In Discover Bordeaux

23 free things to do in Bordeaux

Last updated on July 5, 2022 No Comments

Bordeaux isn’t one of France’s cheapest cities but there are quite a lot of things you can enjoy here for free (or at a very low price). In this article, I gathered plenty of ideas for you to enjoy the city and the area around Bordeaux without spending a dime. Following my list, you will learn how to dance, discover amazing art, visit beautiful beaches and do most of it completely free. If you’re coming with kids, this post will give you some nice ideas for entertaining them without breaking the bank. Many of the offered attractions in this article are available during the summer season but some things you can do during winter as well. So let’s start with the list of free things to do in Bordeaux!

Free things you can do all year long in Bordeaux

Stroll the historic city

girondins-monument-in-Bordeaux — The Girondins monument

You don’t need much to enjoy this amazing city. The exceptional architecture is present on almost every street. The old gates to the city, the romantic streets leading to lively squares, the wide beautiful promenade on the river banks will all leave a great impression on you. After Paris, Bordeaux has the highest number of preserved historical buildings in France. No wonder that its historic part was declared as an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble by UNESCO. If it’s your first time in Bordeaux you can read about the most important monuments in my guide to a weekend in Bordeaux.

Darwin – hipster paradise

If you want to take the off-beaten track go to where the locals love to hang out. Darwin is an old military base on the right bank of the river converted into an urban space with a very cool vibe to it. It has a very chic restaurant and several shops but you don’t really need to spend money to enjoy it. You can stroll around the hangars, check out the charity shop, see plenty of street art and just embrace the hipster vibes :). Darwin and the associations it hosts are very active and offer plenty of free events. You can also have a picnic at the Parc aux Angéliques located just in front of Darwin.

Address: 87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Free museums Sunday

Like in most cities in France, the first Sunday of the month is a free museums day (apart from July and August). You have 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. If you want to discover some of Bordeaux’s best museums check out my article about the museums of Bordeaux.

Free galleries in Bordeaux

Discover the local art in the many galleries spread in the city, many of which you can visit without a reservation. Here are some of the best galleries in Bordeaux: Galerie D.X., Bouillon d’art, Cox gallery (street art) and BAG (which is also a coffee shop and a gluten-free bakery). For contemporary art, head to FRAC which is located at the new MECA, an interesting architectural attraction by itself.

Take a city bike

One of the best ways to discover the city is by bike and you don’t even have to pay much to do that in Bordeaux. There are city bikes (V³) stations spread all over the city and they cost only 1.7 euros for 24 hours. You have to return it to the station every 30 minutes and you can immediately take another one to continue your journey. You can also pay 2 euros per hour and return it later if you want to make a longer ride to areas without city bike stations. See the location of the stations here.

See Bordeaux’s most ancient monument

Strolling the city center you’ve probably noticed a lot of impressive monuments dating back to the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries such as the Grosse Cloche or the Saint Michel Basilica. But Bordeaux’s oldest monument is actually located outside of the old city walls. Palais Galien is the ruins of a Gallo Roman amphitheater dating back to the second century when Bordeaux was called Burdigala. The site is located a few minutes’ walk from Jardin public and you can see all of it from the street. There are guided tours to Palais Galien during the summer season. You can book them by calling this number +33 5 56 00 66 00.

Bordeaux churches

Bordeaux Metropole is rich with many basilicas and churches, decorating almost every big square in the city. Its history is blended with religion and the churches are a testament to the development of the city. One of the best things about them is that they are always free and open every day. Bordeaux is an old city so you get to explore religious temples from various periods in time, carrying very different styles. Some examples are the amazing Saint Andres on Place Pey Berland which is built in a Gothic Style or the church of Notre Dame with its Baroque style. Other impressive and interesting churches and Basilicas include Saint Croix, Saint Michel, and Saint Bruno.

Free events

Carnival-in-Bordeaux — The Carnival of Bordeaux

There are free events taking place every weekend, from concerts on the street to huge brocantes, street art events, dance lessons and more. Every month I publish a list of the best events taking place in Bordeaux, so check out the monthly lists here. Also, every weekend I send an email list with plenty of ideas and events to attend on weekends in Bordeaux, so subscribe to my newsletter if you want to be updated on these too.

Drink at the Capucins Market

One of the main attractions in Bordeaux is Marché des Capucins, Bordeaux’s main market. Eating at the market definitely isn’t free (although very affordable) but you don’t have to eat there to feel the vibe. You can just sip a glass of cold white wine at Chez Jean Me (only 2 euros a glass) and absorb the sounds and smells of the market. If you need more recommendations check out my post about the best restaurants at the Capucins market.

Discover the street art

Like many other cities, Bordeaux too has the street art fever, with numerous talented local artists. One of the best things about street art is that it’s usually free, you just need to put some effort to find it. Darwin is one of the places that have the largest concentration of street art by local artists in Bordeaux. Other spots in the city include the Bassin a Flot district, rue du Loup with a beautiful work by Nasty, rue Bourrard, quai des platitudes, the Mur in Chartrons, rue Bergeret. One of the most beautiful works, in my opinion, is located just next to Pessac’s train station. The street art scene is always evolving so again you’ll have to get back here for updates 😉

Brocante in Saint Michel

Antiques and flea markets are a popular attraction in many cities. Some people go there to hunt for special bargains to take home and others see it as a way to discover more about the place through the pieces on display. Bordeaux is quite rich with Brocantes and Vide Greniers (a local version of a garage sale) and you can find many of them both in the center and the villages around it. The most famous one is located in Passage Saint Michel, a hangar that gathers about twenty brocanteurs (second-hand goods dealers) together. Just in front of it, on the main square in Saint Michel, you will find the Sunday Brocante with much cheaper items for sale.
Another neighborhood to visit is Chartrons, with plenty of more expensive Antique boutiques. If you want to experience a local and cheaper “flea market” you should attend a Vide Grenier in one of the suburbs or the villages next to Bordeaux. To discover when are the next vide greniers taking place check out this site.
If you decide to go to the Saint Michel district, check out my article about the things to do in Saint Michel.

Discover the heritage and nature of Bordeaux by foot

If you love walking and nature, this is the perfect place for you. There are plenty of beautiful hiking trails to discover in Bordeaux metropole and the towns around it. On the way, you will see lakes, rivers, forests, and historical monuments and guess what, it’s all free. Take a look at the best hiking trails in and around Bordeaux in my article.

What to do for free in Bordeaux during the summer

Go to a free music concert

Bordeaux open air festival in Jardin Public — Bordeaux open air festival by Lost in Bordeaux

The summer in Bordeaux is one big music festival with plenty of free concerts and parties scattered all over the city. There are several associations that organize free concerts from June to the end of September in many different styles and locations. Bordeaux Open Air offers amazing electronic festivals in the parks of Bordeaux almost every summer. Relache will make you rock with free rock concerts on different squares of Bordeaux. Banzai lab has amazing parties on the weekend of July and the Pavillon d’été welcomes you to enjoy free music concerts on the right bank of the river. For more information follow my post about things to do in July August list will be out soon.

Learn how to dance

If dance classes are too expensive for you, in Bordeaux you can learn it for free! The main dance festival in the summer is Dansons sur les quais, with free dancing lessons on the promenade. The lessons are taught by professional teachers and it’s quite an amazing experience for both kids and adults.

Have a picnic at the Park

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy a proper French meal or snack. Just buy some cheese and wine, add to it a crispy baguette from the boulangerie, and head to one of Bordeaux’s magical picnic spots. Many of you probably heard about the beautiful Jardin Public, but this is far from being the only park in Bordeaux. Check out my list of the best picnic places in Bordeaux where I also included information about playgrounds for kids and the closest supermarkets.
You’ll probably also like my article about the most beautiful parks in Bordeaux.

Listen to music and dance at la Guingette chez Alriq

La Guinguette chez Alriq is one of the best summer places in Bordeaux with plenty of concerts in the open air. During the summer they host amazing bands from Thursday to Sunday. While on most evenings the concerts cost 6 euros on Sunday afternoon the concerts are free!

Adress: ZA Quai des Queyries, Port Bastide, 33100 Bordeaux

Go to one of the beaches in the city

One of the best free attractions to do during the Bordelaise summer is going to a beach. There are many lakes in the area and two of them happen to be in the city and you can even reach them by public transport. Bordeaux Lac is a fantastic little beach in the north of the city. Unfortunately, the direct line to the beach (line c) from the city center is going through some work until September so going to the beach will take more time than usual. The second city beach is located in the southern suburb of Bordeaux, Bègles. Bègles plage can be reached by line c within 25 minutes from the train station.
See the list of the most beautiful beaches around Bordeaux in my article.

Fun stuff to do (almost) for free with kids in Bordeaux

Chill at the Miroir d’eau

The best free attraction for kids (and adults) in Bordeaux is definitely Mirroir d’eau. Kids absolutely love splashing in the water, especially on hot summer days. When tired you can have a picnic in the little garden right next to it.

Go to the pool

Going to the pool is not really free in Bordeaux but it’s very affordable and you can spend the whole day there. There are several kids-friendly pools in the Bordeaux metropole, two of which are not very far from the city center. Next to the Meriadeck, you’ll find the piscine Judaique located in a beautiful art deco building. A bit farther from the center is Piscine du Grand Parc. Both are very kids friendly with facilities like a baby pool, water slides, floats, and more.

Skateboarding on the Quai

If your kids love skating be sure to bring the skateboard with you when coming to Bordeaux. One of the best skateparks in the city is located on Quai des Chartrons and it’s free. For those heading to the Sunday market on the quai, that would be a great break for the kids.

UPDATE – This park is going through a renovation project until November 2022, but if your kids really love skating go to the skatepark of Bourgailh park in Pessac.

For more activities with kids in Bordeaux check out my list of the best 30 things to do with kids in Bordeaux.

Enjoy the free scenery of the South of Gironde

There are plenty of amazing day trips you can go on when visiting the Bordeaux area. It’s not entirely free of course as you have to rent a car but it gives you the chance to discover plenty of amazing places around Bordeaux without paying a dime. Also, If you make sure to rent it a few months before your arrival rental prices are fairly low. If you prefer to go by train, check out my list of the 10 day trips you can do by train from Bordeaux.

Discover the beautiful châteaux of the Medoc region

Chateau d'Arsac — Château d’Arsac by Lost in Bordeaux

Even if you don’t want to spend money on a wine tour I highly recommend doing the route du Vin, just for the beautiful châteaux all along the way. If you don’t want to rent a car you can do most of the trip by bike. While in many wineries you’d have to pay for a guided tour, some will offer you to taste their wine for free. For more information check out my article about the wine road in Medoc.
The other option is visiting a chateau in Saint Emilion, many of which offer very affordable tours, check out my list of recommended wineries to visit in Saint Emilion.

Go to one of Bordeaux’s beautiful beaches

Plage de la Hume on the Bassin d’Arcachon

Above I’ve mentioned two beaches that are located within the city but with a car, Gironde is a paradise for beach lovers. Plenty of beautiful sandy beaches surround the Bordeaux Metropole. The more kids friendly ones are located on the lakes, such as lac Lacanau or lac Cazaux and on the Bassin d’Arcachon. Surfers will definitely fall in love with the beaches on the Atlantic coast. If you need help in choosing the best beaches, I just recently released a post about the best beaches near Bordeaux.

