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
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
‘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.
After the success of my article about things to do in Bordeaux with kids when it’s raining I decided that it’s time to dedicate a separate article for adults trying to escape the rain in Bordeaux. Some of the suggestions in my first list are also valid without kids but I wanted to offer more options for those who don’t have kids to entertain.
When you look at local guides to Bordeaux you mostly see outdoor places such as the Miroir d’eau, Place de la comedie and so on. But the truth is that Bordeaux is a very active city and there are many things you could do outside your house even when it’s pouring. I’ve come up with a list of fun activities in Bordeaux, and you’d be surprised how many cool stuff you can experience indoors. So if it’s your first time in Bordeaux, don’t be discouraged by the wet weather and follow my list of special things to do in rainy Bordeaux. If it’s your first time in Bordeaux, I think you’ll also like my guide to a weekend in Bordeaux.
Food and wine with friends at Halles des Bacalan
This fancy food market opened its gates on November 2017 and has been visited by more than 60,000 people in the first month. No surprises there , as Bordeaux is well known for its gourmand population. This impressive 950m2 hangar is located just in front of the famous Cité du vin and hosts 23 different artisans and traders that were chosen for the quality of their products (85% of which are produced in the South-West region of France). Now, when all of this food is accompanied by several bars, you are guaranteed to have a good time. If you want to discover other cool places in the Bacalan neighborhood check out my article about things to do in Bacalan.
Address: 149 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
Visit Darwin
Darwin is probably one of the most surprising places in Bordeaux. An old military base turned into an urban space with a work-space/incubator for startups, a skate park for all ages, a restaurant and many other surprises, all with an agenda of ecological awareness. If you want to discover Bordeaux beyond the center. go ahead to Darwin where you can eat at their designed restaurant, buy local organic products in their shop, do shopping in Emmaus and enjoy unique street art.
Address: 87 Quai de Queyries – 33100 Bordeaux
Visit art museums
If you are in the mood for some art on a rainy day, there are a few museums in the center of Bordeaux that are dedicated to art and design, the most important ones are:
This museum is famous for its sculptures and paintings from the 16th to 20st century, among them the works of Pérugin, Rubens, Chardin, Delacroix, Matisse alongside Bordelaise artists such as Odilon Redon and Albert Marquet. The museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions as well as concerts and art events. Open every day except Tuesday 11:00-18:00
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. Many of the furniture and pieces of art you will see in this museum are dated to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Not less impressive is the original woodwork and wooden floor of the museum. Open every day except Tuesday 11:00-18:00
Le CAPC is worth visiting even if you are not a big fan of contemporary arts. The museum is housed in an old wool warehouse where commodities, traded down the river, used to be stored. What makes it special is the combination of modern art with the old architecture of the building. In the permanent collection, there are almost 300 works of art and it regularly hosts temporary exhibitions that are dedicated to the history of art. Open from Tuesday to Sunday 11:00-18:00.
Address: 7 Rue Ferrere, 33000 Bordeaux
CAPC musée d’art contemporain de Bordeaux
*All museums mentioned above are free every first Sunday of the month.
Visit the Capucins Market
One of the main attractions in Bordeaux is Marché des Capucins. It’s the biggest daily market in Bordeaux and it has everything from fruits and spices, to local sweets and plenty of oysters stands. When it’s heavily raining in Bordeaux, this is one of the best places to go to. You can take your time strolling between the stands and discover the Southwest of France gastronomy and then conclude with lunch in one of the many excellent restaurants in the market. If you need help choosing what and where to eat at the market, check out my article about the best places to eat in Marche des Capucins. Weekends are especially busy in Capucins with locals meeting their friends for oysters and wine after their market run. So if you want to get a table on a Sunday be sure to be there before 11 am. You can also join my food tours in the market which is a fun way to learn about the local food scene.
Play board games in Jeux barjo
Jeux Barjo is the most central game bar in Bordeaux which includes several spaces: mezzanine, cellar and large libraries. Anyone can enjoy this bar as it holds a very impressive board game collection, and even if you are not familiar with the games, the friendly staff are there to explain the rules. The bar offers different menus of games, drinks, and tapas. Jeux barjo is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 14:00.
Address: 12 Rue Saint-James, 33000 Bordeaux
See local contemporary art in MECA
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 people trying to escape the rain, but there is one place inside where you can easily spend hours when the weather is bad. 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. For more details click here.
