators. The market will include stands of clothes, jewelry, accessories, art objects, books, sports accessories and organic products. To make it more entertaining many activities will take place during these three days, among them workshops for kids, tastings, concerts and other surprises. The market will take place on December 13-15, for more info click here.
When: December 13-15 / Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Marché de Noël de Bordeaux
The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux is taking place between November 27 and December 29. This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the region with 150 pavilions selling all the traditional Christmas merchandise such as clothes, decorations, jewelry, toys and local products. Even if you don’t intend to buy any gifts at the market you can still enjoy the Christmas spirit with some hot wine and roasted chestnuts. For more info click here.
When: November 27 – December 29 from 10:30 to 21:30 / Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux
Le Père Noël n’est Pas Une Ordure
Christmas is a magical time but also one of the most polluting times of the year with a lot of plastic that ends up in the Ocean. This special event taking place every year in Bordeaux will give you tips on how to spend a more environmentally responsible Christmas. The event will take place this Saturday (December 14) at the Eco-village de Noël that will be located on the promenade in front of Quinconces. For more details click here.
When: December 14 / Where: Placette au droit des allées de Munich, Quai Louis XVIII, 33000 Bordeaux
Noël aux bassins: Fabrique ta déco de Noël !
A fun workshop where kids will make their own Christmas tree decorations will take place this weekend (December 14-15) in Cap Science. Parents and Grandparents are also invited! Take a look at the hours and prices here.
When: December 14-15 / Where: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux, France
Marche De Noel Du Bouscat
The official Christmas market of the le Bouscat neighborhood will take place this weekend (December 13-15) in Parc de l’Ermitage. The big market will host more than 50 stands and activities for kids. For more info click here.
When: December 13-15 / Where: Parc de l’Ermitage, le Bouscat
Carrousel de Curiosités – Marché de créateurs – Edition d’Hiver
Le Carrousel de Curiosités is a creators market taking place every year at the Garage Modern in Bacalan. The event will take place this Saturday (December 14). For more details click here.
When: December 14 / Where: 1 rue des Etrangers, 33000 Bordeaux
Marché de Noël du Fleuve
If the traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux is a bit too crowded for you, there’s a nice alternative at the riverfront. For three weeks (December 6-24) the Maison écocitoyenne de Bordeaux is hosting the annual Marché de Noël du Fleuve with 20 craftsman stands, each one making unique handmade objects you can buy as Christmas presents. For more info click here.
When: December 6-24 / Where: Maison écocitoyenne de Bordeaux, Quai Richelieu, 33000 Bordeaux
Le Noël Finlandais
Here’s a nice change of scenery. Chateau Carsin invites you this weekend (December 14-15) to celebrate the Finish version of Christmas with special Finish hot wine and other specialties. You also get to taste all the wine of the chateau. For more details click here.
When: December 14-15 / Where: 197 Route des Côtes, 33410 Rions
Noël à la Ruche des Chartrons
La Ruche des Chartrons, the local farmers market, will transform into a Christmas market this weekend (December 13-15). For more info click here.
When: December 13-15 / Where: 34 Cours Balguerie Stuttenberg, 33300 Bordeaux
Arcachon fête Noël
The city of Arcachon invites you to its traditional Christmas celebration with a Christmas market and an ice skating rink. The event will take place from December 14 to January 5 on Place Thiers. For more details click here.
When: December 14 – December 5 / Where: Place Thiers, Arcachon
G’M Noël
The town of Gujan Mestras will celebrate Christmas this weekend (December 14-15) with a Christmas market and activities for kids. The events will take place on Place de la Claire and Place de l’Hôtel de Ville. For more details click here.
When: December 14-15 / Where: Place de la Claire and Place de l’Hôtel de ville, Gujan Mestras
Marché de Noël à Sarlat
If you’re in the mood to travel a bit this weekend, why not go to one of the most impressive Christmas markets in the South of France, the Sarlat Christmas market. Sarlat is a magical place that is worth a visit any time of the year, but this market makes it even more worthwhile. The village includes 70 chalets selling local products, clothes, decorations, hot wine and more. For more info click here.
