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Museums in Bordeaux – Art, design, wine and history

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Bordeaux is so rich and beautiful that you can spend several days here without visiting even one museum. But actually, to the surprise of many tourists, Bordeaux has quite a variety of interesting museums. In this small city you can see permanent exhibitions of classic art, modern design, street art, architecture, archeology and more. In this article, I gathered a list of the most interesting museums to visit in Bordeaux. So if you’re in a cultural mood, this article is for you. If you found this article while desperately looking for something to do on a rainy day, check out more ideas in my article about the best things to do when it’s raining in Bordeaux. 

Just before we start I need to mention a few important bits of information. 

Discounts for Bordeaux’s museums 

The fees that I mention next to every museum represent the full ticket price. But that doesn’t mean you will have to pay that price as there are plenty of discounts in France. The price is usually reduced (or even free in some cases) for students, people under 25 yo, seniors, people with disabilities, unemployed, and people holding the Bordeaux city pass. So it’s always good to check the site of the museum to see if you can get a reduced price. 

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

Bordeaux city pass – This pass is a card you can buy online or at the tourist office that allows you to freely use the public transport, visit plenty of museums and enjoy some attractions for a reduced price. This pass is available for 24, 48 or 72 consecutive hours (the prices are 29€, 39€ and 43€ euros respectively). Even the expensive wine museum is there so it’s really worth checking out if you plan to visit a few places and use public transport a lot. You can see all the details and purchase the Bordeaux city pass here. 
Bordeaux museums pass – this pass is more interesting for people who live here or visit the city on a regular basis. The pass gives you unlimited entry for a year to seven museums in the city. You can see the list of museums and all the details here. The price is 25 € for a single pass and 37,50 € for a couple pass. You can purchase it in any of the museums mentioned in the link above. 
Free Sunday – many of the museums in the city are free on the first Sunday of the month, which includes permanent and temporary exhibitions. 

Now that we’re done with all that let’s get into our artistic mood and start discovering the museums of Bordeaux. 

Wine museums in Bordeaux 

Cité du Vin

The Cité du Vin is one of the most popular attractions on the tourist trail in Bordeaux. In the last couple of years, it has become one of Bordeaux’s most iconic institutions even though it opened its doors only in 2016. The extraordinary building, inspired by the movement of wine swirling in a glass, is a one of a kind cultural center, all dedicated to discovering the wine world. Through its interactive exhibition, It offers a journey to both French and global wine history, culture and knowhow. You will learn about winemaking, see movies and interviews with wine producers and then smell and taste wine. The Cite du Vin allows you to discover a selection of wines from all over the world in its spectacular wine shop and to see the best panoramic view of Bordeaux. The fee of the museum is quite high (20 euros) so if you want to decide if it’s worth the money, you can read my article about my visit to the cite du vin to get a good idea of what to expect.

You can also skip the line and buy the tickets online- click here to purchase the tickets. 

Cite du vin - colors of wine
A fun place even if you don’t like wine
Address: Esplanade de Pontac, 134 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm and Saturday – Sunday and bank and school holidays from 10am to 7pm
Fee: 20€ for adults and 9€ for kids and free for kids under 6 years old. 
The site of the museum: https://www.laciteduvin.com/en

Musée du Vin et du Négoce de Bordeaux

Apart from the Cité du vin, Bordeaux also has another wine museum that is dedicated to Bordeaux’s wine history. Musée du Vin et du Négoce is a small museum, located in what used to be the house of an Irish négociant (wine merchant) in the 18th century. During that time Chartons was the neighborhood of Flemish, Irish and German wine merchants who settled close to the Garonne river in order to export wine to their home countries. Thanks to this museum you can go back in time and see how a typical house of a négociant used to look like. The ground floor was used to store wine and meet the winemakers and potential customers and the top floor was the residence of the family. Throughout your visit you will learn about the evolution of winemaking in Bordeaux during the last three centuries. You will discover old techniques and equipment that were used at the time and the way wine was stored and shipped. It goes into interesting details like the first use of bottles to age wine, the first wine etiquettes and more.

musee du vin et du Négoce bordeaux

This museum is small and not as modern and interactive as the Cité du vin but if you want to learn about the history of the Bordeaux wine region this is the place to go. It ends with a very nice wine tasting session where you get plenty of explanations about the different wine appellations in Bordeaux.
The museum is located in the northern part of rue Notre Dame, one of the most interesting streets in Bordeaux. If you want to know what else you can do on that street and generally in the posh Chartrons neighborhood, go to my article about the Chartrons district. 

Address: The entrance is from 41 Rue Borie, Bordeaux
Opening hours: Open every day 10:00-18:00
Fee: 10€ (visit and two glasses of wine)
The site of the museum: https://www.museeduvinbordeaux.com/

Art Museums in Bordeaux

Le musée des beaux-arts – fine arts

Le musée des beaux-arts is the main art museum of Bordeaux, known for its large collection of sculptures and paintings from the 16th to the 20th century. The museum owns a huge collection of more than 6000 paintings, 600 sculptures and 3000 drawings. Nevertheless, the museum is quite small and so most of these artworks are not displayed to the public. It’s a very nice museum but it’s quite modest so don’t expect a second Louvre here :). The museum is located in a beautiful house built in 1801 and has one of the most beautiful gardens in Bordeaux. The permanent collection includes a lot of famous works by artists like Pérugin, Rubens, Chardin, Delacroix, and Matisse alongside Bordelaise artists such as Odilon Redon and Albert Marquet. The museum often hosts temporary exhibitions as well as concerts and art events. 

Museums in bordeaux
Address: 20 Cours d’Albret, 33000 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Open every day except Tuesday 11:00-18:00
Fee: 5€ , free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August)
The site of the museum: http://www.musba-bordeaux.fr/

Le CAPC – musée d’art contemporain de Bordeaux

CAPC is the contemporary art museum of Bordeaux located in the chic Chartrons district. The museum is housed in an impressive former warehouse from the 19th century where commodities, traded down the river, used to be stored. It was planned to be demolished in the 20th century but was saved thanks to a new law protecting houses with historic importance. In 1984 the city decided to transform this unique space into a museum of contemporary art, an idea which was very innovative at the time. In the permanent collection, there are almost 300 works of art and it regularly hosts temporary exhibitions that are dedicated to the history of art. I’ll admit that I’m not always a fan of their exhibitions, having said that, I think the place in itself is very impressive and worth a visit. 

CAPC Bordeaux
CAPC museum in Bordeaux

The museum is also home to the Architecture center “Arc en rêve”, which hosts temporary exhibitions related to urban planning, design, landscaping and more. I usually find their exhibitions super interesting and recommend visiting it when you are at the museum. The center is located on the first floor and is sometimes hard to find, so just ask for help from one of the employees. The entry is free every first Sunday of the month (except July and August).