Visit medieval villages

To its south and east, Bordeaux is surrounded by amazing medieval villages that you can reach within less than an hour drive. One of the most famous villages in our area is Saint Emilion, but it’s not the only charming village in the area, others include, Bazas, Saint Macaire, La Reole, Rions and more. For more information about some of these destinations check out my article about day trips from Bordeaux.
Don’t miss my article about the most beautiful villages in Gironde.

I hope I convinced you that a trip to Bordeaux can be quite cheap when you have so many incredible free things to do. Hope you enjoyed the list!

Just to remind you that I often update about events and exhibitions on my facebook/Instagram accounts so be sure to follow! Also, join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.

If you’re visiting Bordeaux for the first time, be sure to check up my ultimate guide to Bordeaux, which will get you familiar with all the “must” places to visits in Bordeaux. To help you to choose a hotel in Bordeaux I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you choose your preferred location.

If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
The best beaches around Bordeaux
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches and villages
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
What to do and eat in Saint Emilion

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:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

In Bordeaux by Neighborhood

Best things to do in Saint Michel, Bordeaux – discover it like a local

Last updated on January 23, 2019 No Comments

Saint Michel is one of the most cosmopolitan and lively neighborhoods in Bordeaux, a home to a mixed population of students, immigrants, artists and people attracted to the hip vibe of the neighborhood. While it’s usually not part of the traditional sights seeing tours of Bordeaux, it’s worth much more than a short visit to the Basilica of Saint Michel and its tower. Saint Michel is located next to some of the most posh areas of Bordeaux and yet it has a completely different feeling to it, at times it feels as if Victor Hugo cuts Bordeaux into two different cities. The neighborhood is home to some of the best markets of Bordeaux, numerous places where you can browse for vintage clothes and furniture and an endless list of lively restaurants and cafes.

This guide to Saint Michel offers you a great variety of things to Do and See in Saint Michel. We’ll go through the most important monuments in the neighborhood and recommend where to eat, drink, shop and have a picnic. This neighborhood is constantly evolving and new places are opening all the time so even if you live in Bordeaux for a while now, I invite you to take a look and re-discover one the happiest places in town.

Basilique Saint Michel

The Saint Michel Basilica, classified as a world heritage of UNESCO in 1998 stands at the heart of this lively neighborhood. This church, built between the 14th and 16th century in a Flamboyant Gothic style, is the biggest parish church in Bordeaux. The Basilica is 75 meters long and is divided into 3 distinct parts. Start your tour from rue Canteloup and go towards Place Meynard in order to have the basilica fully reveal herself.

See Bordeaux from la Flèche Saint-Michel

Just next to the basilica you’ll find the Saint Michel bell tower or “la flèche” as the Bordelaises like to call it. This is one of the main monuments of the city and one of the sights you will often find on postcards of Bordeaux. Built in the 15th century, the bell tower of the basilica is 114 meters high and is the highest bell tower in the south of France. La flèche is a standalone building alongside the basilica, rather than on top of it. During the tourist season the tower is open to visitors and due to its height, offers a magnificent view of the city.

In 1881 a cemetery and catacombs were discovered under the town bell. Several mummies, that were also part of that discovery were shown to the public in the late 18th century. You can learn more about one the biggest mysteries of the city in the film presented in the cellar of the tower. The “Fleche” is located on Place Canteloup and can be visited daily from April to October, the ticket price is 5 euros.

View of Bordeaux from the bell tower of Saint Michel — The view of Bordeaux from the bell tower of Saint Michel

The Saint Michel Market

Marché Royal, one of the biggest open-air markets in Bordeaux, takes place every Saturday morning at Place Meynard. The surroundings of the church and bell tower is filled with more than 100 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 bio 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.

Saturday morning market of Saint Michel — The Saturday market of Saint Michel

When: Marché Royal: Saturdays 7am to 1pm; Marché Neuf:Mondays 7am to 1pm
Place Canteloup et Meynard – 33800 Bordeaux

Browsing for Antiques

A French Brocante (secondhand goods market) is a nice way to discover the history, culture and different fashion trends of a city through the interesting stories of the objects you find. It usually doesn’t have a feeling of a flea market but rather a more antiques and vintage vibe to it. In Bordeaux , the brocantes have an important place and besides many local vide greniers (kind of a garage sale), the city hosts a huge brocante twice a year in Place de Quinconces. But if your visit is not planned during this time of the year, Saint Michel proposes a smaller scale brocante all year long.

Les Brocanteurs du Passage

Passage Saint Michel, located just in front of the church is home to 18 stands of antiques dealers and artists, with a variety of art and design items from different periods and styles. The prices are quite high but it can definitely inspire if you are into vintage stuff. The passage is open daily except Monday , see more details here.

Passage Saint Michel in Bordeaux — Le Passage – a lot of different styles, very vintage oriented

Address: 15 place Canteloup, 33800 Bordeaux

Les Hangars

Les Hangars is a new space of antiques and vintage pieces of art and furniture. It has a very posh and spacious look to it and is quite pricey but it has a significant selection of antiques.

Address: 18 – 22 Rue des Allamandiers, 33800 Bordeaux

Sunday flea market

Every Sunday morning more than 80 dealers gather at the square in front of the Basilica of Saint Michel for the Brocante du Dimanche. This is the weekly flea market of Bordeaux where you can find real bargains and purchase everything from toys for kids to antique frames and electronic devices. The quality of most of the items is not the highest but as with any flea market, you’ll have to work to find what you’re looking for.

When: Sundays 7am to 2pm
Place Canteloup et Meynard – 33800 Bordeaux

Eat and shop at La Mère Michel

La Mére Michel is the essence of what the main square of the quartier is all about, a combination of a brocante with good food, a great location and a hip atmosphere. It has a beautiful view of the bell tower of Saint Michel, but distant enough from the hustle of the market. On the menu it says “Crêperie-Bistrot-Brocante” and that’s what it is. The house specialty are crepes and the menu is mostly composed of many different types of crepes and galettes, with some traditional plates as well. The interior is decorated with many vintage items and they are all for sale for very affordable prices. Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, I’d still recommend you take a look on the unique design they’ve put in place. On a sunny day, it’s a perfect place for an outside brunch, with tables right on Place Meynard, facing the bell tower and the church. The restaurant is open the whole day on weekends and closes for a break between lunch and dinner on week days.

la mere michel — La Mère Michel – perfect for a sunny day and you can buy anything you see on the walls

Address: 22 Place Meynard, 33000 Bordeaux

Drink mint tea

Saint Michel is full of chic cafes and it’s hard to chose one when you want to take a break from antiques browsing. If you stay in the church area you will see that a lot of locals are actually drinking mint tea and not coffee. Until recently Saint Michel was mostly an immigrant neighborhood and many shops and cafés are owned by families who emigrated to Bordeaux from the Maghreb or the Middle East. Glasses stuffed with spearmint is something your’re going to see a lot on Saturday mornings there. My favorite place is Café de la Fraternité which is located on place Meynard right in front of the church.

café de la fraternité — Drink mint tea at Café de la Fraternité

Address: 27 Place Meynard, 33000 Bordeaux

Buy pastries at la Boulangerie

If you see a long line of people coming from a boulangerie, especially on Saturday morning, you’re at the right place. La Boulangerie (la boutique) on 51 rue des Faures, is a very popular bakery frequented by both locals and tourists. It’s located next to the Bell tower of Saint Michel. The design is very simple and modern with a nice vintage touch. They offer great baguettes and a nice selection of pastry that you can take with you to one of the cafés on Place Meynard.

la boulangrie saint michel — La boulangrie – great baguettes and a nice selection of pastries.

Address: 251 rue des Faures, 33000 Bordeaux

Buy Mediterranean spices

Alongside the many cafes and restaurants, you will find plenty of shops specializing in mediterranean food, most of them located in Rue des Faures. From outside they may seem as just small supermarkets but if you go inside you’ll discover a paradise of spices such as Sumak, Bahar, Tahini and more. Bordeaux doesn’t have a big immigrant population and specific ingredients are not always easy to find, that’s why this place is a treasure for everyone who is looking to cook an Arabic or Persian dish. My favorite one is Bazar Istanbul on 84 Rue des Faures, where I’ve always been able to find anything I need.

If you’re planning on a mint tea break, as was suggested before, combine it with some beautiful oriental pastry. France is the Queen of Patisserie, there’s no dispute about that, but if you need a break from the traditional French patisserie, A la rose de Tunis on 70 Rue des Faures, with its huge selection of Tunisian pastry is the place for you.

Bazar Istanbul Saint Michel — Bazar Istanbul- one of the best places for oriental spices

The cafés:

Saint Michel is a rising area in Bordeaux and a wave of new hip coffee places have established themselves in the neighborhood. Besides the many restaurants next to the main square and all around the area, there are also plenty of relatively new cafés with a hipster vibe to them. Two of my favorite ones are:

Michel ma belle: a small cozy coffee place on 33 Rue Gaspard Philipp, with a great selection of cakes, beautiful interior design and a distant view of the bell tower from the few tables outside.

Excuse my French: Located right in front of Bazar Istanbul on 87 Rue des Faures. There are a few tables on the busy street outside giving it a very lively atmosphere.

Visit the Capucins market

Le Marche des Capucins is a true Bordelaise institution. It’s located a few minutes walk from the main area of Saint Michel and can be seen from the Basilica. This is the biggest daily market and has everything that a good market should have. Stands of Fruits, vegetables, sweets, spices and fish all mixed with lively cafes and restaurants. Most of it is covered so you can enjoy it on the city’s numerous rainy days. Most cafes and restaurants also have tables outside, which makes it a perfect place to hang out with friends and family for an early snack or a proper lunch. In the weekend, the market is packed with locals, who gather to dine oysters accompanied by white wine. Be sure to come early to be able to catch a table. Marché des Capucins is open daily except Monday.

Marché des Capucins SainMichel bordeaux — Oysters and wine at Marché des Capucins

Have a picnic in Parc des Sports

Parc de Sports is a large green area with different sport facilities, located on the bank of the Garonne just in front of the Saint Michel neighborhood. If you walked too much and need to rest, buy some goodies at the market and head to the “Quai” for a picnic. This parc is less known than other picnic spots in the city and is mostly used by the locals, which makes it less crowded on Sunny days. Also, the view of the Garonne is quite impressive so try to find a spot closer to the river.

If you are looking for more places for a picnic, check out my list of best places for picnics in Bordeaux.

Parc des sports saint michel- — Take a little pause at Parc des sports

See an expo in the Silicon gallery

Silicon is a space of contemporary art with an agenda to promote young local artists. The gallery is located in one of the quieter streets in Saint Michel and is not that easy to spot, but definitely worth a visit if you’re around. See up to date info about the running exhibitions here. The gallery is located on 33 rue Leyteire.

silicon art gallery Saint Michel — Silicon art gallery – discover new local talent

Address: 33 rue Leyteire, 33000

Shop for second hand clothing

There are several second hand clothing shops in the area including Amos, a big chain of solidarity shops in France. One of my favorites is the little boutique on 9 rue des Faures, called Le Fil a Retordre. It looks small but has everything you need, clothes, shoes, books, toys, house decor and even some original designs of clothes and bags recycled from old items, all in very good condition. It’s owned by a nice lady who has owned several second hand shops in Saint Michel in the last 35 years. You can feel she’s a real local with an agenda to make clothes accessible to everyone and has not raised prices despite the rising popularity of the neighborhood.