When: December 4-30 / Where: Place de la Grande Rigaudie , 24200 Sarlat-la-canéda
Eymet Foire de Noël
Here’s another Christmas market in Dordogne but much closer to Bordeaux than Sarlat. This Saturday (December 14) Eymet is holding a night Christmas market with more than 50 stalls, lights, food and activities for kids. For more info click here.
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.
Bordeaux is so rich and beautiful that you can spend several days here without visiting even one museum. But actually, to the surprise of many tourists, Bordeaux has quite a variety of interesting museums. In this small city you can see permanent exhibitions of classic art, modern design, street art, architecture, archeology and more. In this article, I gathered a list of the most interesting museums to visit in Bordeaux. So if you’re in a cultural mood, this article is for you. If you found this article while desperately looking for something to do on a rainy day, check out more ideas in my article about the best things to do when it’s raining in Bordeaux.
Just before we start I need to mention a few important bits of information.
Discounts for Bordeaux’s museums
The fees that I mention next to every museum represent the full ticket price. But that doesn’t mean you will have to pay that price as there are plenty of discounts in France. The price is usually reduced (or even free in some cases) for students, people under 25 yo, seniors, people with disabilities, unemployed, and people holding the Bordeaux city pass. So it’s always good to check the site of the museum to see if you can get a reduced price.
Musee des beaux arts
in Bordeaux
Bordeaux city pass – This pass is a card you can buy online or at the tourist office that allows you to freely use the public transport, visit plenty of museums and enjoy some attractions for a reduced price. This pass is available for 24, 48 or 72 consecutive hours (the prices are 29€, 39€ and 43€ euros respectively). Even the expensive wine museum is there so it’s really worth checking out if you plan to visit a few places and use public transport a lot. You can see all the details and purchase the Bordeaux city pass here. Bordeaux museums pass – this pass is more interesting for people who live here or visit the city on a regular basis. The pass gives you unlimited entry for a year to seven museums in the city. You can see the list of museums and all the details here. The price is 25 € for a single pass and 37,50 € for a couple pass. You can purchase it in any of the museums mentioned in the link above. Free Sunday – many of the museums in the city are free on the first Sunday of the month, which includes permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Now that we’re done with all that let’s get into our artistic mood and start discovering the museums of Bordeaux.
Wine museums in Bordeaux
Cité du Vin
The Cité du Vin is one of the most popular attractions on the tourist trail in Bordeaux. In the last couple of years, it has become one of Bordeaux’s most iconic institutions even though it opened its doors only in 2016. The extraordinary building, inspired by the movement of wine swirling in a glass, is a 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, culture and knowhow. You will learn about winemaking, see movies and interviews with wine producers and then smell and taste wine. The Cite du Vin allows you to discover a selection of wines from all over the world in its spectacular wine shop and to see the best panoramic view of Bordeaux. The fee of the museum is quite high (20 euros) so if you want to decide if it’s worth the money, you can read my article about my visit to the cite du vin to get a good idea of what to expect.
You can also skip the line and buy the tickets online- click here to purchase the tickets.
A fun place even if you don’t like wine
Address: Esplanade de Pontac, 134 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm and Saturday – Sunday and bank and school holidays from 10am to 7pm Fee: 20€ for adults and 9€ for kids and free for kids under 6 years old. The site of the museum: https://www.laciteduvin.com/en
Musée du Vin et du Négoce de Bordeaux
Apart from the Cité du vin, Bordeaux also has another wine museum that is dedicated to Bordeaux’s wine history. Musée du Vin et du Négoce is a small museum, located in what used to be the house of an Irish négociant (wine merchant) in the 18th century. During that time Chartons was the neighborhood of Flemish, Irish and German wine merchants who settled close to the Garonne river in order to export wine to their home countries. Thanks to this museum you can go back in time and see how a typical house of a négociant used to look like. The ground floor was used to store wine and meet the winemakers and potential customers and the top floor was the residence of the family. Throughout your visit you will learn about the evolution of winemaking in Bordeaux during the last three centuries. You will discover old techniques and equipment that were used at the time and the way wine was stored and shipped. It goes into interesting details like the first use of bottles to age wine, the first wine etiquettes and more.
This museum is small and 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, one of the most interesting streets in Bordeaux. If you want to know what else you can do on that street and generally in the posh Chartrons neighborhood, go to my article about the Chartrons district.