Address: 7 Rue Ferrere, 33000 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Open from Tuesday to Sunday 11:00-18:00. Every second Wednesday of the month the museum in open until 20:00. 
Fee: 7€, free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August)
The site of the museum: http://www.capc-bordeaux.fr/capc

Musée des Art décoratifs et du Design

The museum of decorative art and design is located in a beautiful 18th-century mansion and is one of UNESCO’s heritage sites in Bordeaux. It has a large collection of furniture, porcelain and art objects, dating to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The building itself, named Hotel de Lalande, was built by Pierre- Raymond de Lalande, a counselor of the Parliament of Bordeaux and is an architectural piece of art by itself. Through the museum’s backyard, you pass to a separate building (former stables) where the temporary exhibitions are presented. These are usually very good and attract many locals. If you’re hesitating on whether to spend your time in this museum check out their website for the temporary exhibitions as these alone can be worth the visit. The museum is free every first Sunday of the month, except for July and August. 

Musée des arts décoratifs bordeaux
Musée des arts décoratifs bordeaux
Address: 39 rue Bouffard 33000 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Open every day except Tuesday 11:00-18:00
Fee: 5€, free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August)
The site of the museum: https://madd-bordeaux.fr/

La Base Sous Marine

This is one of the most unique places in Bordeaux. Built by the Germans during the Second World War, this old submarine base has been converted into a space dedicated to contemporary art, allowing you to enjoy the space itself no less than the art presented. It can be a bit tricky to find the entrance, so if you come from the la Cité du Vin tram station be sure to walk on rue Lucien Faure before turning right to Boulevard Alfred Daney. Also, if you come with kids, it’s important to know that strollers are not allowed in the exhibition as it’s dark and has a lot of stairs (you will have to leave the stroller next to the entrance). 

Base sous marine - entrance
La Base sous-marine museum in Bordeaux

Starting from April 17, 2020 the museum will go through a huge transformation and the Base Sous-Marine will become the Bassin des Lumières! It currently belongs to the city of Bordeaux and only part of it is occupied by the art exhibitions. However, starting April from next year, it will be run by a private company that is upgrading it to another level. Four big pools (where previously the submarines used to dock) will be used for a spectacular light installation, taking you over the bridges and along the quays of Bassins a flot (the current port of Bordeaux). The downside is that the price is going to be much higher, from its current fee of 5 euros it’s supposed to go to 15 euros per person.

La Base sous-marine is located in the Bacalan neighborhood which is yet another cool place to discover in Bordeaux and I have a whole article about the best things to do there, you can read it here. 

Address: Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33300 Bordeaux
Opening hours (until April 17. 2020): Open from Tuesday to Sunday 13:30 to 19:00 (only during exhibitions).
Fee: currently 5€ but will change soon, free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August).
The site of the museum: https://www.facebook.com/BasesousmarinedeBordeaux/

Institut Bernard Magrez 

If you’re in for some street art, you’re in the right city! Bordeaux has plenty of amazing local street art to offer. Surprisingly enough, one of the best places to see street art in Bordeaux is located in a beautiful 18th-century mansion called Chateau Labottiere. A cool contrast, isn’t it? The place is called the Institut Bernard Magrez and it regularly hosts exhibitions by the best local and international street artists. The art is beautifully integrated with the classical features of the chateau and is being alternated every couple of months so there is always something interesting to see there. Next to the château, there are two smaller exhibition spaces where amazing exhibitions of paintings, sculpture and photography are hosted on a regular basis so you actually get to see three exhibitions during one visit. The cultural institute also hosts plenty of creative workshops for kids and concerts for adults so check their events list on their site.

Mika Bordeaux
Mika at Institut Bernard Magrez
Address: 16 rue de Tivoli, Bordeaux
Opening hours: Open from Friday to Sunday 13:00 to 18:00 (the museum is often closed for events so it’s always better to call and ask them if they are open before going).
Fee: 8 €, free every first Sunday of the month
The site of the museum: https://www.institut-bernard-magrez.com/

FRAC – local contemporary art 

If you crossed Pont Saint-Jean in the last year or so you must have noticed the new, very modern building that reminds a bit the Arc of La Defense in Paris. This is MECA the Regional Pole of Culture and Creative Economy. It houses many offices that don’t mean much to most people, but there is one place inside that is worth going to if you’re looking to discover new art. FRAC, that sits in MECA is a cultural institution with a mission to promote contemporary art in Nouvelle Aquitaine, hosting several exhibitions of local artists. It has reopened its doors after being closed for two years. The exhibitions are varied and include many genres from photography to painting and sculpture. The works are not always my style but it’s big and you can always find a lot of interesting artists there. 

Address: Corto Maltese, La MÉCA 5 parvis, 33800 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Open Tuesday to Saturday and the first Sunday of the month from  13:o0 to 18:30. Every third Thursday of the month the museum is open until 21:00
Fee: It’s an organization that works on contributions so you can pay 1 euro minimum or more if you wish. 
The site of the museum: https://fracnouvelleaquitaine-meca.fr/

Kids Museums in Bordeaux

The Natural History museum 

After years of renovations, the natural history museum of Bordeaux has finally opened its doors in March 2019. Created in 1971, the museum has one of the biggest collections in France with more than a million specimens. Besides the new design and the incredible collection, one of the new features in the renovated museum is the “Early Years Museum” for kids under 6 years old. 

kids museums in Bordeaux

I’m not sure that I should’ve put it under the category of kids museums as it’s a fascinating place for everyone. But it’s extremely kids friendly and it has become a go-to place for Bordelais parents, especially when it’s cold or raining outside. If you need more ideas for activities for kids check out my article about 30 things to do with kids in Bordeaux. 

Address:  5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Open from Tuesday to Sunday. From April to September from 10:30 to 18:00 and from October to March from 10:30 to 17:30. 
Fee: 5€ (7€ when there are temporary exhibitions). Free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August).
The site of the museum: https://www.museum-bordeaux.fr/en/accueil

Cap Sciences

Cap Sciences is a kids science museum and one of the most fun and educative places in Bordeaux. The museum proposes interactive exhibitions and activities all dedicated to different aspects of science. It touches upon topics of light, space, time, robots and more and everything is presented in an interactive and approachable way for kids to understand. They normally also have an exhibition that is dedicated to little kids, up to 6 yo, so it’s really great for all ages. All the descriptions are also translated to English so it’s a welcoming place for tourists and locals alike. Another interesting feature of the museum is the kids’ workshops arranged by different age groups. Among them, you can find photography, molecular cooking, eco-citizens and more. 

Cap Sciences
by Lost in Bordeaux
Address:  Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Open from Tuesday to Friday from 14:00 to 18:00 and Saturday – Sunday from 14:00 to 19:00. The hours change during school break so check their exact hours on the site. 
Fee: The fee changes according to the exhibitions presented in the museum so check their site for current prices. 
The site of the museum: http://www.cap-sciences.net/

History, culture and others 

Musee d’Aquitaine 

Musée d’Aquitaine is the largest museum in Bordeaux, dedicated to archaeological findings and regional history and ethnology. The museum’s permanent collections span two floors. The first floor is largely dedicated to archaeological findings including tools from the Old Stone and Bronze ages. The other big collection covers the Gallo- Roman period of Bordeaux, with old statues and parts from the original wall that surrounded the city from the 3rd to the 18th centuries. The second floor is dedicated to the 18th century and the modern era of Bordeaux. A big part of the exhibition touches upon the importance of the port and the slave trade that Bordeaux was part of. The exhibition finished with some inspiring videos presenting the big (chances?) of Bordeaux in the last decade and leaves you with a taste to discover more of the city and region. The museum is very rich with information but the first floor is a bit outdated with almost no explanations in English. The second floor somewhat makes up for it with a more modern style of display and many more explanations in English. It also has many videos giving you an idea of how the city looked like in the 18th century, one of the most important centuries in Bordeaux’s history. 