Le Fil a Retordre in Saint Michel — Le Fil a Retordre – a small shop that has everything you need

Address: 9 rue des Faures, 33000

Dinner and concert at Quartier libre

Although it doesn’t look very impressive from the outside, this is one of the best places in town for a nice dinner with a live concert. The menu is usually quite limited but has great value. Most nights a concert is taking place at the bar, with a variety of local bands playing. Wednesday evening is jazz night, and you even have a place to dance if you feel like swinging. Quartier Libre is located on 30 Rue des Vignes.

quartier libre Saint Michel — Quartier Libre – good food and live music

Address: 30 Rue des Vignes, 33000

Discover rue Camille Sauvageau

There are so many beautiful boutiques, trendy cafes and bars on this street that it requires a separated article.
I invite you to take a walk on this charming street that starts from the Basilica of Saint Michel and goes all the way to the Saint Croix neighborhood. Everything feels very stylish, vintage clothing shops, a nice little flower shop, the old buildings and the paved road all add to the charm of this narrow street. Take a long walk to discover the gems on rue Camille Sauvageau.

Rue Camille Sauvageau - Saint Michel — Rue Camille Sauvageau – one of the most charming street in Saint Michel

As this is one of the most growing neighborhoods in Bordeaux there are new cafes, restaurants and boutiques popping up almost weekly so to be really up to date you should visit there frequently. In this list I tried to give you the places that are particularly loved by the locals so you could try and experience your visit through their eyes.

If you go visit and find something new, don’t be shy and comment with your update below.

Share it with friends who are planning to visit Bordeaux this summer. Thanks!!

In Bordeaux Monthly

What to do in Bordeaux in April

Last updated on April 21, 2023 2 Comments

April is such a fun month in Bordeaux! It starts to be warm outside, everything blossoms, and a lot of places are slowly opening up for the summer season. It’s also one of the best months to discover the surrounding of Bordeaux before they become too crowded with visitors from around the world.

Before I give you the list of events taking place in April, I want to recommend a few articles for you to read before visiting the region. My detailed guide to Saint Emilion as well as my list of recommended chateaux to visit are two articles that have helped many tourists to properly discover this amazing little village. You should also take a look at my list of the best places to visit in Bassin d’Arcachon and the Guide to the most beautiful villages around Bordeaux.

Best things to do in Bordeaux in April — *April in Bordeaux*

Make sure to read my article about the best 50 things to do in Bordeaux. And if you have questions about other parts of the Southwest of France, be sure to join my Facebook group “Travel in the Southwest of France”

If you live in the region or planning to visit soon, you’d love to know that there are many fun and interesting events taking up this month so let’s discover what are the best things to do in Bordeaux in April 2023!

The best events in April in Bordeaux and its surroundings

Open doors in Médoc

To celebrate the beginning of the spring the Maison du Tourisme et du Vin de Pauillac will hold an open doors weekend on April 1-2. During the weekend you can visit plenty of châteaux in the Medoc region and taste some of the finest wines in the world. For details about all the participating chateaux click here.

If you want to know more about the event you should read my post about the Open doors weekend.

When: April 1-2 / Where: different locations (see the site)

Bordeaux Electronic Week-end

Bordeaux Electronic Week-end 2023 is a fun music festival taking place on April 7-9. The lineup includes more than 10 electronic artists that will take the stage at Quai des sports, Saint Michel and Hangar FL. See the details here.

When: April 7-9 / Where: Quai des sports and Hangar FL in Bordeaux

Grande Brocante Antiquites À Rauzan

Every year the village of Rauzan in the Entre deux Mers region is hosting one of the best brocantes (antiques and flea market) in the SW of France. This year the big market will take place on April 7-10. See all the details here.

When: April 7-10 / Where: Village Antiquités in Rauzan

Treasure Hunt on Pâques Weekend

The second weekend of April is the long weekend of Easter in France and the area of Bordeaux offers plenty of activities to entertain you and your kids. Egg hunting, visits to beautiful chateaux, and chocolate workshops are only some of the activities you could do this weekend.

Here’s my list of all the best events taking place on Easter weekend around Bordeaux.
I will be publishing more events in my newsletter (subscribe here) and on the Lost in Bordeaux Instagram account.

Treasure hunt in Bordeaux - Easter weekendx

Territoires Sauvages – Nature festival

Territoires Sauvages is a nature festival that will take place at the Halle du Port in Teich (Arcachon Bay) on April 7-10. You’re invited to spend your Easter weekend discovering the natural treasures of the region. For more info click here.

When: April 7-10/ Where: Halle du Port, 33470 Le Teich

Promenade en Scène!

Promenade Sainte-Catherine is the shopping center located in the middle of Bordeaux’s main shopping street – rue Sainte-Catherine. On April 14-16, Promenade Sainte-Catherine is hosting a festive weekend with a very entertaining program: dance, music, a magic show, and more. See all the details here.

When: April 14-16 Where: Face à la FNAC, 51-53 Rue Sainte-Catherine, 33000 Bordeaux

The Blaye Spring Wine Festival

The Blaye Spring Wine Festival will take place on April 15-16 at the Blaye Citadel. The annual wine festival brings together more than 80 winemakers.

The program includes discovery workshops (introduction to tasting, mixing, and food and wine pairing), guided visits to the citadel by train or horse, and more. For the full program and tickets click here.

When: April 15-16/ Where: Citadelle de Blaye, 33390 Blaye

Week-end des Vins Vivants

On April 15 -16, the town of Monségur in Entre-deux-Mers is hosting a wine festival. The event is dedicated to organic and natural wines. See all the details here.

When: April 15-16/ Where: Halle de Monségur

BLIB – the beer festival of Bordeaux

The 7th edition of Bordeaux’s beer festival will take place on April 15. The event will take place at Hangar 14 in Chartrons. Check out the Facebook page of the event for more info.

When: April 15 / Where: 115 Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux

Search for beautiful antiques at the Brocante

The big brocante of Bordeaux is hosted twice a year at Place des Quinconces with 200 antique dealers, horticulturists, restaurants, and craftsmen. It’s the biggest brocante event in the area and the selection is huge, from vintage home decor to paintings, antique furniture, garden accessories, and more.

Brocante de Bordeaux - one of the best events in Bordeaux — *Brocante de Bordeaux – Lost in Bordeaux*

The market is taking place from April 21 to May 8. For more info and the list of exhibitors click here.

When: April 21 – May 8 / Where: Place des Quinconces, Bordeaux

Open doors at Lalande de Pomerol

An open doors weekend will take place on April 22-23 at the châteaux of the Lalande de Pomerol appellation. During the weekend, the châteaux of this appellation will offer plenty of activities such as guided tours, tastings, markets, an old cars exhibition, and many other activities. If you want to learn more about the Lalande de Pomerol appellation and its châteaux, click here.

When: April 22-23/ Where: Lalande de Pomerol (see the list of chateaux in the link)

Violette Sauvage X Madeingreen

Violette Sauvage is a big vide-dressing event (second-hand clothes sale) taking place every year in several cities in France (including Bordeaux).

This year the organizers of the event have collaborated with Madeingreen, a Bordeaux fair that promotes green creators. Together they will host a huge sale of second-hand fashion items. The event will take place in Hangar 14 on April 21-23. See more details here.

When: April 21-23 / Where: Hangar 14, Quai des Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux, 33300 Bordeaux

Salon Nautique d’Arcachon

The big Salon Nautique d’Arcachon will take place the weekend on April 21-23 at the Port de Plaisance d’Arcachon. More than 170 exhibitors will participate in the Salon, with 450 boats stationed all over the port. For more details click here.

When: April 21-23/ Where: Port d’Arcachon, 33120 Arcachon

Open doors in Saint-Emilion

An open-door weekend will take place on April 29 – May 1st in Saint Emilion where tens of wine producers will open their chateaux to the public.

The weekend will include many activities such as wine tastings, visits to the chateaux, games for kids, and bike rides. Check out the full program for the participating châteaux, the activities, and the wine tasting proposed for that weekend – here.

You can also plan your trip to this wine region with my detailed guide to Saint Emilion.

See all the other open-door events taking place in the Bordeaux wine region this year.

When: April 29- May 1st / Where: different locations around Saint Emilion

Tauzia Fête les Jardins

Tauzia is a gardening festival that takes place on April 29-30 at the Tauzia chateau in Gradignan. The popular event brings together more than 80 exhibitors specialized in the world of plants: plant producers, landscape designers, artists, collectors, horticulturists, and in general people with exceptional knowledge of plants. See more details here.

When: April 29-30 / Where: Château de Tauzia, 216 Cours du Général de Gaulle, 33170 Gradignan

Fete de la Lamproie

Sainte-Terre, the world capital of the Lamproie, will celebrate this creepy jawless fish with a fun, festive weekend. The event will take place on April 28 – 30. See the program here.

When: April 28 -30/ Where: Sainte-Terre

Fête de l’Asperge du Blayais

la Fête de l’Asperge du Blayais in Etauliers is a big event celebrating asparagus and its farmers. More than 8000 visitors are expected to stroll along with the 50 exhibitors of local delights and enjoy the activities offered to both adults and kids (make-up sessions, mini farm, pony rides, and more). The event is taking place on April 29-30 at the center of Etauliers. See the full program.

When: April 29-30 / Where: Place principale, 33820 Etauliers

Big events in other parts of the SW of France

Foire au Jambon à Bayonne

Like every year, Bayonne will celebrate its famous ham with a big fair called, Foire au Jambon. The event will take place on April 6-9. See all the details here.

When: April 6-9 / Where: Center of Bayonne

Châteaux En Fête

Châteaux En Fête is one of the best evets the Dordgone department has to offer. 71 castles all over Dordogne will open their doors to visitors and offer guided visits, activities, and festive evenings. The Châteaux En Fête event will take place from April 15 to May 1st. See the list of chateaux and their programs here.

When: April 15- May 1st / Where: different towns in Dordogne

Winestock Festival

The Winestock Festival is a new wine-gastronomic festival that will take place for the first time this year in the villages of Monestier and Thénac in Dordogne. The program of the event includes concerts, tastings, workshops, a wine fair, masterclasses, and more.

The event will take place on April 28-30. See all the details here.

When: April 28-80 / Where: Monestier and Thénac

Année Du Dessin En Dordogne

This year the Dordogne is celebrating the Drawing year with an impressive amount of art exhibitions all over the department. The exhibitions and different art-related events will take place in famous chateaux, churches, libraries and other art venues. See all the dates and locations in the program of the event.

When: February – December 2023 / Where: different towns in Dordogne

Marché aux Fleurs

The pretty town of Duras is hosting a big flower market on April 16. For more details click here.

When: April 16 / Where: Duras

Exhibitions and concerts not to miss this month in Bordeaux

Itinéraires des Photographes Voyageurs – photography festival

The 32nd edition of the “traveling photographers routes” festival will take place on April 5-30. During one month, 17 photography exhibitions will be presented at the main cultural institutions in the city, among them, the Rocher de Palmer in Cenon, the Bibliothèque in Meriadeck, Espace Saint-Rémi, and others. Get the full list of all artists and more info about the event here.

When: April 5-30 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux (see program)

Dali and Gaudi – Les Bassins de Lumières

Les Bassins de Lumières is hosting a new amazing exhibition! This time the immersive exhibition is dedicated to Dali and Gaudi. Les Bassins de Lumières is a visual arts space, situated in an old submarine base, that is known for its immersive exhibitions.

You can see a video I took in their previous exhibitions just to get the vibe. The new exhibition will be presented from February 3 to January 7, get your tickets here.

When: February 3 – January 7, 2024 / Where: Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux

Go to a concert at Arkea Arena

Arkea Arena is the place to go to if you want to see big concerts in Bordeaux. The program in April includes the Celtic Legends, the Swan lake ballet, Jennifer, and more. See the full program here.

