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23 free things to do in Bordeaux

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summer parties in bordeaux

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

Darwin Bordeaux
Darwin Bordeaux

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

Musee des beaux arts in Bordeaux
Musee des beaux arts in Bordeaux

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

biking-in-Bordeaux

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

Palais Galien
Palais Galien

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 

Dansons sur les quais
learn how to dance with Dansons sur les quais

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

chateau peixotto
chateau peixotto in Talence

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 

mirior-deau-bordeaux-with-kids

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
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 

Rions
Rions

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

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What to do in Bordeaux in March

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What to do in Bordeaux and Gironde in March

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

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

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

Piano Festival 

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

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

Sarlat en Périgord Fest’oie (Goose Festival)

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

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

South Town Jazz Festival 

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

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.

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

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20 things to do in Bordeaux in May

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quai of Bordeaux

There are several important events related to wine about to take place this May in Bordeaux. One of them is the Open doors in the chateaux of Saint Emilion, a great opportunity to visit this magical village. We all know, however, that Bordeaux is not all about wine and so this month we’ll also have several festivals of arts, dance, and circus as well as cultural events like the European museums night. All you have to do to get up-to-date about things to do in Bordeaux this May is to keep on reading…

Open doors in Saint-Emilion

An open door weekend will take place on May 4-5 in Saint Emilion where 81 wine producers will open their chateaux to the public. The weekend will include many activities such as wine tastings, visits to the chateaux, games for kids and bike rides. Check out the full program for the participating châteaux, the activities and the wine tasting proposed for that weekend – here.

When: May 4-5 / Where: different locations around Saint Emilion

The opening of La Guinguette chez Alriq

The best place for sunny weekends in Bordeaux is about to reopen for their summer season. La Guinguette chez Alriq is a taverne at the la Bastide neighborhood, on the rive droite of the Garonne. On a sunny day you can enjoy a cold beer, nice food and daily concerts with a magnificent view of the Garonne. The opening night will take place on May 2 with a concert of Bojan Krstic. See the full program for the weekend here.


La Guinguette chez Alriq
When: Starting May 2 / Where: ZA Quai des Queyries, Port Bastide, 33100 Bordeaux

Let your kids discover the art of circus at the Jubil’à Jongle festival

The 13th edition of the festival will start with an inauguration evening on May 3, which will include magic and fire shows, different activities for kids and even a rock concert. On the second day of the festival (May 4), you will discover the art of circus and street entertainment through shows of Juggling, magic, games and introductory workshops. The festival will take place at the Parc de Fongravey in Blanquefort. For more info click here.

When: May 3-4 / Where: 4 Parc de Fongravey in Blanquefort

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. The brocante started on April 19 and will continue until May 5. For more info and the list of exhibitors click here.

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

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 will be offered to celebrate the link between these two cities, such as dance, music, art, literature and even 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

Vinexpo Bordeaux

Vinexpo is one of the most famous wine-related events in Bordeaux, intended for professionals in the wine world. The program includes master classes, wine tastings, conferences, and networking events. The fair will take place at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux on May 13-16. For the full program and more details click here and for tickets click here.

When: May 13-16 / Where:  Cours Jules Ladoumègue, 33000 Bordeaux, France

European Museums Night

On May 18 some of the best museums and cultural establishments in Bordeaux will open their doors to the public with free exhibitions and activities. This year the event will have a 90’s vibe to it and the organizers encourage you to dress up in a 90’s style: so pull out your high jeans and too colorful clothes, you know the drill :). Besides exhibitions, the museums will host lots of kids friendly activities, concerts and more. See the full list of museums and events here.

When: May 18 – 6pm until midnight / Where: Different museums around the metropole

Big Bang – Air and Space Festival

The Big Bang festival in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles will take place on May 14-18. This year the cultural and scientific festival is dedicated to the moon. The program includes art and science exhibitions, conferences, films, concerts and much more. Check out the full program of the event.

When:  May 14-18 / Where: Le Carré des Jalles, Place de la République, 33160 Saint-Medard-En-Jalles

Le Marché des créateurs

The 29th edition of the creators market (Marché des créateurs) will take place on May 18-19 at Place Camille Jullian (next to Utopia cinema). This market proposes a great variety of items giving everyone a chance to find something fitting their tastes and budget: clothes, accessories, jewelry, decorations, kids accessories, toys and more.  For more details check out the facebook page of the event.

When: May 18- 19 / Where:  Place Camille Jullian, 33000

Belem, the famous French vessel arrives to Bordeaux

Belem, the oldest big French vessel (launched in 1896, 51 meters long) will arrive in Bordeaux for five days and will be open to the public. The beautiful ship, classified as a historic monument, will dock at Quai Richelieu on May 16-20. Follow the facebook page of Belem for updates about the hours you can visit the vessel.

When: May 16-20 / Where: Ponton d’Honneur, Quai Richelieu, 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 premier 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

Festival Echappée Belle in Blanquefort

The Echappée Belle festival is a great entertaining event for the whole family merging theater, dance, circus and other forms of art. The festival will take place from May 23-26 in Blanquefort, starting in Parc Majolan and continuing for the weekend in Parc de Fongravey.  See the full program here.

When: May 23-26 / Where: Different locations in Blanquefort (see the program)

Grand Crus Weekend

One of the most anticipated events in Bordeaux’s wine world is the Grand Crus Weekend that will take place on May 23-26. This event, organized by the Union des Grands Crus (the regional wine classification), aims to create an international meeting of wine lovers. The highlights of this weekend will include tasting wines from over 110 Grand Crus and meeting different chateaux owners as part of pre-organized dinners in the châteaux. Read more about the event and the full program here.

When: May 24-26 / Where: many locations in Gironde, see the program

Take your kids to an  inflatable water park in Biscarrosse

The huge inflatable water park in Biscarrosse (about an hour drive from Bordeaux) is about to reopen for the Summer at the beginning of May. The AquaPark is equipped with water ziplines, several diving boards of different heights, trampolines, catapults, climbing walls, slides and more. The park is accessible to kids over 4 years old. For more details and tickets click here.