Address: 54 Quai de Paludate, 33800 Bordeaux
La cité du vin
The cité du vin is a “must” place for any wine lover but can be very interesting and enjoyable for people who don’t drink at all. This impressive piece of modern architecture 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. You will learn about winemaking, see movies and interviews with wine producers and then smell and taste wine. Le Cite du Vin allows you to discover a selection of wines from all over the world and to see the best panoramic view of Bordeaux. If you want to learn more about this super innovative museum, check out my article about visiting the Cite du Vin.
However, before going you should know that it is quite expensive (20€ per ticket) and many people are quite disappointed that the wine tasting includes only one glass of wine. Having said that it is an interactive full sensor activity that you are most likely to enjoy and is a great thing to do on a rainy day in Bordeaux. The Cite du vin is open daily from 10am to 7pm.
Address: 134 – 150 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
Make a tour in the Opera of Bordeaux
The Grand Theatre de Bordeaux was built at the end of the 18th century by the architect Victor Louis. It’s one of the most beautiful 18th-century theaters in the world and is one of France’s preserved historical buildings. Previously a seat of the French parliament, today it serves as a home to the Opera National de Bordeaux and the Ballet National de Bordeaux. Excluding the summer period, the Grand Theatre offers guided tours in the building. The tours take place almost daily at 14h30, 16h00 and 17h30. The price is 6 euros and free for people under 26. For reservations click here.
Address: Place de la Comédie, 33000 Bordeaux
See modern art in la Base sous marine
This is one of the most unique places you can find in Bordeaux. Built by the Germans during the Second World War, this old submarine base has been converted into a space dedicated to contemporary arts, which allows you to enjoy the space itself no less than the art presented there. Base sous marine is located in the Bacalan neighborhood, so it can be combined with a drink in the Bacalan market mentioned above.
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.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday 13:30 to 19:00 (only during exhibitions).
Address: Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33300 Bordeaux
Visit the chic foodie market – Boca
If your stomach starts growling after the long art session in FRAC, just continue to the next place on Quai de Paludate – La Boca Foodcourt. They call it the first French food court, although it reminds me less of a traditional food court in an American mall and rather a chic and a bit of a pricy foodie’s market. Le Halle the Boca is a long hangar with rows of wooden tables in the middle and about 15 different restaurants. I really like it as there’s a great variety of food such as seafood, Spanish tapas, a meat restaurant, and a good bar.
It’s especially nice if you come as a group of people and share many different plates. I also found it to be very kids friendly with a lot of low tables that are a perfect fit for families. The paying method there is a bit tricky as you need to charge a special card and pay with at the restaurants. I’m not a fan of that as it makes you spend more than you would in a normal restaurant but the food is great and the experience is good anyway. Needless to say that it’s a covered market so it’s perfect for a rainy day.
Address: 208 Quai de Paludate, 33800 Bordeaux
Try to get out of an escape room in Espace Hunt
Escape rooms have become popular around the world and it definitely didn’t skip Bordeaux. There are a few escape rooms in Bordeaux and Espace Hunt, located next to Gare Saint-Jean is one of them. The concept is that for one day you become a group of detectives and you have 60 minutes to collect clues and solve a series of questions in order to exit the room before time runs out. The place offers 3 different games: “ The Mystery of St-Emilion”, “Murder in the Harbour” and “Jack the Ripper “. The bigger your group is the easier it will be to get out, and in general, the Hunt is not recommended if you’re only 2 players unless you have previous experience in escape rooms.
After the game you can enjoy a coffee in a 100m2 Victorian salon and take photos in special detective costumes. Speaking French is not necessary as Espace Hunt provides a dedicated multi-lingual game master that will be your personal guide throughout the game. Age: the place isn’t recommended for kids under 12 and all kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. One of the rooms is forbidden for kids under 16.
Adresse: 5 rue Pierre Loti, 33800 Bordeaux
Taste Wine
photo by lost in Bordeaux
We are in the capital of wine, so instead of being gloomy about the weather, use it as an opportunity for wine tasting. Here in Bordeaux, you have several places where you can taste local wines during the day without waiting for the bars to open up in the evening. One good example is Bar à Vin which is located in one of Bordeaux’s beautiful 18th-century buildings. This place specializes in the wines of Bordeaux and it changes its wine menu once a month, so there’s always a good reason to go back and learn about new local wines. If you want to discover other good places for wine tasting check out my article about wine tasting in Bordeaux.
See street art in a beautiful Chateau
Socially aware street art and a fancy 18th-century chateau, can you imagine a bigger contrast than that in a place like Bordeaux?. Well, this is exactly what Institut Bernard Magrez had successfully put together in 2011. Situated in Chateau Labottiere, the cultural institute regularly hosts exhibitions by the best local and international street artists which are interestingly integrated with the classical features of the chateau. The exhibitions are being alternated every couple of months so there is always something interesting to see there.