Street are at L’institue Bernard Magrez

L’institue Bernard Magrez is a beautiful chateau in Bordeaux that regularly host street art exhibitions and events. Currently, there are three different street art exhibitions presented at the gallery. You can visit the chateau only on weekends. Buy tickets here.

Is it your first time in Bordeaux? If it is you should definitely check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux to get familiar with all the must-see places in the city. To help you choose a hotel I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you find your preferred AirBnB location.

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:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

In Bordeaux Monthly

What to do in Bordeaux in March

Last updated on February 3, 2023 No Comments

March is the month of uncertainty here in Bordeaux. There will be sunny days which will make you crave a glass of rose on one of the squares of Bordeaux. It can even be hot enough to go to the beach, and in that case, you should check out my article about the best beaches near Bordeaux.

However don’t be surprised if suddenly you’ll wake up to a cold or a very rainy day, these are very common in March as well.

The good news is that there’s always something to do here in Bordeaux. So in case it’s cold you should check out my article about the best things to do in Bordeaux in the winter. And for rainy days, here’s my guide to all the things you can do in Bordeaux when it’s raining.

What to do in Bordeaux in March — *Bordeaux in March*

However, in this article, I’m going to talk about all the best events, exhibitions, and concerts taking place in Bordeaux and its surroundings in March 2023. If you’re reading this article in February check out my article about what to do in Bordeaux in February.

You can also subscribe to my newsletter where I update you about all the best things happening in the city every weekend.

If it’s your first time in Bordeaux I recommend reading my article about the best things to do in Bordeaux and the best districts in Bordeaux in case you’re still looking for accommodation.

What to do in Bordeaux city in March 2023

Carnaval des 2 rives

Le Carnaval des 2 rives (March 5) takes place on both sides of the Garonne river. This modern festival (created in 1996) has all the best features of a traditional carnival such as costumes, shows, and a big parade.

The big parade starts start at 14:00 at the Allée Serr, on the right side of the river, and then passes to the other side through Pont de Pierre and ends at the Village Carnival at Place Pey-Berland at 16:00. The Village Carnaval will be open until 18:00. For more details click here.

When: March 5 / Where: Starts at Allée Serr, Bastide, Bordeaux

Grand Salon Habitat De Bordeaux

Bordeaux’s big habitat fair will take place on March 3-5. The salon will include a huge variety of stands and professionals specializing in construction, house renovation, interior design, and more. The event will take place at Hall 3 of le Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux – Hall 3. For more details click here.

When: March 3-5 / Where: Cours Jules Ladoumègue, 33000 Bordeaux

Fête de l’Orange

Fête de l’Orange, the feast of the Orange is celebrated every year in Podensac, the town of the famous Lillet liqueur. The program includes a big orange market and different orange specialties, a guided visit to the Lillet cellars, traditional dancing, and more. The event will take place on March 4-5. The full program will be published here.

When: March 4-5 / Where: the center of Podensac

Foire aux Plaisirs

This is the spring edition of the traditional Bordelaise Fair that is taking place at Place des Quinconces from March 3-26. It’s a perfect activity for kids and for those who are young in spirit as La Foire aux Plaisirs de Bordeaux has it all: a big wheel, roller coasters, ghost trains, bumper cars, donuts, crèpes, and more.

See more info about the fair here.

Place des Quinconces - what to do in Bordeaux in October

When: March 3-26 / Where: Place des Quinconces

Salon des Vins des Vignerons Indépendants de Bordeaux

The Salon des Vins of the Bordeaux independent winemakers will take place on March 10-12 at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux (Bordeaux Lac -Hall 3). Wine producers from the region will present their wines and will invite you to a free taste. This event is not geared toward professionals but rather toward all wine lovers. For more info click here.

When: March 10-12 / Where: Parc des expositions de Bordeaux Lac – Cours Charles Bricaud – 33000 Bordeaux

Bordeaux Rock Festival

The Bordeaux Rock festival is a big gathering of independent and alternative bands that takes place every year in Bordeaux. This year it will take place on March 9-12 at la Salle des fêtes du grand parc. For the full program and tickets click here.

When: March 9-12 / Where: 39 Cours de Luze 33300 Bordeaux, France

Salon du Vintage

The annual vintage salon will take place in Darwin on March 11-12. This chic event will gather more than 50 exhibitors with a great selection of accessories, furniture, vinyl records, classic cars, jukebox, paintings, and more. For more details check the Facebook page and the website of the event.

When: March 11-12 / Where: 87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Saint Patrick’s day

Saint Patrick’s day is always a good opportunity to get drunk from an Irish beer or whiskey while listening to good music.

Most Irish (and English) bars in Bordeaux make a big Saint Patrick’s day celebration with music and a lot of drunk and happy people. Check out my list of Irish/English bars in Bordeaux and choose one for March 17!

The European short film festival

The 26th edition of the European Short Film festival (festival européen du court métrage de Bordeaux) will take place on March 16-17 at the UGC Ciné Cité Bordeaux. The festival includes a program of about thirty movies from all over the world and a jury of famous personalities from the French cinema industry, from actors to directors and screenwriters. For more info and tickets check out the website of the festival .

When: March 16-17 / Where: 13-15 rue Georges Bonnac, 33000 Bordeaux

Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux

Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux (March 18-25) is a very unique humor festival hosting more than 80 artists and different activities taking place all over the city. The festival is an opportunity to experience humor in different forms, such as live on stage, in pictures, and even through cooking! See the full program here.

When: March 18-25 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux

Swing Art Festival

Every March, for more than a decade now, Bordeaux has been hosting the Swing Art Festival (March 23-26) where swing dancers come from all around the globe to teach the dancers of Bordeaux their art of Swinging.

The program includes a lot of dancing, live music, art, vintage markets, workshops, and more. The event takes place at la Halle des Chartrons and it’s Free! For more details click here.

When: March 23-26 / Where: 10 Place du Marché Chartrons, 33000

Fête les Vins kms de Saint-Emilion

Les Vins Kms de Saint-Emilion is a walking and running race of 11 km, 21km, and 40k, taking place at the stunning village of Saint Emilion. The event starts at Château Soutard, one of Saint Emilion’s most popular wineries. The event takes place on March 26.

See the full program here.

Check out my article about all the wineries I recommend visiting in Saint Emilion.

When: March 26 / Where: Saint Emilion

Exhibitions and concerts not to miss this month in Bordeaux

Go to a concert at Arkea Arena

Arkea Arena is the place to go to if you want to see big concerts in Bordeaux. The program in March includes the Irish Celtic, an electronic music festival, Stromae, and more. See the full program here.

Dali and Gaudi – Les Bassins de Lumières

Les Bassins de Lumières is hosting a new exhibition and I’m sure it’s going to be amazing as usual! This time the exhibition is dedicated to Dali and Gaudi. Les Bassins de Lumières is a visual arts space, situated in an old submarine base, that is known for its immersive exhibitions.

You can see a video I took in their previous exhibitions just to get the vibe. The new exhibition will be presented from February 3 to January 7, get your tickets here.

When: February 3 – January 7, 2024 / Where: Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux

Street are at L’institue Bernard Magrez

What’s happening in other parts of the SW of France in March 2023

Piano Festival

The town of Saintes is hosting its annual Piano festival on March 3-4. The festival will take place at the Abbaye aux Dames, one of the highlights of this beautiful town in the Charentes Maritimes department. See more details and tickets here.

When: March 3-4 / Where: 11 Place de l’Abbaye, 17100 Saintes

Sarlat en Périgord Fest’oie (Goose Festival)

Every first weekend of March, the town of Sarlat is hosting the Goose festival. In the program, you find live music, great food, a big market, tours of the historic city, and more. The event will take place on March 4-5. See more details here.

When: March 4-5 / Where: Sarlat, Dordogne

South Town Jazz Festival

The South Town Jazz festival is an annual festival taking place in Soustons, a charming beach town in the Landes department. The festival will take place on March 20-25. For more info and tickets click here.

When: March 20-25 / Where: Soustons

Is it your first time in Bordeaux?

If it is you should definitely check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux to get familiar with all the must-see places in the city. To help you choose a hotel I’ve gathered a list of the best hotels in the center of Bordeaux as well as a guide to the districts of Bordeaux to help you find your preferred AirBnB location.

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:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

In Bordeaux Monthly

What to do in Bordeaux in November

Last updated on January 3, 2023 No Comments

So what is happening this month in and around Bordeaux? From the big antique market of Bordeaux to wine tasting in Sauternes and a well-being festival in Darwin, you’ll easily find something to do this month. If you reading this in October, don’t forget to check my list of things to do in October.

This post includes only the biggest events and festivals in the region. If you want more fun events and weekend ideas don’t forget to subscribe to my email list and you’ll get a weekly email where I share plenty of tips about the region!

Don’t forget to join my Travel in the Southwest of France group for more tips and ideas for things to do here. And if you’re currently planning your trip to Bordeaux, here’s an article about the best districts in Bordeaux with hotel recommendations.

Let’s discover the best things to do in Bordeaux in November 2022!

The best events in and around Bordeaux in November 2022

Foire de La Toussaint

The big fair of Toussaint will take place this weekend (October 29-November 1) on the banks of the Garonne river in La Reole. An ancient tradition in La Reole that brings together hundreds of local exhibitors and merchants. This is one of the biggest events in La Reole, fun for both kids and adults. For more info click here.

When: October 29 – November 1 /Where: Quais, 33190 LA REOLE

day tip from Bordeaux to La Reole — La Reole – by Lost in Bordeaux

Festival Objectif Terre

Objectif Terre is an annual festival that focuses on environmental issues through cinema. The festival takes place on November 2-6 at Cinema Eden, in Monsegur. During the five days of the festival movies and cartoons, all related to themes of nature and environment will be screened, accompanies by different workshops and activities. See the full program here.

When: November 2-6 / Where: 7 Rue Porte du Dropt, 33580 MONSEGUR

Festival Toutes Latitudes

Festival Toutes Latitudes celebrates diversity through world music with a lineup of musicians from Spain, Portugal, Senegal, Marroco, and more. The festival will take place on November 2-5 at the Rocher de Palmer (and other places) in Cenon. Some events require prior reservation – see all the info here.

When: November 2-5 / Where: Cenon, see the program

Sting Concert

Stong will take the stage of Arkea Arena on November 3rd. Buy your tickets here.

When: November 3 / Where: 48-50 Av. Jean Alfonséa, 33270 Floirac

L’esprit du Piano -Piano Festival

Festival L’esprit du Piano will take place at the Auditorium of the Opera of Bordeaux and Eglise Notre Dame from November 9 to December 6. This magnificent festival is hosting great pianists, some of which will collaborate with the National Orchestra of Bordeaux and the choir of the Opera of Bordeaux. See the program of the festival and tickets here.

When: November 9 – December 6 / Where: Several locations in Bordeaux, check out the program

Festival Musical Écran

Festival Musical Écran is a very unique film festival dedicated to documentaries about music. The festival will take place on November 7-13 in Cinéma Utopia. For the full program and all the details click here.

When: November 7-13 / Where: Different theaters in Bordeaux, see the program

Bliss Yoga Festival

The Bliss Yoga festival will take place on November 11-13 in Darwin. The program of the festival includes yoga, meditation classes, a market, a well-being space, and even activities for kids. For more info check out the website of the festival.