Address: The entrance is from 41 Rue Borie, Bordeaux Opening hours: Open every day 10:00-18:00 Fee: 10€ (visit and two glasses of wine) The site of the museum: https://www.museeduvinbordeaux.com/
Art Museums in Bordeaux
Le musée des beaux-arts – fine arts
Le musée des beaux-arts is the main art museum of Bordeaux, known for its large collection of sculptures and paintings from the 16th to the 20th century. The museum owns a huge collection of more than 6000 paintings, 600 sculptures and 3000 drawings. Nevertheless, the museum is quite small and so most of these artworks are not displayed to the public. It’s a very nice museum but it’s quite modest so don’t expect a second Louvre here :). The museum is located in a beautiful house built in 1801 and has one of the most beautiful gardens in Bordeaux. The permanent collection includes a lot of famous works by artists like Pérugin, Rubens, Chardin, Delacroix, and Matisse alongside Bordelaise artists such as Odilon Redon and Albert Marquet. The museum often hosts temporary exhibitions as well as concerts and art events.
Address: 20 Cours d’Albret, 33000 Bordeaux Opening hours: Open every day except Tuesday 11:00-18:00 Fee: 5€ , free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August) The site of the museum: http://www.musba-bordeaux.fr/
Le CAPC – musée d’art contemporain de Bordeaux
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. It was planned to be demolished in the 20th century but was saved thanks to a new law protecting houses with historic importance. In 1984 the city decided to transform this unique space into a museum of contemporary art, an idea which 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.
CAPC museum in Bordeaux
The museum is also home to the Architecture center “Arc en rêve”, which hosts temporary exhibitions related to urban planning, design, landscaping and more. I usually find their exhibitions super interesting and recommend visiting it when you are at the museum. The center is located on the first floor and is sometimes hard to find, so just ask for help from one of the employees. The entry is free every first Sunday of the month (except July and August).
Address: 7 Rue Ferrere, 33000 Bordeaux Opening hours: Open from Tuesday to Sunday 11:00-18:00. Every second Wednesday of the month the museum in open until 20:00. Fee: 7€, free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August) The site of the museum: http://www.capc-bordeaux.fr/capc
Musée des Art décoratifs et du Design
The museum of decorative art and design is located in a beautiful 18th-century mansion and is one of UNESCO’s heritage sites in Bordeaux. It has a large collection of furniture, porcelain and art objects, dating to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The building itself, named Hotel de Lalande, was built by Pierre- Raymond de Lalande, a counselor of the Parliament of Bordeaux and is an architectural piece of art by itself. Through the museum’s backyard, you pass to a separate building (former stables) where the temporary exhibitions are presented. These are usually very good and attract many locals. If you’re hesitating on whether to spend your time in this museum check out their website for the temporary exhibitions as these alone can be worth the visit. The museum is free every first Sunday of the month, except for July and August.
Musée des arts décoratifs bordeaux
Address: 39 rue Bouffard 33000 Bordeaux Opening hours: Open every day except Tuesday 11:00-18:00 Fee: 5€, free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August) The site of the museum: https://madd-bordeaux.fr/
La Base Sous Marine
This is one of the most unique places 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, allowing you to enjoy the space itself no less than the art presented. It can be a bit tricky to find the entrance, so if you come from the la Cité du Vin tram station be sure to walk on rue Lucien Faure before turning right to Boulevard Alfred Daney. Also, if you come with kids, it’s important to know that strollers are not allowed in the exhibition as it’s dark and has a lot of stairs (you will have to leave the stroller next to the entrance).
La Base sous-marine museum in Bordeaux
Starting from April 17, 2020 the museum will go through a huge transformation and the Base Sous-Marine will become the Bassin des Lumières! It currently belongs to the city of Bordeaux and only part of it is occupied by the art exhibitions. However, starting April from next year, it will be run by a private company that is upgrading it to another level. Four big pools (where previously the submarines used to dock) will be used for a spectacular light installation, taking you over the bridges and along the quays of Bassins a flot (the current port of Bordeaux). The downside is that the price is going to be much higher, from its current fee of 5 euros it’s supposed to go to 15 euros per person.