Address: 16 Rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux
See a movie in Utopia
Utopia is an independent cinema theater that offers a unique experience as it’s installed in an ancient church, l’église du Vieux Bordeaux. The program is very diverse, from little independent productions to big-budget movies and old classical ones. Utopia is much more than just a cinema, there are regular meetings with directors and debates on social issues that are being addressed in movies. At the entrance to this beautiful building, you will also find a restaurant and for sunny days there are a lot of tables outside watching Place Camille Jullian. An old movie and a lunch in an old church with a friend, sounds like the most comforting plan for a rainy day. The price is 7 euros, see the program.
This is a super cool activity for a rainy day. The Wave Surf Café is the first indoor cafe where you can surf! The Big artificial wave in the middle of the coffee shop imitates an ocean wave and allows you to feel like a professional surfer in the city center :). It’s a nice experience for those who don’t live next to the sea and don’t have the opportunity to surf. For more details click here.
Address: 174 Cours du Médoc, 33300 Bordeaux
Centre Aquatique Caliceo
What’s better than to pamper yourself in a spa when it’s raining outside? The Caliceo center offers you just that. A spa with pools, aquatraining, hammam, different saunas and massage to relax and forget about work and city life. The place is open daily from 10:00 to 21:00.
Address: Quartier du Tasta, 8 Rue Jean Pommies, 33520 Bruges
Axe Throwing in Pessac
If you feel like doing something extraordinary that you probably haven’t done before – consider axe throwing. Apparently it’s a thing and Les Freres Jacks is the place for it in the Bordeaux area. You have to reserve a target for one hour (up to 3 people for 1 target) and the price is 48€ for a target. Open from Tuesday to Sunday.
Address: 152 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 33600 Pessac
Le garage moderne
Le Garage Moderne is a special combination of a garage for cars and bicycles and a place of art and culture, workshops and social meetings. If you have a problem with your car or your bicycle, it’s a good opportunity to learn how to fix them from the mechanics in garage moderne as they accompany the reparation with explications adapted to your level of mechanic knowledge. Apart from that you can just drop by to have a drink, make friends and see interesting art expos. Le garage moderne is open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00.
Address: 1 Rue des Étrangers, 33300 Bordeaux
Attend one of Bordeaux’s events
The Bordelais are quite used to rainy winters (or falls and springs for that matter) so there are plenty of events that are adapted for people trying to escape the rain. While the summer events are usually outdoors, starting October many events, like special markets and open doors in various Chateaux, are starting to take place all over the region. To know about specific events taking place every month, follow my monthly lists that I publish regularly on the blog and check out my weekend list that includes all the main events taking place right now.
I hope this list gave you a lot of ideas for the upcoming rainy weather! If I missed any indoor places that you know about please let us know in the comments below.
UPDATE – if you’re looking for information about events taking place in July 2019 go to my new article – what to do in Bordeaux in July 2019.
There are so many festivals, new exhibitions and special events that take place this month in the Bordeaux area that it was quite hard to choose the best ones. Eventually, I selected the biggest events and the exhibitions that are not going to be presented much longer and that I believe you should really go see. Also, just because it started to be so hot in Bordeaux I added a little getaway place where you could go when it’s too hot for any of the events I offer here.
I hope you enjoy these events and places and if you do, show me some love and share it with your friends 🙂
This is the list of 20 things to do in and around Bordeaux in July 2018:
1. Jalles House Rock
Le Jalles House Rock is one of the biggest rock festivals in Gironde that annually proposes a rich program of local and international acts. The goal of the festival is to share the love for rock music with as many people as possible and that’s why the entrance is free (they do however encourage you to donate to the Estran association that organizes the event). The 11th edition of the festival in Saint-Médard-en-Jalles will take place on July 5-7and includes bands like Circa Waves, Dewolff, Burning Heads and Himalayas.
When: July 5-7 Where: 1, chemin de Cantelaude, 33160 Saint-Médard-en-Jalles
2. Zinefest
Zinefest is a festival dedicated to comics, illustrations, photography and poetry. The festival includes several expositions and concerts by both French and international artists and will take place in several venues in the south of Bordeaux. Look at the full program of events here.
When: July 4-8 Where: Different locations next to Marché des Douves in Bordeaux Sud (check out the program).