When: November 11-13 / Where: Darwin Ecosystème, 87 quai des Queyries

Open doors in the Chateaux of Sauternes et Barsac

Sauternes et Barsac are two wine areas (appellation d’origine contrôlée) famous for their sweet white wines. On November 11-13 many of the wine producers of Sauternes and Barsac will open their doors to the public and give you an opportunity to discover their estates and taste their wines. The list of the chateaux will be published here.

the best wineries in Sauternes and Barsac

If you’re visiting at any other time, here’s my list of the best wineries to visit in Sauternes.

When: November 11-13 / Where: Sauternes et Barsac– chose your chateau from the program (will be updated soon)

Foire de la Saint Martin

Like every year, le Foire de la Saint-Martin will take place in Duras on November 11 (a holiday in Frane) with more than 200 exhibitors and stands of local gastronomy, clothing, cars, a big vide grenier (a French version of a garage sale), and more. For more info click here.

If you’re driving from Bordeaux, take some time to discover the smallest village in France, Castelmoron d’Albret, which is located on the way.

When: November 11 / Where: the village of Duras

Festival Love Tattoo Urban Street

The Love Tattoo Urban Street festival will take place on November 12-13 at the Parc des Expositions in Bassin d’Arcachon. In the program tattoos, a creative market, concerts, fashion, and workshops for kids and there will even be some sort of “daycare” for kids so parents can take some time to do a tattoo :). For more info click here.

When: November 12-13 / Where: 940 Avenue de l’Europe, 33260 La Teste-de-Buch

La Raisin d’Or

La Raisin d’Or is a sportive event taking place on November 12-13 in the vineyards of Sauternes. The event includes different sports activities from Nordic walking to Mountain biking. The goal of the event is to introduce people to this beautiful region and its chateaux through sports and fun activities. For details about all the activities taking place that weekend click here.

When: November 12-13 / Where: the event takes place all over Sauternes

La Rochelle Swing festival

If you were planning to go to La Rochelle in the near future, this is a good opportunity. Every year in November a fun swing festival is taking place in one of the towns surrounding La Rochelle. This year the festival is taking place on November 11-13 in Saint-Xandre, just a few minutes drive from La Rochelle. See more info here.

When: November 11-13 / Where: Salle de l’Agora, impasse des Écoles, 17138 Saint-Xandre

International History films festival

The theme of the 32nd edition of the Festival international du film d’Histoire taking place on November 14-21, is “Masculin, Feminin”. The rich program of the festival includes movie screenings, debates, and lectures with several historians as guests. For more info and the full program click here.

When: November 14-21 / Where: 7 rue des Poilus 33600 Pessac

Fête Du Livre Jeunesse Et Bd

The annual kids’ books and comics festival is taking place this year on November 14-19 at the Halles de Gascogne in Leognan. More than 3000 books will be presented at the event which also includes spectacles, activities for kids, games, and more. Many authors and editors will take part in the event and will sign books. See the full program here.

When: November 14-19 / Where: Place Joane, 1 Rue Louise Michel, 33850 Léognan

Organic Wine Market in Darwin

Les Barriquades is the biggest market of bio wines in the region, an event that will take place on the weekend of November 19-20 in Darwin. On the menu, is a huge selection of organic wines from Bordeaux, Saint Emilion and many other wine regions of France. Entry is free. For more info click here.

When: November 19-20 / Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Portes Ouvertes in Pomerol

Pomerol, the prestigious wine appellation is hosting the annual open doors event on November 20. The list of the participating chateaux will be published in the following weeks here.

When: November 2o/ Where: Pomerol

If you want to discover other wine open doors events in the Bordeaux region, go to my article here.

Lettres du monde

The literature festival, Lettres du monde, will take place on November 17-27 with lectures and debates in different venues across Bordeaux Metropole. Events will take place in libraries, schools, bookstores, cinemas and more. You can enjoy this festival even if you don’t speak French as most of the writers participating in the lectures are coming from all over the world. For more details go here.

When: November 17-27 /Where: Different places in Bordeaux – check the program

Casse-Noisette

Nutcracker, the classic ballet masterpiece will be performed at the Arkea Arena on November 25. See details h e re.

When: November 25 /Where: 48-50 Av. Jean Alfonséa, 33270 Floirac

Brocante des Quinconces

The big brocante of Bordeaux (antique/flea market) is hosted twice a year at Place des Quinconces with 200 antique dealers, horticulturists, restaurants, and craftsmen. This fall edition of the market will take place from November 25 to December 11. Although it’s quite upscale, you can find some fine antiques and vintage pieces at a bargain price. See more info here.

When: November 25- December 11 / Where: Place des Quinconces

Strolling the different brocantes of Bordeaux is one of my favorite activities here. Check out all of the other options in my article about the 50 best things to do in Bordeaux.

The Salon Bien-être

The big Well-being Fair of Bordeaux will take place on the weekend of November 25-27 at the Parc des expositions. The exhibitors are varied and come from all facets of daily life: food, home decor, therapies, and beauty. For more info click here.

When: November 25-27 / Where: Cours Charles Bricaud 33300 Bordeaux

les Journées Gourmandes Loupiac & Foie Gras

les Journées Gourmandes Loupiac & Foie Gras is a great opportunity to get familiar with the sweet wines of Loupaic, meet the farmers of the department, and taste their gourmet production. This year the event will take place on November 26 – 27 in different chateaux and farms in the region. See the list of participants here.

When: November 26-27 / Where: Different chateaux in Loupiac-De-Cadillac

If you want to discover other places to visit in the Loupiac region, check out my video

Marché de Noël de Bordeaux

The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will open its gates between November 25 and December 25. 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 25 – December 25 / Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux

Exhibition you should check in Bordeaux this month

“Venise, la Sérénissime” and “Destination Cosmos”

You have only two months left to see the beautiful immersive exhibition at the Bassins de Lumières. The show is dedicated to the city of Venis and its cultural and architectural treasures. “Venise, la Sérénissime” will be presented until January 2nd. However, if you will be visiting the Les Bassins de Lumières in the next few weeks can also enjoy their upcoming expo “Destination Cosmos”. The exhibition will allow you to, virtually, travel among stars and different solar systems. It will be presented from October 21 to January 2nd, after 17:45. Get your tickets here.

Les Pionniers du Street art

Institut Bernard Margrez is dedicating yet another amazing exhibition to French street art. Les Pionniers du Street art will bring together the works of some of the most prominent street art artists from the 50s to the 80s. You can only visit the exhibition on weekends from October 22 to April 2nd. See more details here.

The Inner Space

The Inner Space is a journey through the creative life and work of Nanda Vigo, an Italian designer, and architect. Through immersive installations, the exhibition aims to introduce the spectators to all the aspects of her creative work from Architecture to art and design. You can see the exhibition until January 8, 2023. See more info here.

If you’re looking for more ideas for day trips in the Bordeaux region here are a few other articles you might want to read:
Day trips around Bordeaux – wine, beaches, and villages
10 day trips from Bordeaux by Public transport
A weekend in Medoc – Bordeaux wine tours
What to do and eat in Saint Emilion

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:

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

In Weekend plans

This Weekend in Bordeaux (May 10-12)

Last updated on May 9, 2019 No Comments

I must admit that this week, building the best weekend list wasn’t easy. Usually this time of the year there are much bigger outdoor events. It took me some time but I managed to collect some interesting events nonetheless. In the program for this week: Tango, music in the main Cathedral of Bordeaux, board games and plenty of sales of clothes and flowers and more. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (May 10-12).

Bordeaux Tango Festival

The 7th edition of the Bordeaux Tango Festival will take place on May 7-12. This hot festival connects Bordeaux and the place where Tango was born, Buenos Aires. A variety of activities are offered to celebrate the link between these two cities, such as dance, music, art, literature and food. Most of the events will take place in Espace St. Remi and Rocher Palmer in Cenon. See the program of the festival.

When: May 7-12 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux

Cathedral nights

cathedrale saint andre — photo by: Lost in Bordeaux

The Cathedral of Saint André in Bordeaux invites you to the Cathedral Nights events that will include two nights of musical concerts (May 10-11) and one day (May 12) of Organ music. The beautiful lighting of the Cathedral at night will make this an unforgettable event. For more information click here.

When: May 10-12 / Where: Place Pey-Berland, 33000 Bordeaux

Go to a secret event at the Festival de Caves

Festival de Caves (the Cellars festival) is an underground theater festival, gathering a small number of spectators in cellars and other underground places throughout the city. In Bordeaux, the festival will take place on May 11-25 and will run the whole month of May in different cities in Aquitaine. The festival will premiere on May 11 (at 18:30) at the Maison Cantonale. Check out the full program on the website of the event. For more details click here.

When: May 11-25 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux

Spring Garden Party

To celebrate spring you are invited to a garden party right in the center of Bordeaux. Vide Déco and Végétal Bazar will host you for four days (May 9 – 12) of brocantes and plant sales. For more details click here.

When: May 9-12 / Where: 19 Rue du Loup, 33000 Bordeaux, France

Board games Festival in Pessac

This weekend (May 11-12) Pessac will host the first board games festival at les Salles Jacques Ellul et Roger Cohé. The event will include a big escape game and many other participative games. This is a great event to attend with friends or family and it’s free. For more details click here.

When: May 11-12/ Where: place de la 5ème république

Fête du jeu de Bordeaux

Le collectif Fête du Jeu de Bordeaux invites you this Saturday (May 11) to a fun day full of activities for kids and adults at Jardin Public. You can also bring some wine and snacks as they are organizing a big picnic with all the participants. For more details click here.

When: May 11 at 17:00 / Where: Jardin Public Bordeaux

Fête des petits pois

The very nice fête des Petits pois will take place this Sunday (May 12) in Cerons. The program includes many activities and games for kids and food stands. For more details click here.

When: May 12/ Where: Cérons

Night visit at la Forteresse de Blanquefort

This Sunday a night-guided visit will take place at the beautiful forteresse de Blanquefort. This is a private property and usually opens to the public once a month so take the opportunity to visit it. To register for the night tour click here.

When: May 12 at 21:00 / Where: Rue de la Forteresse, 33290

Bordeaux Brewers Battle

This Friday (May 10) Mille et Une Bières will host the first beer Breweries Battle. The rules are simple: two breweries, 12 taps, the brewery serving the most beers in 4 hours will take the trophy. The entry is free. For more details click here.

When: May 10 at 17:00 / Where: 42 Rue Edmond Besse, 33300 Bordeaux, France

A weekend of concerts at La Guinguette chez Alriq

Another great weekend of live music is going to take place at la Guinguette chez Alriq. Every week from Thursday to Sunday, this cool tavern invites you to four evenings of concerts by artists from all over the world. For this week’s program click here.

When: May 9-12 / Where: ZA Quai des Queyries, Port Bastide, 33100 Bordeaux

Decor and craft from all over the world

This Saturday (May 11) a big sale of decor pieces from all over the world will take place at the Librairie du Contretemps in Bègles. The stands will include ceramics, small furniture, mirrors and more. For more details click here.

When: May 11, at 10:00 / Where: 5 Cours Victor Hugo, 33130 Bègles

Festival Imagin’Ere

A creative festival will take place this weekend (May 11-12) at the little village of Saint-Michel-de-Castelnau with plenty of nice workshops for kids. For more details click here.

When: May 11 -12 / Where: Saint-Michel-de-Castelnau

Swing on the streets

Swing In Kiosque is a series of improvised dance events that are taking place in Jardin Public once a month. This weekend the event will take place on May 12. Take a look at the full program of events on their facebook page.