Where: Port Maguide, 18 Chemin de Maguide, 40600 Biscarrosse

If you need more ideas of activities with kids check out my post about 30 things to do with kids in Bordeaux.

Enjoy a cocktail party on the Iboat

The Iboat, mostly known as a concert venue, is a three-level ferry spanning 687m2, anchored to one of the docks of Bassins a flot. One of the special features of the place is the Upper deck where events and exhibitions are held during the evenings. Every Wednesday at 19:00 the Iboat hosts the SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE, an after-work party with very creative cocktails :).  For this and other events taking place at the Iboat click here.

Where: bassin a flot n°1 – Quai Armand Lalande

To discover more cool places in Bacalan, read my post about the best things to do in the North of Bordeaux.

Quatre tendances – Dance show

Quatre tendances is a collaboration between several ballets groups and choreographers. Like every two years,  Quatre tendances will take the stage for several nights to perform a number of contemporary choreographies. This year the national ballet of Bordeaux will collaborate with Ballet Preljocaj – CCN d’Aix-en-Provence, le Malandain Ballet Biarritz and le CCN-Ballet de l’Opéra National du Rhin. Four choreographies will be performed during nine shows, taking place on May 22-31. For more details and tickets click here.

When: May 22-31 / Where: Grand Théâtre, place de la Comédie, 33000 BORDEAUX

Last chance to see the D’un soleil à l’autre exhibition

In the D’un soleil à l’autre exhibition artists present their poetic journey in space. Aspects like elastic distances, weightlessness, dazzling, infinitely large landscapes and incandescent materials are beautifully translated into contemporary digital art. La Base sous marine is known for the phenomenal use of their unique space for art, so don’t miss this one. The exhibition will be presented at the museum until May 19. For more info click here.

When: March 9 – May 19 / Where:Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33000 Bordeaux

When art and design take on glass

A new temporary exhibition was inaugurated at the Cité du Vin in March. The exhibition beautifully combines the wine and glass worlds. It includes the works of several glass designers who all modified and reinvented wine glasses and bottles. For more details click here.

When: March 15 – June 30 / Where: Esplanade de Pontac, 134 quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux

Les chōchin du Japon- exhibition

This is the last chance to see the Les chōchin du Japon exhibition at the Musée des art décoratifs that is dedicated to special lamps that were declared a “traditional craft knowledge” in Japan. The exhibition will be presented at the museum until May 19. For more info click here.

When: until May 19 / Where: Musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design, 39 rue Bouffard, 33000 Bordeaux

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’re visiting Bordeaux for one of the wine events, be sure to check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux, that will get you familiar with all the “must” places to visits in Bordeaux. Also, if you have more days to spend in our beautiful region, check out my article about the best day trips from Bordeaux.

Need more ideas for things to do in and around Bordeaux? you should definitely join my newsletter where I share a lot of info about the area – sign up here.

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This Weekend in Bordeaux (May 10-12)

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Place de la comedie bordeaux

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!

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This Weekend in Bordeaux (February 8-10)

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weekend in bordeaux

We have a great weekend full of events and this time your Sunday is going to be especially busy. We have some big events like the Chocolate fair and the Jumping International de Bordeaux but also plenty of nice smaller events for kids and adults. Don’t miss two beautiful exhibitions I recommend for this weekend and if you’re in a traveling mood, don’t miss the big Playmobile in Mios. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (February 8-10).

Jumping international de Bordeaux

Jumping International de Bordeaux is a big riding equestrian event that includes competitions, spectacles and a fun fair. The event takes place on February 7 -10 in Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux. More than 250 exhibitors will present their horses at the event which will include activities such as the Jumping world cup, amateurs competition, Equine Health Forum, a show of Iberian horses and more. For more details click here.

When: February 7-10 / Where:  Cours Jules Ladoumegue, 33300 Bordeaux

Chocolate Festival in Jardin Botanique

This tasty 10 days fair, organized by Fédération Autonome des Métiers Gourmands, will take place at the Jardin Botanique on February 8-17. This year the theme is a vegetable garden and you’ll discover the beautiful sculptures made by the chocolatiers for the national chocolate competition of Bordeaux. Some of the best Bordeaux chocolatiers will present and sell their works at the fair. For the full program click here.

When: February 8-17 / Where:  Jardin Botanique Bordeaux-Bastide, Esplanade Linné, 33100 BORDEAUX

Play Mios – Playmobile day

A Playmobil exhibition will take place this Saturday (February 9) in Mios. The event will include more than 50 exhibitors from all over the Bassin d’Arcachon presenting more than 43,000 Playmobil figures. The exhibition will include 17 dioramas of different themes such as Game of Thrones, Astérix and Star Wars. The program also includes nice activities for the little ones. For more info click here.

When: February 9 / Where:  Salle polyvalente Marc Daurys, Place Dominique Mayonnade, 33380 Mios

Green Market au Château des Tours, Bouscat

A green market will take place this Saturday (February 9) in Château des Tours in le Bouscat. The market will host local producers of organic fruit and vegetables, patisserie, natural cosmetics and more. Check out the full list of merchants here. The entry is free.

When: February 9, from 10:30  / Where:  246 Avenue de la Libération Charles de Gaulle, 33110 Le Bouscat

Grande fête enfantine à Pessac

La grande fête Enfantine is coming back this Sunday (February 10) with plenty of activities for kids. The program includes music, snacks, makeup sessions and many other surprises. The event will take place at Parc Cazalet in Pessac. For more details click here.

When: February 10, 14:00- 18:00  / Where:  Parc Cazalet, Avenue de Beutre, 33610 Pessac, France

Braderie d’Hiver

Every winter the main streets of Bordeaux are getting filled with stands of clothes, shoes, toys, house supplies and more – this is the Bordeaux winter Braderie. If you’re in town for winter sales take the opportunity to check out the stands of more than 250 merchants on rue Porte Dijeaux, rue Sainte Catherine and rue des Trois Conils. The Braderie will take place on February 6-8.