Musee d'Aquitaine Bordeaux

The museum also runs good temporary exhibitions on specific topics related to the Nouvelle Aquitaine region. They often have guided tours in English but their schedule is always changing so it’s better to send them a message on facebook and ask when’s the next one. 

Address:  20 Cours Pasteur, 33000 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Open every day except Tuesday 11:00-18:00
Fee:  5€ , free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August)
The site of the museum: http://www.musee-aquitaine-bordeaux.fr/

Musée national des Douanes

This small museum is the national museum of the history of French customs. It’s located in one of the most beautiful buildings in Bordeaux, called the Hôtel des Fermes du Roi on Place de la Bourse, just in front of the water mirror. The exhibition of the museum presents the evolution of the customs administration from ancient to modern times. In the 18th century, it was the local headquarters of the French customs administration in the region, collecting taxes for the king. Through paintings, uniforms, maps and musical instruments the museum allows you to discover the works of one of France’s oldest administrations and their different challenges.

The Musée national des Douanes is a great place for people who are interested in history, especially French one. The fee is only 3 euros so it is worth a visit. 

Address:  1 Place de la Bourse, 33000 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Open every day except Tuesday 10:00-18:00
Fee:  3€ , free entry every first Sunday of the month (except July and August)
The site of the museum: http://www.musee-douanes.fr/

Musée Mer marine

The sea and marine museum is one of the newest museums of Bordeaux, located on the Bassin a flot, the port of Bordeaux in the Bacalan district. As the name suggests the museum is dedicated to the sea world with a remarkable exhibition of boats, sculptures and objects. The permanent exhibition has more than 10,000 sea and marine related objects like navigation instruments, maps and many pieces of art as well. The idea behind it was to create a bridge between the marine and art worlds. Even the building itself is interesting if you like modern architecture. The museum regularly hosts temporary themed exhibitions such as different illustrations by a specific artist, photography and more. The museum is certainly a good place to visit if you’re interested in boats. The entry fee is 14€ so I’d also check their website for the temporary exhibitions to see if it’s worth going.

Address: 89 rue des Étrangers, 33300 Bordeaux
Opening hours: Wednesday to Friday  10:30-18:00 and Saturday to Sunday 10:30-19:00
Fee:  14€ 
The site of the museum: https://www.mmmbordeaux.com/en/home/

La Maison de l’Huître

This cute little museum is actually located on the Arcachon bay, but I decided to add it to the list because many people go to Arcachon for a day trip. The museum sits in Port de Larros in Gujan Mestras, the oysters capital of the Arcachon bay. It’s no wonder then that they have decided to dedicate a whole museum to oysters. The permanent exhibition includes a beautiful movie and plenty of items and information about all the techniques of oyster farming and the history of the oyster in our region. The museum is very interactive and fun to visit with kids. They even have a special oyster farming boat made for kids where they can play. If you’re heading to the Bassin d’Arcachon anytime soon, I highly recommend visiting there. 

La Maison de l'Huître arcachon
Address: Rue du Port de Larros, 33470 Gujan-Mestras
Opening hours: September to June from Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 18:00. July and August, open everyday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:30 to 18:30. 
Fee: 5.9€ for adults and 3.9 for kids (5-14 yo)
The site of the museum: http://www.maison-huitre.fr/

If it’s your first visit to Bordeaux don’t miss my full guide to a weekend in Bordeaux and my article about the most interesting districts in Bordeaux. And if you’re in for a foodie experience check out my foodies tours in Bordeaux 🙂 

Lost in Bordeaux helps you enjoy the city and region in many ways so be sure to follow us on facebook/Instagram for more daily updates on things to do and see. Or better yet, join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.

*Note – Some of the links in this article include affiliate links for which I earn a small commission. It adds absolutely nothing to your cost and helps me continue writing about this amazing region. Don’t worry, I’m not getting rich here, I’ll never recommend anything I don’t believe in 🙂 

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In Art

The best exhibitions in Bordeaux to see this summer

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MECA Bordeaux

This year Bordeaux launched a fascinating cultural program named Liberté. As the name suggests, many of the exhibitions inaugurated in the last few weeks have the common theme of Freedom. In this article, I decided to gather a list of the best exhibitions being presented in Bordeaux this summer. The exhibitions are very diverse, from street art to design and contemporary art. I must say that this summer the cultural institutions in Bordeaux have done a great job bringing interesting and diverse exhibitions to the city.  So here we go with the list of the best art exhibitions in Bordeaux this summer (2019).

Institut Bernard Magrez – Two street art exhibitions

May 28 – September 1st and July 5 – October 6

wall paintings in Montreal by SETH
photo by: Seth

Two amazing street art exhibitions are going to be presented at the Institut Bernard Magrez throughout the summer. The first one (from May 28 to September 1st) is called Instincts, an exhibition by Mika which is one of Bordeaux’s most prominent street artists. The other one (July 5 – October 6) is an exhibition by one of the most famous street artists in the world, Seth (Julien Mallard) who also happens to be French. For more details click here.

Address: 16 Rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux

Galerie des beaux arts – La passion de la liberté. Des Lumières au romantisme

June 20 – October 13

For those looking for classic arts in Bordeaux, there are some exciting news this summer. Le Musée des Beaux-Arts and le musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design are presenting a collection from le Musée du Louvre. This exhibition is marking an unprecedented partnership between Bordeaux and the prestigious art institution. ‘La passion de la liberté – Des Lumières au romantisme’ exhibitions hosting works of art from different departments in the Louvre museum, bringing together more than one hundred works – paintings, sculptures and graphic works – created mainly during the 18th and 19th centuries. The exhibition revolves around the concept of Freedom (liberté) which is the theme of all the cultural events in Bordeaux this summer. The idea is to make the public reflect on philosophical, political, ideological, social and economic aspects of freedom through famous works of art. The exhibition will be presented at the Galerie des Beaux-Arts. For more details click here. 

Address: Place du Colonel Raynal – 33000 Bordeaux

Muséum de Bordeaux – Rire! 

June 24 – January 26, 2020

According to scientific research, we laugh 18 times a day on average. Laughter, however, is not unique to us human beings, different animal species also have different expressions of laughter is their language. The new and super fun exhibition at the natural history museum in Bordeaux offers different activities that provoke laughter. It’s a very interactive and kids friendly exhibition that includes videos, sounds, games, and painting. If you haven’t visited this museum yet, you definitely should! For more details click here.

Address: 5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux (in Jadin public)

Musée d’Aquitaine– La déferlante surf

June 19, 2019 – January 5, 2020

The Atlantique coasts of the south-west of France are a popular destination for surfers these days and it looks like this sport has always been here. But did you know that surfing was actually introduced to Europe through our region in the 50s? Thus it only makes sense that Musée d’Aquitaine, which explores the history of the region, will also explore the surfing culture in Aquitaine. The new exhibition, La déferlante surf, deals with different aspects of surfing from the sport itself to its economic and environmental influences. Among others, the items presented include videos, sounds, different traditional objects, images from different beaches and more. For more details click here. 