When: May 12 at 15:00 / Where: Jardin Public, 33000 Bordeaux

The Big Plants Sale

A big plants sale will take place this weekend (May 10-12) at the Cour Malby. The prices are guaranteed to be quite low (from 2€ to 10€) so it’s a good opportunity to fill your house with winter plants. For more details click here.

When: May 10-12 / Where: 3 rue Mably, 33000 Bordeaux, France

Festins – a funky exhibition at the Bernard Magrez Cultural Institute

Yet another great exhibition is presented these days at the Institut Bernard Magrez. Festins is an exhibition by two artists, Gérard RANCINAN and Caroline GAUDRIAULT, that have been working together in the last 20 years and have now agreed to present their works at the museum. For more details click here. The exhibition will be presented at the institute until June 9.

When: March 7 – June 9 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux

If you want to leave Bordeaux for the weekend check out my posts about the best day trips from Bordeaux and the best chateaux to visit in Saint Emilion.

That’s all for this weekend! If you’re not on my email list yet, join me and get more exclusive tips about Bordeaux – subscribe here!

If you want to know what other events are taking place this month in the city, check out my post about 20 things not miss in May in Bordeaux.

Have a great weekend!

In Weekend plans

This Weekend in Bordeaux (April 26-28)

Last updated on May 2, 2019 No Comments

Now that Easter is over we can finally go back to events that don’t involve chocolate and treasure hunts. This weekend there are so many cool events all around Bordeaux, even Sunday is packed with activities you don’t want to miss. Open doors in Lalande de Pomerol, a celebration of asparagus in Etauliers, celebrating Bordeaux’s art and music on the banks of the Garonne and more in the list of things to do this weekend in and around Bordeaux (April 26-28).

To know what’s going to happen in Bordeaux in the next few weeks don’t miss my latest post about the 20 things to do in Bordeaux in May.

Open doors at Lalande de Pomerol

An open doors weekend will take place on April 27-28 at the châteaux of the Lalande de Pomerol appellation. During the weekend, 25 châteaux will offer plenty of activities such as guided tours, tastings, markets, an old cars exhibition, and many other activities. If you want to learn more about the Lalande de Pomerol appellation and its châteaux, click here. Check out all the participating châteaux and the offered activities in the picture below. For more details about the event click here.

When: April 27-28/ Where: Lalande de pomerol (see the list of chateaux in the picture

Festival Animasia

Animasia is a festival of Asian pop culture that brings together many elements like Manga, karaoke, Cosplay performances, martial arts and more. The chosen theme for the 7th edition of the festival is “China”. The event will take place this Saturday (April 27) at L’Entrepôt du Haillan. The entry is free, for more details click here.

When: April 27 / Where: 13 Rue Georges Clemenceau, 33185 Le Haillan

Fête de l’Asperge du Blayais

la Fête de l’Asperge du Blayais in Etauliers, taking place on April 27-28, is all about celebrating the greatness of asparagus. More than 8000 visitors are expected to stroll among the 50 exhibitors of local delights and enjoy the activities offered to both adults and kids (make-up sessions, mini farm, pony rides and more). See the full program.

When: April 27-28 / Where: Place principale, 33820 Etauliers

Le Bord’Osmose Festival

Le Bord’Osmose Festival celebrates Bordeaux’s art and culture. The festival will take place this Saturday (April 27) at the La Guinguette Chez Alriq, which you can visit before its big reopening on May 2. The program includes performances and concerts of local artists, exhibitions by some of the best Bordelais artists (NASTY is one of them) and plenty of great food trucks. You don’t want to miss this one!! For more details click here.

When: April 27 / Where: ZA Quai des Queyries, Port Bastide, 33100 Bordeaux

Search for beautiful antiques at the Brocante

The big brocante of Bordeaux is hosted twice a year at place des Quinconces with 200 antique dealers, horticulturists, restaurants, and craftsmen. It’s the biggest brocante event in the area and the selection is huge, from vintage home decor to paintings, antique furniture, garden accessories and more. While some items can be pricey, you can still find plenty of affordable pieces at this antique market. The merchants are very nice and are open to negotiations. The brocante is taking place from April 19 to May 5. For more info and the list of exhibitors click here.

When: April 19 – May 5 / Where: Place des Quinconces, Bordeaux

Tous au Pâquodrome – La Teste de Buch

If you’re a bit sad that Easter is over, this event is for you. A huge treasure hunt will take place this Friday (April 26) at the Hippodrome de la Teste. The event is limited to 150 kids. For more info click here.

When: April 26 / Where: 785 route de Cazaux, 33260 La Teste-de-Buch

Bal du Printemps

This Saturday (April 27) the Jardin l’Ephémère in Begles will host a big spring party. The program includes a big recycling market, games for kids, concerts and many workshops such as making a natural deodorant, how to make compost and more. See more details and the full program here.

When: April 27, starting 11:00 / Where: Jardin l’Ephémère, rue Faidherbe, Bègles

The opening of Décathlon Bègles

To celebrate the opening of Décathlon Bègles, the mega sports store invites you to a day full of free sports activities. The program includes climbing, rollerblades, yoga and artistic workshops for kids. The event will take place on Saturday (April 27). To see the full program click here.

When: April 27 / Where: Domaine De La Plantation, 33140 Villenave-d’Ornon

PIK NIK ZIK – free concerts

Pik Nik Zik is a series of free concerts organized by the Les P’tits Gratteurs association, that will take place every last Sunday of the Month from April to August. The first event will take place this Sunday (April 28) at the Quai des sports Saint-Michel and will include concerts by Naragansett, Vent d’est and the Bastards Of The Opera. For more details click here.

When: April 28, starting 17:00 / Where: Quai des sports Saint-Michel, Bordeaux

Kids Room in Halles de Bacalan

This Sunday (April 28) Halles de Bacalan will launch its kids’ room. Every Sunday (11:00 to 16:00) from now to the end of July, the market will run activities and workshops for kids with two operators, meanwhile, you can enjoy your drink and snack with friends without running after your kids. The activities are for kids over 3 years old and the price is 5 euros. For more details click here.

When: April 28 / Where: 10 esplanade de pontac, 33300 Bordeaux, France

Noche Del Pintxo

Noche del Pintxo is a fun event taking place in Halles de Bacalan every last Friday of the month. As the name indicates, this event is all about Pintxos, with ingredients coming solely from the market. This Friday (April 26) between 18:30 and 22:30 you’ll taste Pintxos and vote on the Pintxo of the month. One of the most fun things about these evenings are the prices: Pintxo = 2€, glass of wine = 2€. For more info check out the facebook page of the event.

When: April 26, 18:30- 22:30 / Where: 10 Esplanade de Pontac, 33300 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 it includes almost four hours of activities and artistic workshops for kids, so it’s almost like brunch with a babysitter :). For more details and the menu click here.

When: April 27 / Where: 19, RUE POQUELIN MOLIERE, 33000 Bordeaux, France

Swing on the streets

Swing In Kiosque is a series of improvised dance events that are taking place in Jardin Public once a month. This weekend the event will take place on April 28. Take a look at the full program of events on their facebook page.

When: April 28 at 15:00 / Where: Jardin Public, 33000 Bordeaux

Roller Night

Every last Friday of the month the AIR Roller association is organizing a fun roller night. The group meets next to Hotel de Ville at 20:30 for about an hour ride. Everyone is invited. For more details click here.

When: April 26 / Where: Place Pey-Berland, 33000 Bordeaux

Itinéraires des Photographes Voyageurs – photography festival

The 29th edition of the “traveling photographers routes” festival is taking place on April 2-28. During one month, 18 photography exhibitions will be presented at the main cultural institutions in the city, among them, the Rocher de Palmer in Cenon, the Bibliothèque Grand Parc, Espace Saint-Rémi and others. Get the full list of all artists and more info about the event here.

photography exhibition at espace saint remi bordeaux — photo by : Gaelle Abravanel

When: April 2 -28 / Where: Different locations in Bordeaux (see program)

Exposition d’art au Château Pichon Bellevue

A big art exhibition is presented these days at the Château Pichon Bellevue in Vayres. The exhibition hosts four artists: Carole Collaudin (designer), Chantal Druet (photographer), Caroline Escaffit (painter) and Katrine Gaultier (sculptor). For more details click here.

When: until April 30 / Where: 23 Avenue du stade, 33870 Vayres

Last chance to see the Sous les mers, au-delà de l’image exhibtion

“Sous les mers, au-delà de l’image” is a photography exhibition presented at the new Musee de la Mer et de la Marine until April 30. The expo consists of more than 100 photographs by Paul Nicklen and David Doubilet, two National Géographic photographers. Check out more info on the site of the museum.

When: Until April 30 / Where: 89 rue des étrangers, 33300 Bordeaux

If it’s your first time in Bordeaux don’t miss my full guide to a weekend in Bordeaux. Also, don’t forget to check out my list of things to do in May if you want to be up to date on all the events in the Bordeaux area.

That’s all for this weekend! If you’re not on my email list yet, join me and get more exclusive tips about Bordeaux – subscribe here!

In Bordeaux Monthly

10 things to do in Bordeaux in December 2018

Last updated on December 28, 2018 2 Comments

This month is all about Christmas, there’s no way to escape it! Markets, photo shoots with Santa Claus and plenty of creative people trying to sell us original Christmas gifts. I admit that in this list of 10 things you don’t want to miss in December in Bordeaux area, Christmas is included several times. But I did try hard to offer other fun activities and places to visit this month, so that you won’t feel like you’re in a Christmas horror movie 🙂 Now go and check my list of 10 things to do in Bordeaux in December 2018. Hope you’ll find it useful!

Celebrate Christmas

The Christmas season is officially on in Bordeaux and you have plenty of great markets to attend this month! The official Marché de Noël de Bordeaux with all the traditional stands and a lot of vin chaud (hot wine) opened its gates a few days ago. If its your first Christmas in France, the traditional Christmas market is a must! However if you feel that you’ve seen it too many times try one of the smaller markets where all the local artists and craftsmen present their stuff. I have made a whole list of Christmas markets in Bordeaux so check it out.

Visit the new covered market in Talence

Finally we have a new place to get drunk on rainy days!! Biltoki, the company that brought us the Halle de Bacalan are opening another market in Bordeaux metropolitan, this time in Talence. In the last few months they have been presenting the merchants that are going to occupy the stands of the market and all of them look very promising. The market will open with a 3 days inauguration party on December 7th. For more info click here.

When: Opening party on December 7
Where: Place Alcala de Henares, Talence 33400

Take your kids to Cirque Pardi!

Cirque Pardi! is a modern circus whose shows combine a lot of dance and humor and are very entertaining for both kids and adults. This year they are coming back to Bordeaux for the second time with their show BorderLand, which gained a great success on their last visit here in 2015. Cirque Pardi! will perform 15 shows from November 30 to December 22. The temporary circus will be located on Quai de queyries, just next to Darwin. For all the dates and tickets click here.

When: November 30- December 22
Where: 86 quai des Queyries, 33 100 BORDEAUX

Taste the best French wines

This month you have the chance to taste all the best French wines in one place at an event called “Bordeaux Tasting”. During two days (December 15-16) more than a hundred wine houses from Bordeaux area and other regions in France like Bourgogne, Rhône, Alsace and Loire will be there to present their best wines. The tasting will take places in six different sites around Place de la Bourse:
– Palais de la Bourse : les grands bordeaux / les cognacs / les grands invités
– Le Gabriel : Pomerol Séduction
– La Bulle : les bordeaux / bordeaux supérieur
– Le Musée national des Douanes : les grands étrangers
– l’Espace Saint-Rémi : les champagnes
– la Maison Darnozan : l’espace des vins bio

Tickets are 23-27€ depending on the day. For more details click here.