When: February 6-8 / Where: Center of Bordeaux: rue Porte Dijeaux, rue Sainte Catherine and rue des Trois Conils

Troc party vêtements

As part of the “not buy anything new” challenge, the Maison Ecocitoyenne of Bordeaux organizes this Sunday (February 10) a clothes party. You can come and exchange, buy or sell second-hand clothes. The event is free but requires prior registration. Click here for more info and registration.

When: February 10, 14:00- 17:00  / Where:  Maison écocitoyenne de Bordeaux, Quai Richelieu, 33000 Bordeaux

Last chance to visit the Kaléidoscope exhibition

You have only two weeks to see the beautiful street art exhibition in Institut Bernard Magrez. 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. This is one of the most beautiful exhibitions presented in Bordeaux these days so go see it! The exhibition will be presented until February 24. For more info click here and here.

Institut Bernard Magrez Bordeaux
Institut Bernard Magrez
When: Until February 17/ Where:  16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux, France

Bengal stream – Exhibition

Bengal Stream is a beautiful architecture exhibition presented at the Erc en Rêve, the architecture center of CAPC (the contemporary art museum of Bordeaux). The exhibition presents pictures and models of tens of projects in Bangladesh, realized by emerging architects. Most projects had very little budget to work with, but with great imagination and the understanding of the local materials and weather conditions the final results are incredible.
This project is a testimony to the extraordinary architecture of this country. For more info click here.

When: Until March 3  / Where:  galerie blanche, arc en rêve, 7 rue Ferrère, 33000 BORDEAUX

Festival Pouce Bordeaux

Pouce is the annual kids’ dance festival taking place around Bordeaux metropole. During the festival, 8 dance shows will take place in Bordeaux, Pessac, Floriac, Bruges and other towns around the metropole. The program also includes a dance workshop for parents and kids and professional dancers day on February 13. Check out the full program here.

When: February 6-16 / Where:  different locations around Bordeaux (check out the program)

Villenave Trail Urbain

This Saturday a sportive event for kids will take place in Villenave d’ornon. Villenave Trail Urbain includes two hiking tracks for kids from 6 to 14 years old. The tracks will start from Espace D’Ornon and will go through several chateaux in the area. For more details and registration click here.

When: February 9, 14:30 – 20:00 / Where: 147, route de Léognan 33140 Villenave d’ornon, 33140 Villenave-d’Ornon

Surfrider clean up in Ambés

This Saturday (February 9) the Surfrider Gironde association is organizing a large clean up on the banks of the rivers in Ambés. This is a very nice and educative activity to do with the kids. Check out the program for the day here.

When: February 9, at 10:30 / Where: Route du Burck, Ambés – Bus stop “Le Marquis”

Trial Indoor International de Bordeaux

This is a great show for motorbike and action lovers. Trial Indoor International de Bordeaux will take the stage of Arkéa Arena this Saturday (February 9). The show will include plenty of acrobatic stunts and amazing urban decoration. For tickets and more details click here.

When: February 9, 20:30 / Where:  Arkéa Arena, 48-50 avenue Jean Alfonséa, 33270 FLOIRAC

Recital at the Opera of Bordeaux

The American Opera singer and Soprano, Renée Fleming, will take the stage of the Opera of Bordeaux this Sunday (February 10). She will be accompanied by the German pianist Hartmut Höl. For more details and tickets click here.

When: February 10, 20:00  / Where:  Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, place de la Comédie, 33000 BORDEAUX

Underground electronic music

Les Vivres de l’Art is hosting a long line up of underground electronic music concerts every weekend until February 15. Three nights full of concerts will take place this weekend (February 8-10). The concerts include some big names from the international underground scene.  Check out the full program here.

When: February 1-15 / Where: 4 rue Achard, 33300 Bordeaux, France

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Weekend Plans in Bordeaux (November 23-25)

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brocante in bordeaux

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

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

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.

silicon art gallery Saint Michel

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 .

kaleidoscope exhibition

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.

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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This weekend in Bordeaux (October 26-28)

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Faire aux plaisirs Bordeaux

Get your cameras ready as this weekend the quais of Bordeaux are going to be fun and creepy with the zombie walk of Bordeaux. This is definitely not the only event to mark the Halloween season: Halloween in a beautiful chateau, a mask workshop in Darwin and a zombie after party are only part of the events celebrating this great holiday. If you want to know what’s happening in Bordeaux on October 31, check out my post – “Where to celebrate Halloween in Bordeaux“. Apart from that we have a wine feast and a brocante in Chartrons, a night market in Bacalan, a flamenco show, a concert in the Saint Michel Basilica and plenty of exhibitions.  Also, if you still have no idea what to do with your kids next week, check out my post on 10 great things to do with kids on school break.

This is the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (October 26-28):

Zombie walk de Bordeaux

The Zombie Walk of Bordeaux is probably one of the best ways to get into the Halloween spirit. The walk will take place on October 27 and will have the theme of  “White walkers” , which is a nice surprise for Game of Thrones fans (however all zombie costumes are welcome). The event will start at 12:00 at l’Espace du Marché des Quais (The walk will leave from the skate park on the quai). The event is free but requires registration on the facebook page of the event or by emailing zombiewalk.bordeaux@gmail.com.

When: October 27, at 12:00
Where: Espace du Marché des Quais, Bordeaux

Zombie party

The walking zombies will need a party to celebrate this creepy get together! The Open Air electronic Zombie party will take place the same day (October 27) starting 18:00 in the Bacalan district. The entrance to the party is free to disguised zombies and 2 euros for the rest. For more info click here.

When: October 27, at 18:00
Where: 30 rue Francis Garnier, 33300 Bordeaux

Fête du Vin nouveau & de la brocante

This weekend (October 27-28) the Chartrons neighborhood invites you to celebrate the Autumn with a festival of new wine and a brocante. During these two days, the main street, rue Notre-Dame , will be transformed into a brocante with wine stands and roasted chestnuts. Come and spend a festive weekend on one of the most interesting streets in Bordeaux.