La Base sous-marine is located in the Bacalan neighborhood which is yet another cool place to discover in Bordeaux and I have a whole article about the best things to do there, you can read it here.
Address: Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33300 Bordeaux Opening hours (until April 17. 2020): Open from Tuesday to Sunday 13:30 to 19:00 (only during exhibitions). Fee: currently 5€ but will change soon, free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August). The site of the museum: https://www.facebook.com/BasesousmarinedeBordeaux/
Institut Bernard Magrez
If you’re in for some street art, you’re in the right city! Bordeaux has plenty of amazing local street art to offer. Surprisingly enough, one of the best places to see street art in Bordeaux is located in a beautiful 18th-century mansion called Chateau Labottiere. A cool contrast, isn’t it? The place is called the Institut Bernard Magrez and it regularly hosts exhibitions by the best local and international street artists. The art is beautifully integrated with the classical features of the chateau and is being alternated every couple of months so there is always something interesting to see there. Next to the château, there are two smaller exhibition spaces where amazing exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and photography are hosted on a regular basis so you actually get to see three exhibitions during one visit. The cultural institute also hosts plenty of creative workshops for kids and concerts for adults so check their events list on their site.
Mika at Institut Bernard Magrez
Address: 16 rue de Tivoli, Bordeaux Opening hours: Open from Friday to Sunday 13:00 to 18:00 (the museum is often closed for events so it’s always better to call and ask them if they are open before going). Fee: 8 €, free every first Sunday of the month The site of the museum: https://www.institut-bernard-magrez.com/
FRAC – local contemporary art
If you crossed Pont Saint-Jean in the last year or so you must have noticed the new, very modern building that reminds a bit the Arc of La Defense in Paris. This is MECA the Regional Pole of Culture and Creative Economy. It houses many offices that don’t mean much to most people, but there is one place inside that is worth going to if you’re looking to discover new art. FRAC, that sits in MECA is a cultural institution with a mission to promote contemporary art in Nouvelle Aquitaine, hosting several exhibitions of local artists. It has reopened its doors after being closed for two years. The exhibitions are varied and include many genres from photography to painting and sculpture. The works are not always my style but it’s big and you can always find a lot of interesting artists there.
Address: Corto Maltese, La MÉCA 5 parvis, 33800 Bordeaux Opening hours: Open Tuesday to Saturday and the first Sunday of the month from 13:o0 to 18:30. Every third Thursday of the month the museum is open until 21:00 Fee: It’s an organization that works on contributions so you can pay 1 euro minimum or more if you wish. The site of the museum: https://fracnouvelleaquitaine-meca.fr/
Kids Museums in Bordeaux
The Natural History museum
After years of renovations, the natural history museum of Bordeaux has finally opened its doors in March 2019. Created in 1971, the museum has one of the biggest collections in France with more than a million specimens. Besides the new design and the incredible collection, one of the new features in the renovated museum is the “Early Years Museum” for kids under 6 years old.
I’m not sure that I should’ve put it under the category of kids museums as it’s a fascinating place for everyone. But it’s extremely kids friendly and it has become a go-to place for Bordelais parents, especially when it’s cold or raining outside. If you need more ideas for activities for kids check out my article about 30 things to do with kids in Bordeaux.
Address: 5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux Opening hours: Open from Tuesday to Sunday. From April to September from 10:30 to 18:00 and from October to March from 10:30 to 17:30. Fee: 5€ (7€ when there are temporary exhibitions). Free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August). The site of the museum: https://www.museum-bordeaux.fr/en/accueil
Cap Sciences
Cap Sciences is a kids science museum and one of the most fun and educative places in Bordeaux. The museum proposes interactive exhibitions and activities all dedicated to different aspects of science. It touches upon topics of light, space, time, robots and more and everything is presented in an interactive and approachable way for kids to understand. They normally also have an exhibition that is dedicated to little kids, up to 6 yo, so it’s really great for all ages. All the descriptions are also translated to English so it’s a welcoming place for tourists and locals alike. Another interesting feature of the museum is the kids’ workshops arranged by different age groups. Among them, you can find photography, molecular cooking, eco-citizens and more.