When: December 15-16
Where: Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux

Interactive special effects exhibition

Do you ever wonder how the special effects you see in movies are made? A new exhibition for kids (older than 6 yo) by the name of “Effets speciaux” is taking place these days in Cap Science. It’s an interactive exhibition that allows you to see the behind the scenes of the cinema world and experiment with different especial effects like the green screen. Entry range from 6.5€ to 9€ and free for kids under 5 years old. For more info click here.

When: until August 26
Where: Hangar 20 quai Bacalan, 33000 BORDEAUX

Go ice skating

an open air ice skating rink during Christmas time is quite a tradition in many French cities. Until a couple of years ago Bordeaux also used to have one on place Pey Berland. However, after the city decided that setting up the rink only for a few weeks is too expensive and not environmentally friendly, this tradition was canceled. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ice skating during Christmas time! La Patinoire de Mériadeck will open its covered ice skating rink in a Christmas spirit with Santa Claus, games, dance and more.

When: until January 1st
Where: 95 cours du Maréchal Juin 33000 Bordeaux

Search for beautiful antiques at the Brocante

The big brocante of Bordeaux is hosted twice a year at place des Quinconces with 200 antique dealers, horticulturists, restaurants and craftsmen. It’s the biggest brocante event in the area and the selection is huge, from vintage home decor, to paintings, antique furniture, garden accessories and more. 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 9. For more info and the list of exhibitors click here.

When: until December 9
Where: Place des Quinconces

Go to a classical music concert

If you need a more classic vibe on Christmas, attend the special Christmas concert by the National Orchestra of Bordeaux at the Auditorium of Bordeaux. Concert de Noël de Radio Classique, conducted by Paul Daniel will take place during three nights prior to Christmas, on December 20, 21 and 23. For the tickets click here.

When: December 20,21,23
Where: Auditorium de Bordeaux, 9 cours Georges Clemenceau, 33000 BORDEAUX

Discover Christmas markets in Gironde

Christmas is a great opportunity to visit other beautiful towns in Gironde in a more festive atmosphere. Most towns have their own Christmas markets and events, but I’ll just give you the noticeable ones:

Arcachon – The official Christmas market and accompanied activities will take place from December 15 to January 6, with an open ice skating rink on place Thiers. For more info click here.

Saint Emilion – A Christmas market will take place on December 8 at the l’UDP de Saint-Emilion (8 Haut Gravet, 33330 Saint-Émilion). For more info click here.

Cadillac – a Christmas market with creative workshops and activities for kids will take place December 15-16 on place de la République. For more info click here.

Celebrate new years eve on a boat

If you’re staying in Bordeaux on December 31 and looking for a place to celebrate new years eve, here’s an idea for you.. The Iboat in the Bassins à flot neighborhood is one of the coolest venues for concerts and parties in Bordeaux, and its new years celebrations have become a tradition. This year the theme of the electronic party is heaven and the dress code should be inspired by nature (you can take that wherever you want 🙂 ). Tickets are 29€ at the entrance, 25€ on pre sale or 18€ if you come before midnight. For more details click here.

When: December 31
Where: quai Armand Lalande, 33300 Bordeaux

These are my suggestions for things to do in Bordeaux in December 2018. Hope it’ll help you discover this city and to never be bored, even if you don’t love Christmas 🙂 If you like this post it would make me very happy if you share it with your friends on social media 🙂

If you want more of these ideas and updates about new places in Bordeaux, join my newsletter where I share extra info about exhibitions in Bordeaux, great coffee places, new markets and anything else you need to know to enjoy Bordeaux. You can subscribe here.

Enjoy December in Bordeaux 🙂

Ira

In Weekend plans

Weekend Plans in Bordeaux (November 30- December 2)

Last updated on December 3, 2018 No Comments

This weekend the Christmas celebrations will officially start in Bordeaux with the inauguration of the Marché de Noël de Bordeaux and a few other alternative markets across the city. If you want to learn about the other markets taking place this month in Bordeaux, check out my top 10 Christmas markets list. But of course we’re not only about Christmas here, there are plenty of other events like the rum festival, the Well being Salon, a circus, the big Brocante of Bordeaux and more.

This is the list of things to do this weekend in and around Bordeaux (November 30 – December 2)

Rum Festival

This festival is the first big event in Bordeaux that is entirely dedicated to rum. While Bordeaux is mostly known for its wine, rum too has a long history in the city. The festival that will take place at La Grande Poste this weekend (December 1-2) celebrates the Bordelaise rum producers and merchants. Different masterclasses will take place during the festival, where you can learn to properly taste rum, match rum with food, mix rum cocktails and more. For more details and tickets click here.

If you want to learn more about the rum history of Bordeaux check out this super interesting post by Bordeaux Expat.

When: December 1-2
Where: 7 rue du palais gallien, 33000 Bordeaux

Marché de Noël de Bordeaux

The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will open its gates between November 30 and December 30. 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 30 – December 30 from 10:30 to 21:30
Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux

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 1-2. Come to the Bassins to discover its oysters and celebrate Christmas with concerts and plenty of activities. The program will also include cooking lessons from six big chefs, a music concert, a flash-mob dance, exhibitions, fireworks and more. For more info click here and for the full program here.

When: December 1-2
Where: Port Ostreicole, 33510 Andernos-les-Bains

The Bassins a Flot Christmas Weekend

If you look for alternatives for the traditional Christmas market head north to the Bassins a flot. This weekend (December 1-2) all the cool places in this neighborhood will host Christmas related events. Among the participating places are: The Garage Moderne, Kfe des Familles, Les Vivres de l’Art, the IBOAT (see more info below), Musée Mer Marine Bordeaux and more. For all the details check out the Facebook page of the event.

When: December 1-2
Where: Different locations in Bacalan

Iboat – Christmas market on a boat

Le Super Marché de Noël is one of the coolest Christmas markets in Bordeaux. The Iboat is an old ferry that nowadays serves as a concert venue, frequently hosting funky events such as this one. The Iboat Christmas market is hosting 50 French creators and designers of textile, jewelry, kids toys, decorations and more. The market will also include a traditional touch such as food stands, hot wine and photo sessions with Père Noël (Santa Claus). You can see the full list of stands here. The event is free and will take place on December 1-2 from 11:00 to 19:00. For more info click here.

When: December 1-2
Where: quai Armand Lalande, 33300 Bordeaux

International Animation Films Festival

Les Nuits Magiques is an annual international festival of animation movies taking place at “Le Festival” cinema in Begles from November 28 to December 9. This is the 28th 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 the other details you need here.

When: November 28 – December 9
Where: 151 Boulevard ALBERT 1er, 33130 Bègles

Brocante des Quinconces

The big brocante of Bordeaux is hosted twice a year at place des Quinconces with 200 antique dealers, horticulturists, restaurants and craftsmen. This fall edition of the brocante will take place from November 23 to December 9. Although it’s quite upscale, you can find some fine antiques and vintage pieces at a bargain price. For more info and the list of exhibitors check out the website of the event.

When: November 23- December 9
Where: Place des Quinconces

The Salon Bien-être

The big Well-being Fair of Bordeaux will take place this weekend (November 31- December 2) at the Palais des Congrès. The event has 120 stands and 65 conferences all focused on different ways of improving the quality of life. The exhibitors are varied and come from all aspects of daily life: food, home decor, therapies and beauty. For more info click here.

When: November 31- December 2
Where: Palais des Congrès, Cours J.-G. Domergue.33300 BORDEAUX

Bonjour Sneakers

Great news for sneakers addicts! This Sunday (December 2) a huge event all dedicated to sneakers will take place in Hangar 14. If you were looking for a special pair of sneakers or some cool accessories that goes with them, this is the event for you! Tickets are 13 euros and you can purchase them here. For more info click here.

When: December 2, 11:00-19:00
Where: 173 Quai des Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux, France

New children’s book presentation

If you’re looking for a kids friendly activity in the center of Bordeaux, this is a nice one. Oriana Villalon is a young author who just published a beautiful kids book called “Lulu under the moon”. This Saturday (December 1) the painter Jean-Pierre Beyries will host her and the translator Pamela Ortega Joa (both living in Bordeaux) for a fun afternoon where they will present the book. If you’re looking for a nice Christmas gift, a beautiful book signed by the author could be a nice idea. See more details here.

When: December 1, at 14:00
Where: 43 Rue Sainte-Colombe, 33000 Bordeaux, France

Open Doors in the Chateaux of Pessac-Léognan

I know I’ve been writing quite a lot about Open doors at different Chateaux lately, but this week it’s really close to Bordeaux and its a great wine so I thought you wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity. This weekend (December 1-2) l’Appellation Pessac-Léognan 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.

When: December 1-2
Where: Bordeaux metropole (Check out the link above for the full list of events).

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 the museums in Bordeaux that you can visit for free this Sunday.

L’Arche de Noël – creators market

L’Arche de Noël is a creators market taking place in the Chartrons neighborhood every weekend until Christmas (December 22-23 is the last event). Each week a group of local talented craftsmen and artists will present their original creations. This weekend (December 1-2) the stands will include jewelry, kids clothes, graphic designs, furniture and more.

See more details here.

When: December 1-2
Where: 23 Rue Minvielle, 33000 Bordeaux

Cirque Pardi! is Coming Back

When: November 30- December 22
Where: 86 quai des Queyries, 33 100 BORDEAUX

Cirque de Noël de Bordeaux

If you’re looking for a family activity, the Christmas circus of Bordeaux will take place between December 1 and January 6. This impressive spectacle for kids and adults has more than 30 artists from 15 different countries. The shows will take place at the Hippodrome de Bordeaux in Le Bouscat. For tickets and more info click here.

When: December 1-January 6
Where: 8 Avenue de l’Hippodrome, 33110 Le Bouscat

marché du carnet de voyage

A very inspiring event for travelers will take place this weekend (December 1-2) in Marché des Douves. Marché du carnet de voyage is a traveling literature event which allows you to travel through words into different places and cultures. Throughout the weekend interesting meetings with take place with writers, illustrators, cartoonists and travelers who crossed the world and came back with fascinating stories. For more details click here.

When: December 1-2
Where: Halle des Douves, 4 rue des Douves, 33000 BORDEAUX

Le Grand Bazar des Créateurs

The Garage Modere in the Bacalan district will hold a very fun and creative event this weekend (December 1-2) called the Big Creators market. Around 20 local craftsmen and creators of clothing, jewelry, leather goods, accessories, sewing and photography, will offer their original products for sale. The event is free, for more details click here.

When: December 1-2
Where: 1 rue des Etrangers, 33300 Bordeaux

Union Saint-Jean Xmas Market

Here’s one more Christmas market that didn’t make it to my list. The Union Saint-Jean organizes its own market this year, that will include stands of local creators, a vintage clothing sale, a dj set, a relaxation area (with massages), a workshop to create your own little Christmas tree, a food truck and a bar. The event will take place this Saturday (December 1), for more details click here.

When: December 1
Where: 97, rue Malbec, 33800 Bordeaux, France

That’s it for this week my friends! if I made your weekend happier with some funky and interesting events, help this site thrive and share the post on facebook, tweeter or pinterest 🙂

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Have a great weekend!