When: October 27-29
Where: Rue notre dame, 33000 Bordeaux

Foire aux Plaisirs

This is the fall edition of the traditional Bordelaise Fair that is taking place at Place des Quinconces  from October 12 to November 4. It’s a perfect activity for kids and for those who are young in spirit as La Foire aux Plaisirs de Bordeaux has it all: a big wheel, roller coasters, ghost trains, bumper cars, donuts, crèpes, barbes à papa and more. The fair is open daily from 14:00, you are not required to pay any entry fee, only for some of the attractions. See more info about the fair here.

When: October 12 – November 4
Where:Place des Quinconces , 33000 Bordeaux

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 (October 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 website of the market or the facebook page of the event.

When: October 26, starting  18:30- 22:30
Where: 10 Esplanade de Pontac, 33300 Bordeaux,

Start celebrating Halloween 

We are warming up towards Halloween with some events and activities taking place this weekend, just a few days before the official celebrations next week. Check out my post about ” Where to celebrate Halloween in Bordeaux” to see what else is on next week.

Château de Vayres

Chateau de Vayres invites you to their 8th edition of their Halloween weekend on October 27-28 with all the Halloween classics: witches, phantoms and werewolves. The two days event will be accompanied by exceptional Halloween decorations and plenty of activities and will finish with a fireworks show. The event is free for kids under 4 yo, 10 €  for kids between 5 and 12 years old and 12,50 €  for those older than 12. For more details click here.

chateau de vayres halloween

When: October 27 from 14:00 to 20:00 and October 28 from 13:00 to 19:30.
Where: 63 Avenue de Libourne, 33870 Vayres

Halloween in Arcachon

The city of Arcachon invites you this Saturday to celebrate Halloween with a great variety of activities. Les Maisons de Quartier will host a special make up activity, the market hosts a free decoration workshop, in the city center kids can play trick or treat and the Mauresque park will host everybody for fun games and activities. For more details click here.

When: October 27
Where: The center of Arcachon

Make your own mask in Darwin

If your kids still don’t have their Halloween costumes they can learn how to make their own in Darwin. A very fun and creative workshop will take place in Darwin on October 28, where your kids could learn how to make their own masks using a serigraph printing technique. The activity is adapted to kids over 5 years old. The price of the workshop is 15€. For more info click here.

When: October 28 from 11:00
Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Halloween in Ferme Exotique

la Ferme Exotique in Cadaujac invites you to celebrate Halloween with the animals of the farm during the two weeks of school break from October 20 to November 4. In the program: games, a pumpkin competition, Halloween make up and a phantom train. For more info click here.

When: October 20- November 31
Where: Domaine de la Roussie, 1932 Chemin du Port de l’Esquillot, 33140 Cadaujac

 

Discover the Area

Visit the Bourgailh park in Pessac 

Before it gets too cold and rainy it’s time to discover the beautiful spots of nature in the Bordeaux area. This weekend I encourage you to discover one of the most beautiful and surprising parks around Bordeaux, the Foret du Bourgailh in Pessac. This is not merely a nice park for a walk it’s a universe of plants, animals and beautiful design. The area of the Foret du Bourgailh includes a 2.6 km walking trail, the largest tropical greenhouse in the region,  sports facilities, a skate park, an amphitheater, a zoo and one of the most beautiful playgrounds you have ever seen, which for me is the highlight of this park.

Foret du Bourgailh in Pessac

A visit to a Saffron Farm

La safranière du Cabanon in Béguey (close to Cadillac) is a farm producing all the saffron of the Sud Gironde area. This Saturday (October 27) you get to visit the place, accompanied by Chantal et Thierry  who run the farm. Besides a guided visit of the Safranière,  you can also taste all the products produced at the place. For more details and tickets click here.

When: October 27,
Where: Chemin profond, 33410 BEGUEY

ART & CULTURE

NRITYA – Flamenco show

The Caramelita Flamenco Company is finishing their second creative residency session at the Cuvier in Artigues-pres-Bordeaux and will be presenting part of their new production, “NRITYA”, on Friday, October 26 at 20h30.
NRITYA (“emotion and storytelling created by movement” in Hindi) is a very personal project for flamenco dancer Deborah “La Caramelita”. It is the story of a first generation Canadian exploring her Indian background through flamenco dance. Unlike her first show, “Penas y Alegrías“, anchored in the traditional flamenco style, this new creation is strongly tinged with her cultural heritage. Through her dance and supported by the musicians who accompany her, she offers an initiatory journey and a search for parallels between her Indian roots and flamenco. There will be a Q&A session with the  audience after the show. The price is 6€. For more info click here.
When: October 26,at 20:30
Where: Le Cuvier – Avenue de l’Île de France, 33370 Artigues-près-Bordeaux

New exhibition at the Base Sous Marine- Medio Acqua

It is no secret that the Base sous marine is one of my favorite places in Bordeaux so the fact that they’re about to open a new exhibition is making me very happy. The Medio Acqua exhibition includes installations by major French and intentional artists as well as a selection of video works by young emerging artists, recently graduated from the prestigious Fresnoy School. The main theme of the exhibition is inspired by the world of water, while the location and the structure of the base sous marine plays an important role in it.

When: October 26- January 6
Where: Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33300 Bordeaux

First exhibition at the Musee de la Mer et de la Marine

The first exhibition of La Musee de la Mer et de la Marine has been finally presented this month. Although the museum itself is not due to open soon, it has decided to open an exposition room where a new photography expo will be presented between October 1st and April 30, 2019. The “Sous les mers, au-delà de l’image” exhibition consists of more than 100 photographs by Paul Nicklen and David Doubilet, two National Géographic  photographers. Check more info on the site of the museum.

When: October 1 – April 30, 2019
Where:89 rue des étrangers, 33300 BORDEAUX

Street art exhibition in the Vibrations Urbaines Festival 

Vibrations Urbaines is an annual urban festival organized by the city of Pessac, which includes exhibitions, a hip hop battle, urban sports, skating and more. As part of the festival, a street art exhibition is presented at the Médiathèque Jacques Ellul in Pessac (until November 4). The 15 works of art were selected in a national urban art competition. You can be a part of the competition and vote for the best artist. The exhibition is open from Tuesday to Friday  (between 13:30 to 18:30) and Saturday (10:00 to 18:00). For more info click here.