Address: 20 Cours Pasteur, 33000 Bordeaux

Musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design (Madd) – Memphis – Plastic Field 

June 22 – January 5, 2020

Memphis is a movement founded in 1981 by Ettore Sottsass,  an Italian architect and designer, which united many young artists who dreamed of shattering the codes of modernism and rationalism. The works of this movement had a great effect on the European design landscape in the past three decades. It has radically changed the language of shapes and colors, focusing on the presence of the object rather than its functionality. This summer the geometric shapes and bright colors of the movement are being hosted by the Madd museum in Bordeaux. For more details click here. 

Address: 39 Rue Bouffard, 33000 Bordeaux

le Musée Mer Marine –  Sempé en liberté

May 29 – October 6

For its second exhibition, le Musée Mer Marine is hosting about 300 works of the famous cartoonist, Jean-Jacques Sempé who was born in Pessac. Sempé is mostly known for its illustrations in Frech classical kids book series Petit Nicolas and from publications in big magazines like the New Yorker and Paris Match. The sea museum finally opened its doors on June 21, so now you can go see the permanent exhibition as well. See more details here. 

Address: 89 Rue des Étrangers, 33300 Bordeaux

Rivages et Vertigo Sea – a new exhibition

June 20 – September 22

The Base sous-marine is hosting a new and intriguing exhibition this summer. It is, in fact, a combination of two exhibitions addressing the themes of sea and shore. Rivages is a photography exhibition by the artist Harry Gruyaert and Vertigo Sea is a video installation by the director John Akomfrah. For more information about the exhibition click here.

Address: Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33000 Bordeaux, France

Frac – Il est une fois dans l’Ouest

June 29 – November 9

Frac Bordeaux
‘Il est une fois dans l’Ouest exhibition’ (Frac) by Lost in Bordeaux

Frac is a cultural institution with a mission to promote contemporary art in Nouvelle Aquitaine. After almost two years of hiatus, it finally opened its doors to the public in the new MECA building. The new exhibition ‘Il est une fois dans l’Ouest’ hosts 15 artistic projects of artists and art curators who are originally from or operate in Nouvelle Aquitaine. I didn’t find all the art installations very interesting but many of them were very good and it was great to discover the artists of the region and the new exhibition space. For more details click here. 

Address: 54 Quai de Paludate, 33800 Bordeaux

That’s it my art-loving friends! I’m still exploring the art in the region so with time I’ll add more exhibitions to the list. Meanwhile, you can also check out the list of events taking place in July in Bordeaux. Also if you’re here during the weekend check out my weekend list.

Just to remind you that I often update about events and exhibition 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.

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In Bordeaux Monthly

What to do in Bordeaux in November

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Brocante in Bordeaux

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

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

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

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

The best events in and around Bordeaux in November 2022

Foire de La Toussaint

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

When: October 29 –  November 1 /Where: Quais, 33190 LA REOLE
day tip from Bordeaux to La Reole
La Reole – by Lost in Bordeaux

Festival Objectif Terre

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

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

Festival Toutes Latitudes

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

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

Sting Concert

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

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

L’esprit du Piano -Piano Festival

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

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

Festival Musical Écran

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

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

Bliss Yoga Festival

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

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

Open doors in the Chateaux of Sauternes et Barsac

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

the best wineries in Sauternes and Barsac

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

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

Foire de la Saint Martin

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

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

When: November 11 / Where: the village of Duras

Festival Love Tattoo Urban Street

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

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

La Raisin d’Or

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

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

La Rochelle Swing festival 

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

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

International History films festival

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

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

Fête Du Livre Jeunesse Et Bd

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

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

Organic Wine Market in Darwin 

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

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

Portes Ouvertes in Pomerol

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

When: November 2o/  Where: Pomerol 

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

Lettres du monde

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

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

Casse-Noisette

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

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

Brocante des Quinconces

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

Brocante des Quinconces

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

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

The Salon Bien-être

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

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

les Journées Gourmandes Loupiac & Foie Gras

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

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

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

Marché de Noël de Bordeaux

The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will open its gates between November 25 and December 25. This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the region with 150 pavilions selling all the traditional Christmas merchandise such as clothes, decorations, jewelry, toys, and local products. Even if you don’t intend to buy any gifts at the market you can still enjoy the Christmas spirit with some hot wine and roasted chestnuts.  For more info click here.

When: November 25 – December 25 / Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux

Exhibition you should check in Bordeaux this month

“Venise, la Sérénissime” and “Destination Cosmos”

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

Les Pionniers du Street art

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

The Inner Space

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

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

You can also get plenty of tips on things to do in the Southwest of France via lost in Bordeaux’s social media accounts and email list, check them out here:

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What to do this weekend in Bordeaux (October 25-27)

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seth - Institut Bernard Magrez

The fact that its quite cold and rainy in Bordeaux doesn’t mean we can’t continue to party! Several parties and festivals are taking place this weekend in Bordeaux, among them a magic festival and an open-air music festival in Talence. Although most Halloween celebrations are taking place next week, some cool events start coming in among them the Hallowing party at Chateau de Vayres and the kids’ party on the IBOAT. If you want the full list of Halloween events for this year, go to my latest article about where to celebrate Halloween in Bordeaux. Before we start this weekend’s list I just wanted to wish good luck to all the Bordeaux Marathon runners! If you want to see what events are taking place in Bordeaux in November, you can read it here.  Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (October 25-27)

Bordeaux Marathon

Finally, after a long delay, the Bordeaux Marathon is back! The Marathon will take place on October 26 in the historic city center, allowing the runners to cross all the historic sites and some of Bordeaux’s biggest wineries. The Marathon will start at 20:00 which makes it even more special as runners can see the city by night with special decorations just for the event.  Most of us are probably not in shape for the 42km run, but that should not prevent us from enjoying the atmosphere in the city as well as seeing others run 🙂 For more info about the activities on that day click here. 

When: October 26  / Where: starting Palais de la Bourse

Tauzia Fête les Jardins

Tauzia fête les Jardins, taking place this weekend ( October 25-27 ) in Gradignan, is one of the most beautiful plant celebrations in the south of France. A three-day event that gathers plants growers, professional gardeners, landscape architects and artists. The rich program of the festival includes plenty of workshops, conferences, activities for kids such as painting and music in the garden, creating a bamboo palisade, creating a herbarium, plastic art in the garden for kids and more. For more info check out the facebook page of the event.

When: October 25-27 / Where: 216 cours du général de Gaulle, 33170 Gradignan

Portes ouvertes dans les châteaux

This weekend (October 26-27) it’s the turn of the Fronsac & Canon Fronsac wine appellations to hold the annual portes ouvertes weekend. 34 wineries will open their doors to the public with guided tours at their properties and wine tastings. See the list of chateaux and more info here. 

When: October 26-27 / Where: take a look at the program

Open Air Arts & Métiers : L’Évasion

The students of Bordeaux don’t seem to give in to the rainy weather. This Friday (October 25) Vie Étudiante Arts&Métiers association is hosting an open-air party with the theme of California in the 70th. The entry is free. For more details click here. 