by Lost in Bordeaux
Address: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux Opening hours: Open from Tuesday to Friday from 14:00 to 18:00 and Saturday – Sunday from 14:00 to 19:00. The hours change during school break so check their exact hours on the site. Fee: The fee changes according to the exhibitions presented in the museum so check their site for current prices. The site of the museum: http://www.cap-sciences.net/
History, culture and others
Musee d’Aquitaine
Musée d’Aquitaine is the largest museum in Bordeaux, dedicated to archaeological findings and regional history and ethnology. The museum’s permanent collections span two floors. The first floor is largely dedicated to archaeological findings including tools from the Old Stone and Bronze ages. The other big collection covers the Gallo- Roman period of Bordeaux, with old statues and parts from the original wall that surrounded the city from the 3rd to the 18th centuries. The second floor is dedicated to the 18th century and the modern era of Bordeaux. A big part of the exhibition touches upon the importance of the port and the slave trade that Bordeaux was part of. The exhibition finished with some inspiring videos presenting the big (chances?) of Bordeaux in the last decade and leaves you with a taste to discover more of the city and region. The museum is very rich with information but the first floor is a bit outdated with almost no explanations in English. The second floor somewhat makes up for it with a more modern style of display and many more explanations in English. It also has many videos giving you an idea of how the city looked like in the 18th century, one of the most important centuries in Bordeaux’s history.
The museum also runs good temporary exhibitions on specific topics related to the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. They often have guided tours in English but their schedule is always changing so it’s better to send them a message on facebook and ask when’s the next one.
Address: 20 Cours Pasteur, 33000 Bordeaux Opening hours: Open every day except Tuesday 11:00-18:00 Fee: 5€ , free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August) The site of the museum: http://www.musee-aquitaine-bordeaux.fr/
Musée national des Douanes
This small museum is the national museum of the history of French customs. It’s located in one of the most beautiful buildings in Bordeaux, called the Hôtel des Fermes du Roi on Place de la Bourse, just in front of the water mirror. The exhibition of the museum presents the evolution of the customs administration from ancient to modern times. In the 18th century, it was the local headquarters of the French customs administration in the region, collecting taxes for the king. Through paintings, uniforms, maps and musical instruments the museum allows you to discover the works of one of France’s oldest administrations and their different challenges.
The Musée national des Douanes is a great place for people who are interested in history, especially French one. The fee is only 3 euros so it is worth a visit.
Address: 1 Place de la Bourse, 33000 Bordeaux Opening hours: Open every day except Tuesday 10:00-18:00 Fee: 3€ , free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August) The site of the museum: http://www.musee-douanes.fr/
Musée Mer marine
The sea and marine museum is one of the newest museums of Bordeaux, located on the Bassin a flot, the port of Bordeaux in the Bacalan district. As the name suggests the museum is dedicated to the sea world with a remarkable exhibition of boats, sculptures and objects. The permanent exhibition has more than 10,000 sea and marine related objects like navigation instruments, maps and many pieces of art as well. The idea behind it was to create a bridge between the marine and art worlds. Even the building itself is interesting if you like modern architecture. The museum regularly hosts temporary themed exhibitions such as different illustrations by a specific artist, photography and more. The museum is certainly a good place to visit if you’re interested in boats. The entry fee is 14€ so I’d also check their website for the temporary exhibitions to see if it’s worth going.
Address: 89 rue des Étrangers, 33300 Bordeaux Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday 10:30-18:00 and Saturday to Sunday 10:30-19:00 Fee: 14€ The site of the museum: https://www.mmmbordeaux.com/en/home/
La Maison de l’Huître
This cute little museum is actually located on the Arcachon bay, but I decided to add it to the list because many people go to Arcachon for a day trip. The museum sits in Port de Larros in Gujan Mestras, the oysters capital of the Arcachon bay. It’s no wonder then that they have decided to dedicate a whole museum to oysters. The permanent exhibition includes a beautiful movie and plenty of items and information about all the techniques of oyster farming and the history of the oyster in our region. The museum is very interactive and fun to visit with kids. They even have a special oyster farming boat made for kids where they can play. If you’re heading to the Bassin d’Arcachon anytime soon, I highly recommend visiting there.