When: October 17- November 4
Where:Avenue du Colonel Robert Jacqui, 33600 Pessac

Clock, Les Horloges du Vivant – exhibition for kids

All living creatures have a certain rhythm to their mechanism that allows them to adapt to their environment. This fascinating expo will allow your kids to discover the rhythm of different animals and to understand their world a little better. Why does the  koala sleep 20 hours a day? How fast are the wings of the hummingbird?  Does a baby breathe like an adult? These are only some of the questions the exhibition will answer. The exhibition has been presented in Cap Sciences for a while now, but this is your last chance to take your kids to see it as the last day will be November 4. See more info here. The minimum age for this expo is 6 years old.

When: until November 4
Where: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux

Eclair Circus celebrates its 30 anniversary

To celebrates its 30th anniversary Le Cirque Eclair invites you to a cool party full of concerts and fun! The party will take place this Saturday (October 27)  and the lineup will include CIE MOHEIN (Eastern European music), Le Roi Rogomme (Punk). For more info click here.

When: October 27, starting  19:30
Where:65 Quai de Brazza, 33100 Bordeaux, 33100 Bordeaux

An organ and accordion concert in Basilique Saint Michel 

Christophe d’Alessandro (Organ) and Olivier Innocenti (Accordion) will perform at the Basilique Saint Michel this Sunday (October 28) at 17:00. Ticket price is 15€ and free for kids under 12 years old. For more info click here.

When: October 28, at 17:00
Where: Basilique Saint Michel, 33000 Bordeaux

 

If you are new in Bordeaux and want to discover all the “must” places to visit check out my ultimate guide to a weekend visit in Bordeaux.

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This weekend in Bordeaux (October 19-21)

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The most beautiful event this weekend will surely be the flying balloons festival in Saint-Emilion. But with this amazing fall season outside, there’s no lack of great outdoor activities such as collecting mushrooms in the forest, the Bordeaux Fair and an Autumn festival in the Médoc. If you loved the open doors weekend in the Châteaux of Médoc, this weekend you can enjoy a similar event in the Graves wine area. Besides all of these, there are fun events like the swing festival, the ancient books salon and plenty of music and exhibitions. Here is the list of things to do in and around Bordeaux this weekend (October 19-21):

Montgolfiades de Saint-Emilion

Montgolfiades is an annual festival of balloon flights organized by Le Ciel est à Toi association. The flights will take place on October 19-21 above Saint-Emilion and the vineyards around it, so the sight is promised to be breathtaking. For more info click here.

When: October 19-21
Where: Bordeaux, Merignac, Talence, Pessac and more – check out the full program

Bordeaux Swing Festival

The international festival of Lindy hop (part of the Swing family) will take place on October 19-21 in the Bordeaux region and this year they have invited a special guest, one of biggest stars in the the New York swing scene – Gordon Webster. Two swing parties will take place at the beautiful le Rocher de Palmer in Cenon, with a battle between the Gordon Webster Hot Swing Sextet bands. The program of the festival also includes 7 hours of classes with 11 international teachers. For more details check out the website of the festival.

When: October 19-21
Where: Different locations in Bordeaux – check out the full program

Open doors in the Chateaux of Graves wines

Graves, one of the wine regions in the Bordeaux wine area (appellation d’origine contrôlée) invites you to an open door weekend, allowing you to discover its wines and châteaux. During the weekend (October 20-21) 69 châteaux will open their doors to visits, wine tastings, wine workshops and different activities for kids and adults. See the full program of the event and the list of the participating châteaux here.

When: October 20-21
Where: Graves area – chose your chateau from the program

Fest’O’Tone 2018

The 4th edition of the Fest’O’Tone festival will take place this Saturday (October 20) in the Salle Socio Culturelle in Listrac Médoc. The festive evening will include a line up of concerts (JEKO, GOLDEN PARACHUTE, ALAM, TRIBALIZER), a sculpture exhibition, a bar and a wine tasting space. For more info and tickets click here.

When: October 20,  19:00 to 1:30
Where: Chemin du stade, 33480 Listrac-Médoc

FAB – International art festival

FAB is the annual International art festival of Bordeaux Metropole taking place this year on October 5-24. As one of Europe’s biggest art festivals it attracts some known names from the international contemporary art scene. During the three weeks of the festival more than 30 shows will take place in more than 20 different locations in Bordeaux, from the TnBA theater to the Opera of Bordeaux and the Base Sous Marine. Click here to see the full program of the festival.

 

When: October 5-24
Where: Different locations in Bordeaux – check out the program,

Foire aux Plaisirs

This is the fall edition of the traditional Bordelaise Fair that is taking place at Place des Quinconces  from October 12 to November 4. 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, a roller coasters, ghost trains, bumper cars, donuts, crèpes, barbes à papa and more. The fair is open daily from 14:00, you are not required to pay any entry fee, only for some of the attractions. See more info about the fair here.

When: October 12 – November 4
Where:Place des Quinconces , 33000 Bordeaux

Explore the city on the National Architecture days

The National Architecture days are a great opportunity so discover the city in a more profound way and learn about the buildings you see every day in Bordeaux. One association that offers guided tours in different areas in Bordeaux are Tout Art Faire. During this weekend (October 19-20) they will offer 3 different guided tours: around Pey Berland, a thematic tour about art deco in Bordeaux and one on Neoclassic Bordeaux. For more details about the tours click here.

When: October 19-21
Where: See locations in the program

Sunday Party – Bordeaux Swing

This event is basically the after party of the Swing festival taking place in Bordeaux this weekend. The I-BOAT invites you to a swing party that will end the events of the festival in Bordeaux on October 21. The program includes 2 DJ sets on both floors of the IBOAT, live music, vintage dressing and more. The tickets are included in the Bordeaux swing festival pass, or 10€ without the pass. The IBOAT is one of the coolest concert venues in Bordeaux so if you haven’t been there yet, it’s a good opportunity to check it out. For more details about the event click here.