When: October 25, 19:00- 01:00 / Where: Esplanade des Arts et Métiers, 33400 Talence

Open Air • BDE BAF / Bruit Rose Music

Les Vivres de l’Art is also hosting its last “summer” party this Sunday (October 27). Come and enjoy a fun afternoon with music and drinks at this special place in the Bacalan district. For more info click here. 

Les Vivres de l'Art Bordeaux
Les Vivres de l’Art by Lost in Bordeaux
When: October 27, 13:00 – 18:00 / Where: 4 rue Achard, 33300 Bordeaux, France

Festival Escapade Magique

Festival Escapade Magique, taking place this Saturday (October 26) in Martignas sur Jalle, is a festival dedicated to the world of magic and witchcraft. The program includes an escape game, quidditch, quizzes for kids and adults, board games and more. Part of the activities are free and some require a ticket (5 euros). For more info click here. 

When: October 26 / Where: Espace Dolange (next to the Jean Castagnet school), Martignas sur Jalle

What’s in the woods 

What’s in the woods is a local rock festival taking place in Begles this weekend (October 25-26). The program includes eight local bands, Dj sets and exhibitions. For more info and tickets click here. 

When: October 25-26 / Where: Rue du 11 Novembre, 33130 Bègles

Halloween at Château de Vayres

Chateau de Vayres invites you to their Halloween weekend on October 26-27 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 firework show. For more details click here.

Also throughout the school break (until October 31), the chateau will host a kids afternoon (3-12 years old) with workshops to create monsters and different surprises in the château and its beautiful gardens. For more info and reservation click here.

When: October 25-27 / Where: 63 Avenue de Libourne, 33870 Vayres

IBOAT • Le mini club des zombies

Last weekend the IBoat was hosting a zombies party and this weekend its the turn of the little zombies to come and have some fun. This Sunday (October 27) the IBoat is hosting a Halloween party for kids with workshops, make up for kids and other cure surprises. For more details click here. 

When: October 27, 15:00-19:00 / Where: Bassin à Flot n°1, Cours Henri Brunet, 33300 Bordeaux

Portes Ouvertes au Château de La Dauphine

Le Château de La Dauphine in Fronsac, is one of the most beautiful chateaux in our region. This weekend (October 26-27) the chateau invites you to its open doors weekend where you will visit the impressive mansion, enjoy good food and taste wine of course. The entry is free. For more info click here.

When: October 26-27 / Where: rue Poitevine, 33126 Fronsac, Aquitaine, France

A street art creative workshop

Have you already seen Seth’s amazing street art exhibition at the Institut Bernard Magrez?. If you haven’t this weekend is the last opportunity to do that. This Saturday (October 26) the museum will host a creative workshop where you will recreate one of Seth’s famous works. The workshop is open to adults and kids older than 5 years old. For more details and tickets click here.

Seth - institut Bernard Magrez
When: October 26, at 15:00 / Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux

Séance de dédicace du set fossiles de dinosaures LEGO IDEAS

This Friday afternoon (October 25) the Lego store at Promenade Sainte Catherine invites you to a nice event where you will meet the creator of the new Dinosaur Fossils lego. For more info click here. 

When: October 25, at 17:00 / Where: Promenade Sainte Catherine, Rue Guiraude, 33000 Bordeaux

Fête du Piment d’Espelette

What to eat in Espelette
Beautifully designed restaurant with traditional Basque food

This event is maybe a bit far from Bordeaux but it’s an excellent excuse to travel to the region. Piment d’Espelette is the red pepper that decorates every market in the Basque country and every shop selling Basque products. Like every important ingredient in the French kitchen, this little pepper needs a “fête”. Fête du Piment d’Espelette is taking place on October 26-27 in the beautiful village of Espelette. The program includes a big parade, a huge market with more than 200 stands of basque products, musical concerts, activities for kids, a mass with the choir of Espelette and more. For more details click here. 
If you want to know what else there’s to see and eat in Espelette read about my visit to Espelette this summer.

When: October 26-27  / Where: Espelette, 64250

Marché des Producteurs

On Saturday (October 26) Darwin will host its big organic market with many local producers from all over the southwest of France. Among others, you will find stands of oysters, wine, cheese, flowers and more.  For more info click here. 

When:  October 16 / Where: Darwin Caserne Niel / 87 quai des queyries, Bordeaux

Foire aux Plaisirs

This is the fall edition of the traditional Bordelais Fair that is taking place at Place des Quinconces from October 11 to November 3. 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, candyfloss 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 11 – November 3 / Where: Place des Quinconces , 33000 Bordeaux

Le Règne des Dinosaures  – an exhibition for kids

A big dinosaurs exhibition for kids will be presented at the Hippodrome Bordeaux-Le Bouscat on October 19 – November 11. The exhibition space will be open every day during the school break and on November 6, 9-11 from 14:00 to 18:00. For more details click here. 

When: October 19 – November 11 / Where: 8 avenue de l’Hippodrome, 33110 Le Bouscat

Pintxo Gaua

Pintxo Gaua is a fun event taking place in Halles de Bacalan every last Friday of the month. As the name indicates, this event is all about Pintxos, with ingredients coming solely from the market. Finish your week this Friday (October 25) with Pintxos, wine and a Dj set. For more info click here. 

When: October 25, 18:30- 22:30 / Where: 10 Esplanade de Pontac, 33300 Bordeaux

Mama’s Party

Enjoy the last party nights at Mama Shelter, the coolest rooftop in Bordeaux. This weekend (October 25-26) Mama Shelter invites you to three DJ nights starting from 21:30. For more info click here.

When:  October 25-26 / Where: 19 Rue Poquelin Molière, 33000 Bordeaux

Finally, if you are looking for a fun and delicious activity in Bordeaux, check out my food tours in which I’ll take you through a three hours journey in the culinary scene of the Southwest of France.

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 Bordeaux. To help you choose a place to stay 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 find your preferred AirBnB location.

Lost in Bordeaux helps you enjoy the city and region in many ways so be sure to follow us on facebook/Instagram for more daily updates on things to do and see. Or better yet, join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.

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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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In Bordeaux Monthly

15 things to do in March in Bordeaux

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Bordeaux in the spring

The spring is here and the city is coming back to life with sunny beautiful days with plenty of interesting events. So what is waiting for you in March 2019? Dance, wine, antiques, cinema and more. Now get your diaries ready and follow my list of things to do this month in Bordeaux!

Salon des vins des Vignerons Indépendants de Bordeaux

The Salon des vins of the Bordeaux independent winemakers will take place on March 8-10 at the Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux. Wine producers from the region will present their wine and will invite you to a free taste . This event is not focused on professionals but rather on all wine lovers! This year the salon celebrates its 20th anniversary and they promised it will be bigger than ever. Come prepared to drink a lot. For more info click here.

When: March 8-10 / Where:  Cours Jules Ladoumègue, 33000 Bordeaux

Salon du Vintage

The annual vintage salon will take place in Hangar 14 (Quai des Chartrons) on Marche 9-10. This chic event will gather more than 150 exhibitors with a great selection of accessories, furniture, vinyl records, classic cars, jukebox, paintings and more. Just outside of Hangar 14, plenty of food trucks will wait for you during lunch. For more details check the facebook page and the website of the event. Entry is 5€ and free for kids under 12 years old.