Address: Rue du Port de Larros, 33470 Gujan-Mestras Opening hours: September to June from Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 18:00. July and August, open everyday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:30 to 18:30. Fee: 5.9€ for adults and 3.9 for kids (5-14 yo) The site of the museum: http://www.maison-huitre.fr/
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If you don’t have a car and you feel you’ve been missing out on all the open doors events in the wineries of Bordeaux, this weekend you can finally take part in one. This weekend the chateaux of Pessac-Leognan will open their doors to the public and some of them are accessible by public transport. Other than that are plenty of Christmas markets taking place this weekend and other cool events that will make you go out even if it’s raining. If you still need help with ideas for a rainy weekend check out my list of things to do when it’s raining in Bordeaux. You can also plan ahead and see what other events are on this month in my December list. If you missed my latest article on the blog, it was about the best things to do in the Chartrons district, you can read it here. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (December 6-8)
Open Doors in the Chateaux of Pessac-Léognan
There are plenty of open doors weekends in the wineries of Bordeaux in December. This wine region is really close to Bordeaux and offers some great wines so I had to put it on my list. On December 7-8 the Pessac-Léognan appellation is holding an open doors weekend with 34 chateaux hosting you for wine tastings, tours, gourmet food and plenty of activities for kids. Some of the participating chateaux are Château de Léognan, Château Pape Clément and Château Haut-Lagrange , for the full list of Chateaux and more info about the open doors weekend click here and here.
When: December 7- 8 / Where: Bordeaux metropole (Check out the link above for the full list of events)
Cabanes en fête
This is one of the most anticipated events in Bassins d’Arcachon. Cabanes en fête is the oysters and wine celebration taking place in Andernos-les-Bains on December 7. Come to the Bassins to discover its oysters and celebrate Christmas with concerts and plenty of activities. The program also includes a music concert, a flash-mob dance, exhibitions, fireworks and more. For more info click here and for the full program here.
When: December 7 / Where: Port Ostreicole, 33510 Andernos-les-Bains
International Animated Films Festival
Les Nuits Magiques is an annual international festival of animated movies taking place at “Le Festival” cinema in Begles on December 4-15. This is the 29th edition of the festival, which over the years gained a reputation in the animation and special effects world. The rich program includes plenty of events and activities for both kids and adults: premiers of new movies, workshops, meetings with film creators and more. Check out the full program here and all other details you might need here.
When: December 4-15 Where: 151 Boulevard ALBERT 1er, 33130 Bègles
Portes Ouvertes au Château Pape Clément
Pape Clement, one of the most interesting wine chateaux in Bordeaux Metropole is opening its doors to the public as part of the open doors weekend of the Pessac-Leognan appellation. During the weekend (December 7-8) the chateau will hold guided tours and an organic market. For more info click here.
This Saturday (December 7) Darwin invites you to the 8th edition of the Emmaüs salon. Emmaüs is an international solidarity movement that has a big second-hand store in Darwin. For more info click here.
When: December 7 / Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Bassin Geek Festival
If you enjoyed the Bordeaux Geek Festival a few months ago, it’s time for the winter edition with the Bassin Geek Festival. The program includes all the things the geek community loves: comics, sci-fi, web culture, video games, parallel worlds, creative industries and more. The festival will take place at the Parc des Expositions de La Teste De Buch on December 7-8. Check out the full program and all the details here and ticket prices here.
When: December 7-8 / Where: 940 Avenue de l’Europe. 33260 La Teste-de-Buch
Last weekend of the big brocante of Bordeaux
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. While some items can be pricey, you can still find plenty of affordable pieces at this antiques market. The merchants are very nice and are open to negotiations. The brocante is taking place until December 8. For more info and the list of exhibitors click here.
When: Until December 8 / Where: Place des Quinconces
Marché des Créateurs Recycleurs
Recyclerie Atelier D’éco Solidaire is hosting this weekend (December 7-8) a market of recycling artists and creators. At the market, you will find plenty of interesting stands of accessories, pictures, toys for kids, furniture and more, all made from reused objects and materials. The program also includes workshops for kids and adults. For more info click here.