When: October 21, at 19:00
Where: Quai Armand Lalande, 33300 Bordeaux,

O’VIVES

Les Chantiers de la Garonne together with Darwin, two of the best places in Bordeaux to go to on weekends, invite you for the third edition of  O’Vives. The event revolves around environmental sensitivity and will include music, talks, an exhibition, yoga, DIY workshops and more. For details  and the full program click here. The event is free.

summer in Bordeaux
photo by Lost in Bordeaux

When: October 20, from 14:00
Where: 21 quai des queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Take your kids to collect mushrooms in Pessac

This is the time of the year where you start seeing the little colorful mushroom heads in the forest. This Saturday (October 20) you and your family could join the mycologists of C.E.M.A. (Cercle d’Études Mycologiques en Aquitaine) in the field and explore the world of mushrooms. This fun activity will take place in Forêt du Bourgailh in Pessac and will of course include the collection of mushrooms, thus a basket and a knife are a must. The activity is open to kids over 8 years old, the prices are 8€ for adults and 3€ for kids. Reserve your place and buy tickets here.

When: October 20, at 14:00
Where: 160 Avenue de Beutre, 33600 Pessac (at the Jardins du Bourgailh)

Autumn in the Garden

As part of the “fête des jardins partagés” celebrations initiated by Bordeaux Métropole, the cultural center Saint-Exupéry organized a fun event called “Automne aux jardins” that will take place this Saturday (October 20). This colorful event will include culinary activities, a gardeners stand, flower plantation and more. The event is free. For more info click here.

When: October 20, from 14:00 to 18:00
Where: Impasse Yvon Mansencal, 33140 Villenave d’Ornon

The Salon of Ancient and Modern Books

The biggest book event in the South west of France will take place this weekend (October 20-21) in Halle des Chartrons. This salon of ancient and modern books proposes something for every genre lover from travelling guides, to kids literature, science books, comics and much more. This is a heaven for book worms as alongside the famous ancient and modern literature you can find rare editions, old newspapers, illustrations and plenty of other surprises. The entrance is free, for more details click here.

When: October 20-21, from 10:00 to 19:00
Where: Place du marché des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux

Jazz night in Cenac

Soirée Jazz360 is a music event that will take place this Saturday (October 20) in Cenac with a Jazz Quartet taking the stage of the Salle culturelle de Cénac. For more details click here.

When: October 20, at 19:00
Where: Salle culturelle de Cénac

Malmoré

d’Angélique de Chabot is a young artist who creates beautiful little monsters from a variety of materials and creatures, like crustaceans and feathered beasts. In the last few months she has been obsessively collecting branches fallen from trees, oyster shells and rare bird feathers to create this exhibition. The exhibition is presented in the beautiful Château Malromé in the entre-deux-mers area, which quite often hosts great art exhibitions. The exhibition will be presented until December 16. See more info on the facebook page of the event or the website of the chateau.

When: October 6 – December 16
Where: Château Malromé, 33490 Saint-André-du-Bois

Photography Celebration

This is the 6th edition of Fête de la photo  with more than 70 different photography exhibitions that will be presented  this Saturday (October 20) at Galerie François Mitterrand and salle Raymond Bonnot in Saint-Seurin-sur-l’Isle.  Besides the photos themselves, the event will include workshops and a photos sale. The event is free, for more details click here.

When: October 20, from 9:00
Where: Salle Bonnot et François Mitterrand. 33660 SAINT-SEURIN-SUR-L’ISLE

PROXIMA exhibition

The Proxima exhibitions is one of the main events of the space month in Bordeaux and will be presented at the Médiathèque de Mérignac from October 5th to October 26. Throughout the exhibition you will discover how astronauts prepare for their missions in space, the effects of weightlessness on their body and how their daily life looks like while they’re on mission. For more details check out the facebook page of the exhibition. Click here to see what other events are part of the space month in Bordeaux.

When: October 5-26
Where: 19 Place Charles de Gaulle, 33700 Mérignac

La générosité de Dorcas – dance show

The TNBA theater will host 2 dance shows by the French creator, Jan Fabre and his dancer Matteo Sedda. The show la Générosité de Dorcas will take place on October 19-20. For more details and tickets click here.

La générosité de Dorcas – Jan Fabre from TnBA on Vimeo.

When: October 19 at 21:00 and October 20 at 18:00
Where: Tnba, Place Renaudel, 33800 BORDEAUX

Hope you enjoyed the list! Now don’t be shy, share it with your friends!

If you have kids and you have no idea what to do with them during the school break – check out my list of ideas for the fall break of 2018.

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10 things to do with kids on fall break in Bordeaux

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with kids in Bordeaux

Last month I’ve noticed that more and more people are scrolling through my article “Six things to do with kids in Bordeaux over spring break“ in search of new ideas for the upcoming school break. So I decided that it’s time to do some research and give you a new article to help you make the most of the upcoming fall break. So for those of you who want their kids to have new and exciting experiences or for those just trying to survive the vacances de la toussaint, this articles is for you. From circus to coding, painting and climbing, here’s the list of ideas for things to do with your kids on school break.  

Circus School of Bordeaux

Let your kids become acrobats in a circus for a week! The Circus school of Bordeaux offers discovery programs for all ages during the upcoming school break. There are five programs for different ages ranging from 3 year-old to kids older than 11. In the first group (ages 4-5 yo) kids have to be accompanied by one of the parents. According to your kids’ age they can learn things like juggling, improvisation, acrobatics and more. If you missed this vacation, don’t worry, l’ecole de cirque offers many different programs on all school breaks. Click here for more information about days and prices of the different programs.

For reservations: by phone 05 56 43 17 18  or by email  info@ecolecirquebordeaux.com

Ecole de cirque Bordeaux

When: Different dates for different programs (check out the link above)
Where: Centre Culturel des Arts du Cirque, 286 boulevard Alfred Daney, 33300 BORDEAUX

Paint in the Fine arts museum

If your kids are into arts or you would like them to discover their artistic side you can take them painting in one of the best museums of Bordeaux- Musee des beaux arts de Bordeaux. There are plenty of nice art workshops for kids (starting from 3 years old) for the price of only 5 euros, on both school breaks and during the school year.
Check out the full list of workshops here. To reserve your spot call 05 56 10 25 25. 