When: March 9-10 / Where: 173 Quai des Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux

Swing Festival

Every March, for more than a decade now, Bordeaux has been hosting the Swing Art Festival (March 15-17) where swing dancers come from all around the globe to teach the dancers of Bordeaux their art of swinging. This festival is much more than just swing dancing, it’s three days of live music, art, vintage markets, workshops, and a get together of many people from all around the world to celebrate this sweeping dance. The event will take place in Halle des Chartrons and it’s Free! For more details click here.

When: March 15-17 / Where:  10 Place du Marché Chartrons, 33000

The Italian Spring Festival

Le printemps italien is a an Italian literature festival that will take place on March 14-16 in several locations around Bordeaux Metropole. The program includes meetings with Italian writers, screenings of Italian films, wine tastings and more. For the full program and tickets to events click here.

When: March 14- 16 / Where: different locations around Bordeaux

Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux

Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux (16-23 March) 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!!

There are two parts to the festival: Festival IN, with well-known artists on stage. Festival OUF– that proposes free activities during the whole week of the festival such as workshops, happenings, entertaining children in hospitals and more. See the full program here.

When: March 16-23 / Where:  Different locations in Bordeaux

Saint Patrick’s day

Saint Patrick’s day is always a good opportunity to get drunk from an Irish beer or whisky while listening to good music. Although it’s not Dublin, there are quite a lot of Irish and English bars in Bordeaux. Most of them 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!

Foire aux Plaisirs

This is the spring edition of the traditional Bordelaise Fair that is taking place at Place des Quinconces  from February 22 to March 24. It’s a perfect activity for kids and for those who are young in spirit as La Foire aux Plaisirs de Bordeaux has it all: a big wheel, roller coasters, ghost trains, bumper cars, donuts, crèpes, barbes à papa and more. The fair is open daily from 14:00, you are not required to pay any entry fee, only for some of the attractions. See more info about the fair here.

When: February 22 to March 24 / Where:Place des Quinconces , 33000 Bordeaux

Salon International du Disque de Bordeaux

The international salon of vinyl and cd records of Bordeaux will take place March 23-24 in the Parc des expositions. It’s the 59th edition of this festival that brings together 80 exhibitors from France and abroad and proposes all genres of music: rock, pop, soul, jazz, punk, reggae and more. For more details click here. Price: Normal 3€50 / Student 2€ / free for kids.

When: March 23-24 / Where: Stadium-vélodrome, Cours Jules Ladoumègue, 33000 BORDEAUX

The European short film festival

The 22nd edition of the European Short Film festival (festival européen du court métrage de bordeaux) will take place on March 27-29 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 or their facebook page.

When: March 27-29 / Where: 13-15 rue Georges Bonnac, 33000 Bordeaux, France

SHOWS

Lac des Cygnes

The Russian National Opera will perform the Swan Lake, one of the most famous ballets in the world on March 16 at the Bordeaux Arkea Arena. For tickets and more info click here.

When: March 16 / Where: 48-50 Avenue Jean Alfonséa, 33270 Floirac

Tango Pasion

Tango Pasion is coming back to France after more than 3000 shows around the world. Six world renowned couples of amazing dancers will take the stage of the Arkea Arena on March 28. There aren’t many tickets left so hurry up. For more info and tickets click here.

When: March 28 / Where: 48-50 Avenue Jean Alfonséa, 33270 Floirac

Celtic Legends

Celtic Legends will perform their new show “Connemara Tour 2019” at the Arkea Arena on March 27 (two shows). For more details and tickets click here.

When: March 27 / Where: 48-50 Avenue Jean Alfonséa, 33270 Floirac

Exhibitions:

D’un soleil à l’autre – New exhibition at the Base sous marine

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 and 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 from March 9 to May 19. For more info click here.

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

Festins – new exhibition

Institut Bernard Magrez will be presenting its new exhibition in a few days (March 7) and it looks awesome. 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 and here. The exhibition will be presented at the institute until June 9. On March 8, in honor of the international women’s day the entry for women is free. This place never disappoints!

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

Sous les mers, au-delà de l’image-  Musee de la Mer et de la Marine

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

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

That’s it guys!!! I do this list so you won’t miss the best events and concerts taking place during the month. If there are other things you would like to see in my monthly lists please feel free to leave a comment below!

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Best things to do in Bordeaux – Winter 2019

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To help my readers plan their weekends in advance I decided to add quarterly editions of my “things to do in Bordeaux” lists, so here comes the winter edition!. The list includes the biggest events taking place in and around Bordeaux in January, February and the first half of March. I’ll continue releasing my weekend posts which will include both big and smaller events that I think you would love. In this article, however, I want to single out the big festivals, concerts, exhibitions, fairs and more. So let’s start with the winter edition of 2019.

Trente Trente – Emerging arts Festival

Trente Trente is an annual festival, created to promote emerging artists in Bordeaux and Nouvelle Aquitaine in general. The festival includes more than twenty performances by artists from all genres, with some experimenting with interdisciplinary arts. Check out the full program that includes dance, music, theater, circus and more. The festival takes place on January 18-31 in different theaters and cultural spaces across the metropole (see the full list here).

When: January 18 -31
Where: Diffent venues in the Bordeaux area (check out the full program)

Bordeaux rock Festival

The Bordeaux Rock festival will take place on January 23-27 in different music venues in Bordeaux: The Iboat, Quartier libre, El Chicho, L’avant scène, Void, La Tencha, La Voute, L’imperio, L’Antidote, and Salle des fêtes du grand parc. For the full program and tickets click here. Some of the events are free.

When: January 23-27
Where:  Different venues in the Bordeaux area (check out the full program)

Winter Sales

Winter Sales have finally started a few days ago with great discounts on everything from clothes to shoes and electric supplies, so this is the time to hit the stores. Les soldes d’hiver will take place during six weeks between January 9 and February 19.

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

International magic festival

The international magic festival will take place in Théâtre Fémina on January 25-27. This year seven world-class artists (magicians and illusionists) will offer you breathtaking spectacles that you wouldn’t want to miss. For more info and tickets click here.

When: January 25-27
Where:  10 Rue de Grassi, 33000 Bordeaux

Le Cirque Arlette Gruss

Arlette Gruss is a traditional French circus, founded in 1985. The circus has performed in Bordeaux several times in the last two decades and this time it’s coming back with a new show. This year they offer a free guided visit to the circus village to those who bought a ticket to the show. The circus tent will occupy the place de Quinconces from January 10 to February 6. For more details and tickets click here.

When: January 10 to February 6
Where:  Place des Quinconces, 33000 Bordeaux

Salon des Antiques et des art contemporaine

The Salon of Antiques and contemporary arts is one of the biggest events in Bordeaux for Antique hunters. Around one hundred exhibitors,
rigorously selected from different areas of France and other countries in Europe, will present their collections and knowledge in history and art. Le Salon des Antiques et des art contemporaine will take place at the Parc des Expositions from January 26 to February 3. Entry is 10 euros and free for kids under 15 years old. For more details click here.

When: January 26 – February 3
Where: Parc des Expositions, Bordeaux Lac, 33000 Bordeaux

Fête des Bœufs Gras

Bazas in the Southern part of Gironde is a beautiful town that attracts many people with its weekly market. But what Bazas is mostly known for is its Beef. Since 1283, on the Thursday before Mardi Gras, the city of Bazas hosts the famous “Fête des Bœufs Gras” that celebrates the Bazas Beef. An Oxen parade takes place on the central streets of the town with the Oxen judged by a jury of experts. The day ends with a banquet where you can taste the famous meet. The event will take place on February 28.