In Weekend plans

Weekend Plans in Bordeaux (November 23-25)

Last updated on November 26, 2018 No Comments

My brocante loving readers will be very happy to know that the big brocante of Bordeaux (Brocante des Quinconces) starts this Friday. If antiques is not your thing, there’s a huge variety of other events such as the literature, the history and the zero waste festivals along with the open doors of the Bordeaux galleries, all happening this weekend in and around Bordeaux. We start feeling the Christmas spirit with a few creators markets opening up allowing you to start looking for Christmas gifts. Keep an eye on the blog in the next few days as I am about to publish a little guide to Christmas markets in our region. If you need some lighter weekend plans in Bordeaux there are some wine, food and music related events as well :). This is the list of things to do this weekend in the Bordeaux area (November 23-25):

Brocante des Quinconces

When: November 23- December 9
Where: Place des Quinconces

Festival Zéro Déchets Zéro Gaspi (ZZ)

Festival ZZ is a an event that aims to make you reflect on the changes you can make in your life to reduce your waste to the minimum level. Although the topic is serious, the event has a very fun and festive atmosphere: workshops, games, concerts, exhibitions, a fashion show, drones demonstrations, cooking competitions and more. This event is both fun and important for kids and adults. Festival ZZ will take place at at Hangar 14 (Quai des Chartrons) on November 23-24.

When: November 23-24
Where: 173 Quai des Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux,

Bordeaux galleries weekend

This weekend (November 23-25), 13 galleries in Bordeaux will open their doors to the public and present the best contemporary art Bordeaux has to offer. The artists come from a variety of disciplines which will allow you to explore new forms of art. You can see the map of all the participating galleries here. For more info about the event, click here.

When: November 23-25, from 14:00 to 19:00
Where: see the map here.

International History films festival

The theme of the 29th edition of the Festival international du film d’histoire of Pessac, taking place November 19-26 is “1918-1939 La drôle de paix” (the funny peace). The rich program of the festival includes debates and lectures with several historians as guests and screenings of more than a 100 movies, from classics to works of heritage, rare or unpublished films, previews, fiction and documentaries. For more info and the full program click here and for ticket prices click here.

When: November 19-26
Where: several venues in Pessac center – check out the end of the program

les Journées Gourmandes Loupiac & Foie Gras

In the last twenty years Loupiac has been hosting the Loupiac & Foie Gras event that allows people to get familiar with the sweet wines of Loupaic and meet the farmers of the department and taste their gourmet production. On the 21st edition of the festival, that will take place on November 24-25, 18 chateaux will open their door to the public and will offer plenty of activities such as workshops, guided tours, tastings, exhibitions and more. On Saturday evening a big gourmet cocktail event will be hosted by two chefs, Christophe Girardot (a Michelin star chef) and Solenn Lemonnier,
for reservations contact: 0556626271/ infos@vins-loupiac.com . For more details about the festival click here and here.

When: November 24-25
Where: Different chateaux in Loupiac-De-Cadilla

Lettres du monde

The literature festival, Lettres du monde, is taking place on November 16-25 with lectures and debates in different venues across Bordeaux Metropole. Events will take place in libraries, schools, book stores, cinemas and others.
You can enjoy this festival even if you don’t speak French as most of the writers participating in the lectures are coming from all over the world, from Yemen, Syria, Spain, Haiti and more. For the full program click here and for more details here.

When: November 16-25
Where: Different places in Bordeaux – check the program

Emmaüs Salon in Darwin

This weekend (November 24-25) Darwin invites you to the 7th 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: November 24-25, from 10:00 to 18:00
Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux,

Kaléidoscope – Street art exhibition

One of my favorite art venues in Bordeaux, l’Institut Culturel Bernard Magrez has finally opened a new street art exhibition. The Kaléidoscope exhibition is all about feminine art, hosting nine female street artists to present their works in a genre that is usually considered more masculine. The exhibition will be presented until February 17. For more info click here .

When: until February 17
Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux

Geese Festival

Every winter more than 50,000 gees find refuge in the Arcachon area. The gees festival (Festival de la Bernache), taking place on November 17- 25, gives you a unique opportunity to discover this species in a festive atmosphere. In the program: boat trips, guided tours, conferences, concerts, workshops on comics creation, photo exhibition and more. The activities of the festival will be held in different places on the Bassin, among them: Gujan-Mestras, Andernos-les-Bains, Arès, Lanton, Arcachon, La Teste-de-Buch and more. Don’t forget to reserve a spot for the different activities here. For more info click here.

<span data-mce-type="bookmark" style="display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;" class="mce_SELRES_start"></span></p> <h6><b>When</b>: November 17-25<br /> <b>Where: </b>Different places on the Bassin d’Arcachon</h6> <div class="et_pb_text et_pb_module et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_left et_pb_text_0"> <div class="et_pb_text_inner"> <h2 id="seo_h1_tag" class="_5gmx" data-testid="event-permalink-event-name"><strong>L’Arche de Noël – creators market</strong></h2> <p id="seo_h1_tag" class="_5gmx" data-testid="event-permalink-event-name">L’Arche de Noël is a creators market taking place in the Chartrons neighborhood every weekend until Christmas (December 22-23 is the last event). Each week a group of local talented craftsmen and artists will present their original creations. This weekend (<b><i>November 24-25</i></b>) the stands will include jewelry, kids toys and clothes, textiles, bags and more.</p> <p data-testid="event-permalink-event-name">See more details <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/990036051179091/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> </div> </div> <h6><b>When</b>: November 24-25<br /> <b>Where:</b> 23 Rue Minvielle, 33000 Bordeaux</h6> <h2 id="seo_h1_tag" class="_5gmx" data-testid="event-permalink-event-name"><strong>Salon de la Création</strong></h2> <p>The Salon de la Création with 50 creative exhibitors will take place this weekend (<em><strong>November 23-25</strong></em>) in l’Emritage-Compostelle in le Bouscat. A perfect event for early Christmas gifts shopping. For more info click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2134889639884068/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <h6><b>When</b>: November 23-25<br /> <b>Where:</b> l’Emritage-Compostelle, 10 rue Bertrand Hauret, 33110 Le Bouscat</h6> <h2><strong>Foire Sainte-Catherine de Podensac</strong></h2> <p>The Sainte-Catherine fair has become a tradition in the small town of Podensac. This Sunday (<em><strong>November 25</strong></em>) Podnsac invites you to celebrate with them at an event full of stands, great food, msuic and activities for kids. For more info click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1068826303294894/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here.</a></p> <p><iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0uz6rveqxvI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen">

When: November 25
Where: the center of Podensac

Marché des producteurs au Château Fombrauge

Château Fombrauge invites you to its first local products market that will take place this Saturday (November 24). The event includes meetings with local producers, tastings and a guided visit in the chateau. The event is free but registration is requited for the guided tour (05 57 26 38 34). For more info about the participating stands click here.

When: November 23 (9:00-14:00)
Where: 1 Fombrauge, 33330 Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes

Jazz weekends at the Caillou

This is the last month of the Fall program at the Caillou Jazz bar in Jardin Botanique where different musicians and groups take the stage every weekend. This weekend Roger Biwandu will perform on both Friday (November 23) and Saturday (November 24).

When: Noevmber 23-24
Where: Le Caillou du Jardin Botanique, Esplanade Linné, 33000 Bordeaux

Swing Party

A swing concert and party will take place this Friday (November 23) at the Quartier Libre club in Saint Michel. It’ll start with a swing lesson at 20:00 and will continue with a concert of Confit de Swing. The entry is free and a chic outfit is obligatory :). For more info click here.

When: November 23, at 20:00
Where:30 rue des Vignes, 33800 Bordeaux

Perry Gordon au Café Brun

The American Jazz musician, Perry Gordon, accompanied by his group, will perform in Café Brun this Sunday (November 25) at 18:00. For more details click here.

When: November 25 at 18:00
Where: 45 Rue Saint-Rémi, 33000 Bordeaux,

That’s it for this week! Hope there’s enough events on this list to fill your weekend with plenty of interesting stuff! If you have other suggestions and events you know about, please write a comment below! And I’d really be happy if you share this post with your friends on social media 🙂

For those subscribed to my newsletter, I haven’t been very active there lately, but starting next week I will be sending some of my discoveries in Bordeaux directly by mail only to my email subscribers! So if you aren’t subscribed to my newsletter yet do it now, and get some great recommendations about places to visit in Bordeaux.

Have a great week!

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brocante

Free things you can do all year long in Bordeaux

Stroll the historic city

Darwin – hipster paradise

Free museums Sunday

Free galleries in Bordeaux

Take a city bike

See Bordeaux’s most ancient monument

Bordeaux churches

Free events

Drink at the Capucins Market

Discover the street art

Brocante in Saint Michel

Discover the heritage and nature of Bordeaux by foot

What to do for free in Bordeaux during the summer

Go to a free music concert

Learn how to dance

Have a picnic at the Park

Listen to music and dance at la Guingette chez Alriq

Go to one of the beaches in the city

Fun stuff to do (almost) for free with kids in Bordeaux

Chill at the Miroir d’eau

Go to the pool

Skateboarding on the Quai

Enjoy the free scenery of the South of Gironde

Discover the beautiful châteaux of the Medoc region

Go to one of Bordeaux’s beautiful beaches

Visit medieval villages

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Basilique Saint Michel

See Bordeaux from la Flèche Saint-Michel

The Saint Michel Market

When: Marché Royal: Saturdays 7am to 1pm; Marché Neuf:Mondays 7am to 1pm Place Canteloup et Meynard – 33800 Bordeaux

Browsing for Antiques

Les Brocanteurs du Passage

Address: 15 place Canteloup, 33800 Bordeaux

Les Hangars

Address: 18 – 22 Rue des Allamandiers, 33800 Bordeaux

Sunday flea market

When: Sundays 7am to 2pm Place Canteloup et Meynard – 33800 Bordeaux

Eat and shop at La Mère Michel

Address: 22 Place Meynard, 33000 Bordeaux

Drink mint tea

Address: 27 Place Meynard, 33000 Bordeaux

Buy pastries at la Boulangerie

Address: 251 rue des Faures, 33000 Bordeaux

Buy Mediterranean spices

The cafés:

Visit the Capucins market

Have a picnic in Parc des Sports

See an expo in the Silicon gallery

Address: 33 rue Leyteire, 33000

Shop for second hand clothing

Address: 9 rue des Faures, 33000

Dinner and concert at Quartier libre

Address: 30 Rue des Vignes, 33000

Discover rue Camille Sauvageau

The best events in April in Bordeaux and its surroundings

Open doors in Médoc

Bordeaux Electronic Week-end

Grande Brocante Antiquites À Rauzan

Treasure Hunt on Pâques Weekend

Territoires Sauvages – Nature festival

Promenade en Scène!

The Blaye Spring Wine Festival

Week-end des Vins Vivants

BLIB – the beer festival of Bordeaux

Search for beautiful antiques at the Brocante

Open doors at Lalande de Pomerol

Violette Sauvage X Madeingreen

Salon Nautique d’Arcachon

Open doors in Saint-Emilion

Tauzia Fête les Jardins

Fete de la Lamproie

Fête de l’Asperge du Blayais

Big events in other parts of the SW of France

Foire au Jambon à Bayonne

Châteaux En Fête

Winestock Festival

Année Du Dessin En Dordogne

When: Marché Royal: Saturdays 7am to 1pm; Marché Neuf:Mondays 7am to 1pm
Place Canteloup et Meynard – 33800 Bordeaux

When: Sundays 7am to 2pm
Place Canteloup et Meynard – 33800 Bordeaux