When: Different dates from October 22 to October 31, depending on the workshop.
Where: 20 Cours d’Albret, 33000 Bordeaux

Turn them into little coding geeks

Magic makers, the great programming school for kids is a fantastic opportunity to let your little girls and boys explore the world of coding. During the first week of the fall vacation, the school will offer several programs according to your kids age – from robots and minecraft for the little ones to creating games and star wars workshops for older kids. This is a popular place so reserve your place as soon as possible- click here and here for more info and registration. They have two centers in the Bordeaux area so if you live quite far from the center of Bordeaux, the other center is in Latresne. Also, if you missed out the registration and there’s no more space available, remember that many of the courses and workshop run during the school year as well.

When: October 22-26
Where: Centre Magic Makers, 60 cours de la Martinique 33000 Bordeaux AND AEROCAMPUS Aquitaine 1, route de Cénac 33360 Latresne

Discover the nature around Bordeaux with la Foret d’art Contemporain

la foret d'art contemporain

You don’t really have to spend money to enjoy this fall break with your kids (except on therapy). If weather permits, this could be a good opportunity to discover the area around Bordeaux. Don’t forget that we are living just a few km from the largest maritime-pine forest in Europe in -Foret des Landes de Gascogne. One of the best ways to discover this massive forest is by following the map of la foret d’art contemporain. This is an extraordinary project that aims to promote contemporary art by placing it in different spots in the forest. Around 20 different pieces of art were placed in all parts of the forest, usually close to one of the smaller towns, to allow you to discover the more rural parts of Gironde. Follow the map of the project – here.

Dance Capoeira

When you see Capoeira circles on the street, do you ever wish you could know the moves and be part of that circle? Well maybe your kids can teach you after they participate in the Capoeira course offered by Dojo La Fleche during the first week of school break. The course that will take place on October 23-26 will include elements of movement, music, songs and acrobatics. For more info click here.

When: October 23-26
Where:21 Rue Ulysse Despaux, Bordeaux

Space month in Merignac

The city of Mérignac is currently hosting a whole month of space discovery with workshops, exhibitions, conferences, parties and more. Many of the events are scheduled to take place on weekends but an activity you can enjoy during the weekdays of les vacances de la toussaint is the “Dessine-moi l’Espace”.  Médiathèque de Mérignac invites your children to a week of creativity. From Tuesday to Saturday, during the month of October, your kids can come and take inspiration from the books of the library to draw planets, rockets, aliens, stars and more. Awards will be given to the most imaginative paintings. For details about this activity and all the other events of Space month click here.

When: October 1-31, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 13:00-19:00, Wednesday 10:00-19:00 and Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
Where: Médiathèque de Mérignac, 19, place Charles-de-Gaulle, Mérignac

Foire aux Plaisirs

What kid doesn’t appreciate a big wheel or bumper cars? For a cool day out just take them to the Bordeaux fair at Place des Quinconces starting from October 12. Amusements rides are obviously only part of the fun, you will also find plenty of side stall games and stands with donuts, crèpes, barbes à papa and many other guilty pleasures. The fair is open daily from 14:00, you are not required to pay any entry fee, only for some of the attractions. See more info about the fair here.

When: October 12 – November 4
Where: Place des Quinconces , 33000 Bordeaux

Let them climb some walls

Climb Up, a climbing center of more than 2000m2, was opened in June 2018 in the Décathlon village in Mérignac. The center includes a huge climbing surface with walls rising to 15 meters, more than 200 different tracks and 60 lines of rope. There’s also a dedicated blocs zone for kids (over 3 years old) allowing them to climb in a secured space.  On school break they offer 2 climbing courses of half days for kids – one for 6-8 year old and the other for 9-15 year old – check out more details here.

When: Monday to Friday on school break
Where: Décathlon Village – Domaine de Pélus, 17 avenue Pythagore – 33 700 Mérignac

Discover the Idea box workshops at the Marché des Douves

Have you ever noticed the beautiful hangar with the red bricks just in front of the Capucins Market? Marché des Douves, previously the city market, is today a house to different associations, with plenty of activities and workshops for kids. Every Wednesday and Thursday three different workshops are taking place at the old market: a music workshop, mini film creation and a coding course. You can register to one or several of the activities on the spot or by phone 05 35 38 16 06. For more info click here.

When: Wednesday and Thursday – 14:00 to 17:30
Where: 4 Rue des Douves, 33800 Bordeaux

Let them become Ninja kidz

Last but not least, don’t forget to pass by The Temple Bordeaux which hosts a variety of activities for all ages. Gym Kidz is a bilingual Gymnastics program starting at 18 months old! One of their biggest success is the Ninja Kidz course which is a mix of Gymnastics & Martial Arts. The will stay open during the vacation so check them out. All courses are 200€ per year! and drop-ins are 10€ per class. Check out their facebook page for more info.

gym kidz schedule

Where:  3 Quai de Brazza Bordeaux, 33100

 

Now, with this list in your hands you are ready to survive the school break (les vacances de la toussaint) and even enjoy it a bit :).  If you have other ideas or other places that offer special activities during the vacation, please share them in the comments.

If you didn’t find anything interesting in this list, you can always take some ideas from my “What to do with kids when it’s raining in Bordeaux” or discover a new place for a picnic with my guide to the best picnic places in Bordeaux.

Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter if you don’t want to miss more article like this one. And please share the post on facebook, twitter or pinterest, that would make me very happy 🙂

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This Weekend in Bordeaux (September 21-23)

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chateau peixotto

Although it’s officially Autumn, the weather in Bordeaux still feels like we’re in the middle of July and that gives us a chance to continue enjoying the outdoor events this city has to offer. Hopefully we won’t have pay for that with a long and cold winter. So what is waiting for us this weekend? A Visual Arts festival, Latin Music in Cenon, A sports day in Hostens, a magic festival in Eysines, and plenty of outdoor free concerts all over the city.

Here is the list of things to do this weekend in and around Bordeaux (September 21-23):

Events in Bordeaux Metropole

Echo a Venir –  an electronic music festival 

A big visual art and electronic music festival will take place this weekend in Bordeaux (September 20-23). For its 7th edition the festival invited artists from Montreal to unveil their  immersive  360°  projections on the pavilions created especially for the event. The program of the festival includes a lineup of Djs, a brunch on Saturday and a digital workshop for kids. Check out the facebook page  of the festival for more info. For tickets click here.