When: February 28
Where:  Bazas, Gironde

Steven Wilson in concert

Steven Wilson is the lead singer of the British band Porcupine Tree, which also had an amazing solo career during the last 15 years. On January 22, he will perform his best songs at Théâtre Fémina. For more details and tickets click here.

When: January 22
Where:  10 Rue de Grassi, 33000 Bordeaux

Massive attack arrives to Bordeaux 

The famous British band Massive Attack will take the stage of the Arkea Arena on February 14, a great date for Valentine’s day 🙂 For more details and tickets click here.

When: February 14
Where:  48-50 Avenue Jean Alfonséa, 33270 Floirac

Festival de 2 rives

Le Carnaval des 2 rives  (March 3)  takes place on both sides of the Garonne river. This is a modern festival (created in 1996) that has all the best features of a traditional carnival such as costumes, shows, and a big parade. The parade will start at 14:00 at the Allée Serr, on the right side of the river and will pass to the other side through Pont de Pierre ending at the Village Carnival at Place Pey-Berland at 15:30. The Village Carnaval will be open until 18:00 with a big scene including dancers and demonstrations of augmented reality. For more details click here.

When: March 3
Where:  Starts at Allée Serr, Bastide, Bordeaux

Swing Festival

Every March, for more than a decade now, Bordeaux has been hosting the Swing Art Festival (March 15-17) where swing dancers come from all around the globe to teach the dancers of Bordeaux their art of Swinging. This festival is much more than just swing dancing, it’s three days of live music, art, vintage markets, workshops, and a get together of many people from all around the world to celebrate this sweeping dance. It will take place in and around Halle des Chartrons and it’s Free! For more details click here.

When: March 15-17
Where:  10 Place du Marché Chartrons, 33000 

Jumping international de Bordeaux

Jumping International de Bordeaux is a big riding equestrian event that includes competitions, spectacles and a fun fair. The event will take place February 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: 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

Last chance to visit the Kaléidoscope exhibition

This is the last chance 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. The exhibition will be presented until February 17. For more info click here and here

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

Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux

Les Fous Rires de Bordeaux (16-23 March) 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!!

There are two parts to the festival:
Festival IN, with well-known artists on stage.
Festival OUF– that proposes free activities during the whole week of the festival such as workshops, happenings, entertaining children in hospitals and more.

See the full program here.

When: March 16-23
Where:  Different locations in Bordeaux

That’s it for the winter edition of “the best things to do in Bordeaux”! If you’d like to see other things getting into my lists, just comment below and I’ll be happy to hear any suggestion. If you just like it the way it is, share it on facebook 🙂 

And don’t forget to join my email list for even more exclusive updates – subscribe here! 

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This Weekend in Bordeaux (January 11-13)

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rue sainte Catherine Bordeaux soldes

This weekend we can finally see Bordeaux coming back to life after the Christmas vacation. During the winter, as it’s quite freezing outside, most of the events tend to be smaller than the events and festival starting at the end of May. But it doesn’t mean that we have nothing to do until spring arrives. There are plenty of fun small events, a lot of art and nice shows for kids. As those are indoor events, many of them require making a reservation, so be aware of that! Here’s the list of things to do in and around Bordeaux this weekend (January 11-13).

Winter Sales

Winter sales have finally started, so if you were waiting to buy new shoes, this is a good time to hit the stores. Les soldes d’hiver will take place during six weeks between January 9 and February 19.

Hors Piste – ski in the city

Hors Piste is a cool winter event in Darwin where they transform one of the Hangars into a ski station with fun free activities. The event will take place this Saturday (January 12). For more details and the full program click here.

When: January 12
Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Le Cirque Arlette Gruss

Arlette Gruss is a traditional French circus, founded in 1985. The circus has performed in Bordeaux several times in the last two decades and this time it’s coming back with a new show. This year they offer a free, guided visit to the circus village to those who bought a full priced ticket to the show. The circus tent will occupy place de Quinconces from January 10 to February 6. For more details and tickets click here.

When: January 10 to February 6
Where: Place des Quinconces, 33000 Bordeaux

Disney on ice

For the first time in Bordeaux all the popular Disney characters reunite for an ice skating spectacle. Disney sur Glace includes three shows during this weekend (January 11-13).  For tickets and more details click here.

When: January 11-13
Where: Patinoire de Bordeaux, 95 cours du Maréchal Juin

A creative workshop at the Kaléidoscope exhibition

Last week in my article about 4 exhibitions you should see, I mentioned the beautiful Kaleidoscope exhibition at the Institut Bernard Magrez. This weekend I have some exciting news. The museum is hosting a creative workshop around the works of YZ, whose works are all about humanity and representing women from different cultures. After a presentation of her works, the host will guide you to make your portrait of a woman on rice paper. The workshop is open to kids older than 5 years old. The workshop will take place this Saturday (January 12). For more details click here.

When: January 12, at 15:00
Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux, France

No Land Demain- dance show

No Land Demain is a dance show, by the talented choreograph, Faizal Zeghoudi, that tells the story of immigration during crisis times like wars. The show will be presented this Friday (January 11) at the Casino Théâtre Barrière de Bordeaux. For more details and tickets click here.

When: January 11, 20:30
Where: 10 Rue du Cardinal Richaud, 33300 Bordeaux

Histoire de la danse espagnole

We’re used to thinking of Flamenco as the representative Spanish dance. However, Flamenco is only one of the many genres in the rich Spanish dance world. Ballet de Laredo invites you to discover the history of the Spanish dance with twenty beautiful dancers. The show will take place this Sunday (January 13) at the Rocher de Palmer in Cenon. For more details and tickets click here.

When: January 13, at 15:00 
Where: 1 Rue Aristide Briand, 33152 Cenon

Festival du film Turc de Bordeaux

A Turkish cinema festival will take place this weekend (January 12-13) at the Mégarama Bordeaux at the Bastide neighborhood. Check out the movies screened at the festival here.

When: January 12-13
Where: 7 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Inédit – Photography exhibition

Arrêt sur l’Image Galerie and the Labolabo workshop invites you to an exhibition of four photographers, presenting their work in the new expo called Inedit: Jean-Luc Chapin / Gabrielle Duplantier / Christophe Goussard / Valérie Six. This exhibition is an opportunity to discover the expertise of the workshop Labolabo in black and white prints. The exhibition will take place From January 10 to February 2. The exhibition is free. For more details click here.

When: January 10 – February 2
Where: 45 cours du médoc, 33300 Bordeaux

Trois Maitres – Exhibition

Robert Houdusse, Maurice-Elie Sarthou and Jean Sauboa are three painting teachers at the lycée Montaigne and Montesquieu de Bordeaux. From January 10 to March 10 their works will be presented at Château Lescombes in Eysines. It will be interesting to see the difference in styles and inspirations of the works of the three teachers who have influenced several generations of future Bordeaux artists.  For more details click here.