3. Festival Rues et Vous
This is the 12th edition of Festival Rue et Vous , a performance arts festival that takes place every year in the charming medieval town of Rions. This year the festival was expanded to three days (July 6-8) and will include a rich program of theater, dance, cirque and music shows for both adults and kids. For tickets and the full program check out the website of the festival.
When: July 6-8 Where: Rions How much: 12.80€ /one day 16.80€ /two days 24.80€/ 3 days
4. Sentout Festival
Every summer the Sentout festival creates three magical evenings where you get to enjoy the worlds of music, wine and gastronomy combined. The festival will take place on July 5-7 in the little village of Lignan de Bordeaux which is located at the entrance to the Entre deux Mers area (the wine region of Bordeaux). Every evening the program offers a different music style: on the first evening you get to dance to the Peruvian Cumbia, then listen to French rock on the second night and finish with Swing and Jazz. The menus proposed by the chef Jacinthe Dos Santos will be inspired by the the musical program of that night. To see the full program of concerts check out the facebook page of the event.
When: July 5-7 Where: Santout, 43 Route de la Lande, 33360 Lignan-de-Bordeaux
5. Senefesti
Senefesti is a beautiful festival celebrating the African culture with dance and music performances. The next two events of the festival will take place at the Rocher de Palmer in Cenon: Saturday (July 6) a new photography exhibition will be presented and on Sunday (July 7) an African music festival will take place from 14:00 to 2:00. For more details check out here.
When: July 6-7 Where: Le Rocher de Palmer, 1 rue Aristide Briand33150 Cenon
6. Dance show by three famous choreographers
A co-production of the National Opera of Bordeaux and the Opera of Limoges presents an evening of three works by three famous choreographers: Petite Mort by Jiří Kylián, Le Chant du compagnon errant by Maurice Béjart and Le Concert (ou Les Malheurs de chacun) byJerome Robbins. The dance show will be performed in the Opera of Bordeaux, during nine nights from June 27 to July 6.
When: June 27 to July 6 Where: Grand Théâtre, place de la Comédie, 33000 BORDEAUX
7. Relache Festival
Relache Festival, created by the Allez les filles association, is a set of evenings of free concerts that are going to take place at different places and dates during this summer. The 9th edition of this festival will last about 3 months (May 30 to August 31) with performances by both local groups and international acts in many genres of music. Take a look at the full program of events on their website.
When and Where: 15 concerts and events will take place over the month of July in different location in and around Bordeaux (check out the program link above).
8. Celebrate the French National Day
July 14th is the French national day which is being celebrated in every city in France. Like every year, Bordeaux will hold a series of popular events and parties, the main ones are:
Military parade at Quai des Chartrons – 18:30
The traditional dance party at Placette de Munich – Quai Louis XVIII (in front of Quinconces)- 20:30
Fireworks show above the Garonne river between Pont de Pierre and Place de la Bourse – 22:45
Apart from the traditional national day events, plenty of other parties will take place on July 13-14 to celebrate this day, you can see some of them here.
Credit: Sud Ouest
9. Jazz Festival in Saint Emilion
This is the 7th edition of this Jazz festival in the beautiful town of Saint Emilion which will take place July 20-22. During the three days of the festival Saint Emilion will offer a great mix of jazz concerts, wine tasting and tasty food. In the festival area you will find a wine bar with the wines of Saint Emilion and a gourmand market with local products and food trucks. For more info and the full program check out the website of the festival. For those of you living in Bordeaux, a bus will be offered from Les Quinconces to Saint Emilion at the price of 9 euros (both ways).
When: July 20-22 Where: Douves du Palais Cardinal, Saint-Emilion.
10. Bordeaux Open Air
The second part of the third edition of the Bordeaux Open Air festival will take place on July 22 in Jardin Public and will include a lineup of four djs. Bordeaux Open Air is a series of summer free electronic music events, all set in different locations and with a great city vibe to them. The third part of the festival will take place on August 12 in Parc Palmer.
When: July 22 Where: Jardin Public, 33000 Bordeaux, France
11. Arcachon En Scene
Archachon en Scene is a popular music festival that brings big French and international acts to perform in this beautiful town. This year’s program includes Claudio Capeo (July 27), Martin Solveig and Ofenbach (August 1st) and IAM (August 3). For more info check out the facebook page of the event, for tickets click here.
When: July 27, August 1st and 3rd Where: Stade Vélodrome d’Arcachon
12. Dance on the Quai
Dansons sur les Quais is a series of dancing classes and events where people gather to dance together and learn a variety of dancing genres like Tango, Salsa, Bollywood, Forro, Hip Hop, Street Jazz, Zumba, Country and more. These activities will be guided by professional dancers from different dance schools in Bordeaux and they are completely free, so this is a great opportunity you don’t want to miss. The dancing events will take place on the quai almost daily from mid- July to mid – August. For more details and the full program check out the website of Dansons sur les Quai.