When: September 20-23
Where: Placette de Munich (quais de Bordeaux)

Les Talençaises

This weekend (Sep 21-22), Peixotto park in Talence is getting festive for the annual event of Les Talençaises. In the program: dj sets, concerts, interactive dance, a lot of food and a beautiful park to spend a fun afternoon with friends and family. The event is free, for more info click here.

When: September 21-22
Where: Parc de Peixotto, 33400 Talence

Latin Music Festival 

Corazon Latino, a Latin Music and dance festival will take place this weekend (September 21-23) in Rocher de Palmer in Cenon. The Program  includes music concerts, dance shows, three Latin parties andinternational dancers that came especially to teach you some moves. And of course plenty of Salsa , Bachata, Kizomba, Chacha, Semba, Tango, Lady Styling and Forró. For more info and tickets to some of the concerts check out the website of the event.

When: September 21-23
Where: 1 rue aristide Briand, 33150 Bordeaux, France

Festival Arts Mêlés

This is the 10 year anniversary of Arts Mêlés, a festival of magic and supernatural experiences that is organized by the town of Eysines. As always the program is full of magic shows, illusionists, acrobats and more (making it also fun for kids). The event is free and will take place on the weekend of September 22-23 at the Parc du château Lescombes. Check out the full program here. Read more about the festival and the performing artists here.

Festival Arts Mêlés

When: September 22-23
Where: 10 Rue de l’Église, 33320 Eysines

Cypher Party

The Move It organization will host a party this Saturday (September 22) right in the heart of the historic center of Bordeaux, Promenade Sainte-Catherine. This varied program will make you stay in the city center the whole afternoon: A dj set (15:00 to 16:00), dance battle (16:00 to 18:30) dance shows, live music and more. Check out the facebook page of the event.

When: September 22, from 15:00 to 19:00
Where: 25 rue Sainte-Catherine, 33000 Bordeaux, France

The Pavillon d’été of L’Orangeade

It’s almost the end of the Bordelaise summer and it’s the last opportunity to enjoy the summer pavilion on le Quai Deschamps on the right bank of the Garonne. The pavilion, organized by the Orangeade association, is hosting free music and gastronomy events. Take a look at the program for this Friday (Sep 21) and for this Saturday (Sep 22).

When: September 21-22, starting 6pm
Where: Quai Deschamps, 33100 Bordeaux

Open Air Festival

Bordeaux Open Air continues into September with more cool events of Electronic Music at different locations in the city center. The next event of the Open Air Festival will take place on September 23 at Square Dom Bedos.

When: September 23, 15:00
Where: Square Dom Bedos, Bordeaux

Journée Sports Nature

This Sunday (September 23) Hostens, the beautiful town and lake in the Parc Naturel Regional de Gascogne, will host its annual sports day. This event is all about spending time with your family while discovering outdoor fun sportive activities. The day includes 25 free sportive activities from kayaks to sand yachting, Rollerblading and archery. For more info click here.

When: September 23, from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 18:00.
Where: Domaine d’Hostens

A big second hand clothes sale

After many successful huge vintage clothing sales in Paris, Violette Sauvage arrives to Bordeaux with the same agenda of giving clothes a second life. The big vintage sale will take place this weekend (September 22-23)  in one of the most special places in Bordeaux, les Vivres de l’Art. A part from a huge amount of clothes, the event also includes food trucks and different workshops and activities. For more info check out the facebook page of the event. And for more details about the other events of Violette Sauvage click here.

When: September 22-23, from 11:00
Where: 4 Rue Achard, 33300 Bordeaux, France

Le Week-End De l’Imaginaire Ludique

Le Week-End De l’Imaginaire Ludique is an event created with the idea to promote games and the world of imagination. During the weekend (September 22-23) players of all ages will gather around the tables in the Centre d’animation Grand Parc to play and share their experiences. For more info click here.

When: September 22-23, from 11:00 to 19:00
Where:36 rue Robert Schuman 33300 Bordeaux

Exhibitions and Shows

Jazz weekend at the Caillou

If you’re looking for a Jazz concert for the weekend, Le Caillou in the Jardin Botanique is the place for you. Like every weekend in their fall program, different  musicians and groups will take the stage to smooth your weekend with some Jazz tunes. This weekend the program includes the Christophe Maroye trio on Friday (Sep 21) and the Kyara Lisa trio on Saturday (Sep 22).

When: September 21-22, at 20:30
Where: Le Caillou du Jardin Botanique, Esplanade Linné, 33000 BORDEAUX

Exhibition at the Institut Bernard Magrez

l’Institut Culturel Bernard Magrez is one of the cultural gems of Bordeaux, surprising us with new and inspiring exhibitions every few months. This time they host the painter Guillaume Toumanian, with an exhibition of 20 paintings called “De la lumière”.  The expo will be presented at Château Labottière until October 28. For more info check out the website of the museum.

When:until October 28
Where:16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 BORDEAUX

Snow White at the Grand Theatre

The Ballet of Angelin Preljocaj comes back to Bordeaux with Blanche-Neige (Snow white) created in 2008. It’s not only the  brilliant choreography that makes this pieces of art so special but also the costumes designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier and the stage decoration by Thierry Leproust. Seven shows of the Ballet will take place at the Opera of Bordeaux between September 21 and September 30. For tickets and more info check out the website of the Opera.

When:until October  21-30
Where: Grand Théâtre, place de la Comédie,33000 BORDEAUX

Flamenco by La Caramelita

“La Caramelita” our local phenomenal Flamenco dancer will take the stage on the Grande Poste this Friday (September 21). She will be accompanied by Romain Tranchant  on the guitar and by Alejandro Mendía singing. For tickets and more details check the facebook page of the event. 

When: September 21 at 20:00
Where: 7 rue du palais gallien, 33000 Bordeaux, France

If you want to plan ahead check out my general list of things to in Bordeaux in September 2018.

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Have a great weekend!

 

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