When: January 10 – March 20
Where: 198 Avenue du Taillan-Médoc, 33320 Eysines

My weekend lists are usually a bit longer than that, but as I said Bordeaux is slowly getting back to its rhythm of events and it will get busier starting next week. This week It took me some time to find good events but after many hours of searching and selecting I’m pretty happy with this list.

Just to let you know that I’m working on a list of the biggest events in January and February so you could plan your schedule ahead.

If my weekend lists is useful to you, it would really mean a lot to me if you share it with your friends on social media, thanks!!!

Have a great weekend!

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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 (November 16-18)

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This weekend Bordeaux hosts the big foodies festival, S.O. good. It’s also a good weekend to be heading to Bassin d’Archachon where two interesting festivals are about to take place: the Geek festival and the Gees Festival (they kind of sound the same, now that I think of it :)). Darwin is always a perfect solution for the weekend and this time they are hosting an organic wine market. Other events this weekend include a piano festival, Cirque du Soleil shows, a literature festival, concerts, exhibitions and more. The list is long so let’s get started on things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (November 16-18):

S.O. Good Festival

This is one of the biggest events to take place during fall in Bordeaux. The S.O Good festival is a gastronomic happening that aims to highlight the talent found in the Nouvelle Aquitaine gastronomic scene and to celebrate local products. The event will take place at Hangar 14 (Quai des Chartrons) on November 16-18. The festival’s program includes more than 100 local producers hosted by the Hangar, many chef workshops in the city center, a night feast on Saturday and a farmers’ brunch on Sunday. This festival is not exclusively French, the opening event in Palais de la Bourse will be dedicated to Italian cuisine. This is one of the most important culinary events in the region and many Michelin star chefs are taking part in it. The price of the festival pass is 12€ and 10€ on pre-sale. For tickets and the full program click here.

When: November 16-18
Where: 173 Quai des Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux, France

Organic Wine Market in Darwin 

Les Barriquades is the biggest market of bio wines in the region, an event that will take place this weekend (November 17-18) in Darwin. On the menu, a huge selection of organic wines  from Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Bergerac, Jurançon and other regions in France such as Alsace, Fitou, Minervois and more. The entry is free. For more info click here.

When: November 17-18
Where:  87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux, France

Piano Festival

The 9th edition of the Festival L’esprit du Piano is currently taking place at the Auditorium of the Opera of Bordeaux (until November  26). This magnificent festival hosts some important pianists like Chick Corea, Yefim Bronfman, Deszo Ranki and Bertrand Chamayou and others, some of whom will collaborate with the National Orchestra of Bordeaux and the choir of the Opera of Bordeaux. One of the biggest names to take the stage of the Auditorium is the Jazz legend, Abdullah Ibrahim. See the program of the festival here and info about tickets here.

When: November 9-26
Where: Grand Théâtre, Place de la Comédie – 33 000 Bordeaux

Cirque du Soleil 

The magnificent Cirque du Soleil are coming to Bordeaux with the show, Ovo, a tale about insects with original music and beautiful new costumes. The circus will give six shows on November 14-18 at the Arkea Arena in Floriac. For tickets click here and for more info about the show look here.

When: November 14-18
Where:  Arkéa Arena, 48-50 Avenue Jean Alfonséa, 33270 Floirac.

Bassin Geek Festival

If you enjoyed the Bordeaux Geek Festival a few months ago, it’s time for the winter edition with the Bassin Geek Festival. The program includes all the things the geek community loves:  comics, sci-fi, web culture, video games, parallel worlds, creative industries and more. The festival will take place at the Parc des Expositions de La Teste De Buch on November 17-18. Check out the full program and all the details here  and ticket prices here.

When: November 17-18
Where: 940 Avenue de l’Europe. 33260 La Teste-de-Buch

Burdigame Games Festival 

Come share your passion for games at the annual Burdigame Games Festival taking place this weekend (November 17-18) in Lormont. Cooperative , construction, board and outdoor games, this festival has it all. It’s a chance for you to discover new games and to get nostalgic with old childhood games. Entry is 2 € and the family pass is 4 €.For more info click here.
When: November 17-18
Where: Pôle Brassens Camus, Rue des Gravières 33310 Lormont

Lettres du monde

The literature festival, Lettres du monde, will take 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 more.
You can enjoy this festival even if you don’t speak French as most of the writers participating in the lectures are coming from around the world, from Yemen to Syria, Spain and Haiti. For the full program click here and for more details here.

Mollat book store Bordeaux

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

Bordeaux Cata Raid 2018

The 6th edition of the the Catamaran race will take place this weekend (November 16-18) in the Garonne river, just next to the central quais. This beautiful event, organized by the les Marins de la Lune club include tens of crew members that will pass next to the quai to honor the city. The view is guaranteed to be spectacular. For more details click here.

When: November 16-18
Where: starts at 103 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux, France

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 17-25
Where: Different places on the Bassin d’Arcachon

L’Arche de Noël – creators market

L’Arche de Noël is a creators market taking place in the Chartrons neighborhood every weekend until Christmas (December 22-23 is the last event). Each week a group of local talented craftsmen and artists will present their original creations. This weekend (November 17-18) the stands will include jewelry, kids toys and clothes, textiles, bags and more.

See more details here.

When: November 17-18
Where: 23 Rue Minvielle, 33000 Bordeaux

Second hand toys market

If you are planning to travel in the South of Gironde, stop by the charming village of  Villandraut, where a second hand market for toys will take place this Saturday (November 17). For more info click here.

When: November 17
Where: Salle Des Fetes, 1 Place Paul Dunesme, 33730 Villandraut

Kids books and comics festival 

The annual kids books and comics festival will take place this Saturday (November 18) at the Halles de Gascogne in Leognan. More than 3000 books will be presented at the event which  also includes spectacles, activities for kids, games and more. Many authors and editors will take part in the event and will sign books. See the full program here. For more details check out the facebook page of the event.

When: November 17
Where: Place Joane, 1 Rue Louise Michel, 33850 Léognan

Arrested Development at the Rocher de Palmer

Arrested Development, a hip hop group that gained world popularity in the 90th with its hit “People Everyday” will take the stage of Rocher Palmer this Sunday (November 18 at 20:30). Tickets range between 23 € and 28 € – click here for more info and tickets.

When: November 18 at 20:30
Where: 1 Rue Aristide Briand, 33152 Cenon

Open Stage at the Grande Poste

This Saturday (November 17) the Grande Poste will host professional and amateur musicians, comedians and dancers for an open stage evening. Come and enjoy an evening of music and fun around drinks and a piano. The event is free and open for all. For more info click here.

When: November 17 starting 21:00
Where: 7 Rue du Palais Gallien, 33000 Bordeaux

Kaléidoscope – Street art exhibition

One of my favorite art venues in Bordeaux, l’Institut Culturel Bernard Magrez, is about to open a new art exhibition this month. 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 and here

When: November 13- February 17
Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux

Exposition 3/1 – Espace Saint-Rémi

La Spirale association invites you to a collective exhibition by three local artists: Magalie Darsouze (visual artist), Benjamin Monteil (engraver) and Chris Pillot (painter). The exhibition will be presented at the beautiful Espace Saint-Rémi on November 7-17. The entrance is free. See more info here.

When: November 7-17
Where: 4 rue Jouannet à Bordeaux

 

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

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Have a great weekend!

 

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