When: Daily from July 14 to August 19 Where: Quai Louis XVIII, 33000 Bordeaux
13. Bordeaux Metropolitan Summer
Like every year Bordeaux Metropolitan invites you to discover the the city and the area around it through a series of cultural events and activities. More than 100 activities of music, dance, public reading, theater, circus and gastronomy will take place between July 8 and September 25. These events are so widely spread across the metropolitan area of Bordeaux that you are guaranteed to discover places (especially parks) that you have never heard of before: Parc d’observation in Floirac, Parc du Viver in Merignac, Parc Camponac in Pessac and many more. Check out the full program of events here.
credit: Bordeaux Metropolitain
When: Daily from July 8 to September 25 Where: Bordeaux Metropolitan – check out the exact location of every event in the program.
14. Festival international d’orgues
This is a one of a kind festival in France, proposing numerous organ concerts during the summer in three of the biggest churches of Bordeaux. The concerts will take place between July 10 and August 31 in the following locations:
When: July 10- August 30 at 18:00 Where: Cathédrale Saint André, Abbatiale Sainte Croix, Basilique Saint-Michel
15. Nuits Atypiques Festival
This multidisciplinary festival in South Gironde has been taking place every summer since 1992. During the months of July (July 1-28) 17 events will take places in 15 towns in the Gironde department: Bassanne, Bazas, Bernos-Beaulac, Cadillac, Cazalis, Cudos,Gajac, La Réole, Podensac, Preignac, Saint-Macaire, Saint-Michelde-Castelnau,
Saint-Symphorien and Villandraut. The program includes a variety of activities such as: concerts, theater, films, debates, tours to discover the towns and more. Check out the full program here and all the info about the locations here.
When: July 1-28 Where: South Gironde- check out the exact location of every event in the program.
16. Learn how to dance Tango
Like every summer the Tango Bordeaux association organizes pubic tango dance events in Jardin Public, Place de Quinconces and la Grande Poste. The events will take place between July 1st and September 7– you can see the full list of events for this summer in the website of the association.
When: July 1st – September 7 Where: Jardin Public, place de Quinconces and la Grande Poste.
17. Free concerts at the Musée des arts décoratifs
In parallel to the “Construction” exhibition by Martin Szekely that is currently being presented in the new space of the Musée des arts décoratifs, the museum has collaborated with IBOAT to organize free concerts every Thursday evening (18:00 to 21:00) until July 26. The concerts will take place in the inner courtyard of the museum (the access is from 3 rue Boulan). See more details here.
When: June 14- July 26 Where: 3 rue boulan, Bordeaux
18. Go to the beach at Bordeaux Lac
The best thing you can do when it’s getting really hot in Bordeaux is to go to the beach. If you don’t have a car or you just don’t want to drive to the ocean, you can always go to the beach of Bordeaux Lac. This small cute beach has everything you need: a sandy clean beach with beautiful clear water and even a lot of shade from the trees for those who don’t really like the sun. the beach is open to the public daily from June 1st to August 31 and starting July 1st you even have water and beach activities such as sailing, kayaking, mini-golf and more. Check out the list of daily activities here.
Photo by: Lost in Bordeaux
When: June 1- August 31 Where: Boulevard Jacques Chaban Delmas, 33520 BRUGES
Exhibitions you should see
19. Urban Legends Exhibition
Legendes Urbaines, an exhibition that hosts more than 50 street artists, will be presented from June 21 to September 16 at La Base Sous Marine, one of the most unique places in Bordeaux.
For more details check out the facebook page of la Base Sous-marine.
When: June 21 – September 16 Where: La Base Sous Marine, Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33300 Bordeaux
20. Last chance to see the Urban Fever
exhibition by Speedy Graphito Exhibition
An exhibition by the famous French street artist, Speedy Graphito, will be presented at the Institut Bernard Magrez until July 15. The artist uses many forms of art – painting, sculpture, photo, video and more to express his innovative and sometimes political ideas.
Check out the website of Speedy graphito to explore the works of the artist and the website of the museum for more information about the exhibition.
When: April 19– July 15 Where: 16 rue de Tivoli, Bordeaux
If you know of any other interesting events in and around Bordeaux, please let me know in the comments below and I will gladly add them to my weekly list of things to do in Bordeaux.
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