When: December 7-8 / Where: 7 rue de la Motte Picquet, 33300 Bordeaux
Piano Festival
Festival L’esprit du Piano is taking place at the Auditorium of the Opera of Bordeaux on November 13 – December 7. This magnificent festival hosts some important pianists (Grigory Sokolov, Jacky Terrasson and others), some of whom will collaborate with the National Orchestra of Bordeaux and the choir of the Opera of Bordeaux. See the program of the festival here and info about the tickets here.
When: November 13 – December 7 / Where: Grand Théâtre, Place de la Comédie – 33000 Bordeaux
La Première Bougie des Halles
Les Halles de Talence is celebrating its first birthday with a weekend of Pintxos, tastings, cooking classes and a lot of music. You can see the full program of the weekend here.
When: December 6- 8 / Where: Place Alcala de Henares, 33400 Talence
IBOAT – Domingo!
Domingo is a line of events taking place every Sunday at the IBOAT to celebrate the end of the weekend. This Sunday (December 8) is the first event of the line with Dj sets by Bordeaux Open Air, SUPER Daronne and Amplitudes. For more details click here.
When: December 8m 16:00-23:00 / Where: Bassin à Flot n°1, Cours Henri Brunet, 33300 Bordeaux
CHRISTMAS MARKETS THIS WEEKEND
Marché de Noël de Bordeaux
The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux is taking place between November 27 and December 29. This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the region with 150 pavilions selling all the traditional Christmas merchandise such as clothes, decorations, jewelry, toys and local products. Even if you don’t intend to buy any gifts at the market you can still enjoy the Christmas spirit with some hot wine and roasted chestnuts. For more info click here.
When: November 27 – December 29 from 10:30 to 21:30/ Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux
Le Grand Bazar des Créateurs
The Garage Modere in the Bacalan district will hold a very fun and creative event on December 7-8 called the Big Creators market. Around 20 local craftsmen and creators of clothes, jewelry, leather goods, accessories, sewing and photography, will offer their original items for sale. The event is free, for more details click here.
When: December 7-8 / Where: 1 rue des Etrangers, 33300 Bordeaux
Christmas Market in Saint Emilion
The traditional marché de Noël (Christmas market) of Saint Emilion is about to take place this weekend (December 7-8). So if you plan to visit Saint Emilion anytime soon, this would be the perfect weekend for that. For more details click here.
When: December 7-8 / Where: Center of Saint Emilion
Marché de Noël du Fleuve (anciennement Pey Berland) 2019
If the traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux is a bit too crowded for you, there’s a nice alternative on the riverfront. For three weeks (December 6-24) the Maison écocitoyenne de Bordeaux is hosting the annual Marché de Noël du Fleuve with 20 craftsman stands, each one making unique handmade objects you can buy as Christmas presents. For more info click here.
When: December 6-24 / Where: Maison écocitoyenne de Bordeaux, Quai Richelieu, 33000 Bordeaux
Salon des Loisirs créatifs – édition de Noël
Boesner, Bordeaux’s big arts materials shops, is hosting a Christmas creative market this Friday and Saturday (December 6-7). The event includes 15 stands with art and design products and plenty of demonstrations. For more details click here.
GREEN Market de Noël, marché local et 100% végétal
This Sunday (December 8) le Bouscat will host the Green Christmas market, with plenty of stands of organic food and recycled items. For more info click here.
When: December 8 / Where: 246 Avenue de la Libération-Charles de Gaulle, 33110 Le Bouscat
Marché de Noël d’Eysines
The Christmas market of Eysines will take place on December 6-7 at the Grand Place du Bourg. For more details click here.
When: December 6-7 / Where: Grand place du bourg, Eysines
Marché de Noël – Duras
The big Christmas market of Duras will take place this Sunday (December 8) at the center of Duras. For more details click here.
When: December 8 / Where: Duras, Lot et Garonne
Marché de Noël à Sarlat
If you’re in the mood to travel a bit this weekend, why not go to one of the most impressive Christmas markets in the South of France, the Sarlat Christmas market. Sarlat is a magical place that is worth a visit any time of the year, but this market makes it even more worthwhile. The village includes 70 chalets selling local products, clothes, decorations, hot wine and more. For more info click here.
When: December 4-30 / Where: Place de la Grande Rigaudie , 24200 Sarlat-la-canéda
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.
