This weekend the Bacalan market is celebrating its two years anniversary so if you’re in town that’s a really cool event to go to. Monday is a day off so most places in the city will be closed and you’ll need a plan for that as well. One of the best events on Monday is the open doors at the Sauternes appelation. Even if you don’t like sweet wine, some of the chateaux are beautiful and worth a visit. You can also use this weekend to explore some foodie places with my new article about the best foodie streets in Bordeaux. If you want to see what other events are happening in Bordeaux in the next few weeks visit my article about events taking place in Bordeaux in November.Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (November 8-11)
Bliss Yoga Festival
The Bliss Yoga festival will take place on November 8-10 in Darwin. The program of the festival includes 45 courses striving to make you discover different types of yoga no matter what level you are. Although yoga is the main event, there will be other activities such as workshops, different information stands, a well-being space, a children’s area, a photography exhibition, organic products and more. For more info check out the website of the festival and the facebook page of the event.
When: November 8-10 / Where: Darwin Ecosystème, 87 quai des Queyries
Open doors in the Chateaux of Sauternes et Barsac
Sauternes and Barsac are two wine areas (appellation d’origine contrôlée) famous for their sweet white wines. On November 9-11 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 program includes wine tastings, tours in the châteaux, gourmet food, concerts and activities for kids. You can find the full program with the list of chateaux here. Also, check out the event at the Maison Du Sauternes on November 9-11.
When: November 9-11 / Where: Sauternes et Barsac– chose your chateau from the program
Halles de Bacalan – 2 years anniversary
Halles de Bacalan invites you to celebrate their second anniversary with a super gourmand event on the weekend of November 8-10. This fun market is one of the best places for drinks with friends, especially on rainy weekends, so the event is guaranteed to be good. For more info check out the facebook page of the event.
When: November 8-10 / Where: 10 esplanade de pontac, 33300 Bordeaux
Marché de Noël Japonais
This special Christmas market has become a tradition. Every year the Japanese restaurant Little Tokyo hosts a Japanese style Christmas celebration with workshops of origami, calligraphy and other beautiful Japanese traditions. This is one of the early Christmas markets, taking place on November 9-10. For more info click here.
When: November 9-10 / Where: 21 allée de Megevie, 33170 Gradignan
Les Salons de l’etudiant
The annual student fair is taking place this Friday (November 9) at the Palais des Congrès. If you have any plans of studying in Bordeaux this is a great opportunity to get familiar with all the main academic institutions in the metropole. For more info click here.
When: November 9 / Where: Palais des Congrès, 33300 Bordeaux
Salon International du Disque de Bordeaux
The salon of vinyl and cd records of Bordeaux will take place this weekend (November 9-10)at the Velodrome. It’s the 60th 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.
When: November 9-10 / Where: Stadium Vélodrome de Bordeaux Lac, 33000 Bordeaux
Radio Éphémère de Quartier
Radio Éphémère de Quartier is a local open mic event taking place this weekend (November 8-9) at the Garage Moderne. The program includes concerts, a DJ set, a hip hop stage, activities for kids and tours in the Bacalan district. For more info click here.
When: November 8-9 / Where: 1 rue des Etrangers, 33300 Bordeaux
Marché des Producteurs
On Saturday (November 9) 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: November 9 / Where: Darwin Caserne Niel / 87 quai des queyries, Bordeaux
Mama Bordeaux / Super Sunday & Live
Mama shelter invites you to its new line of Sunday lives. Every Sunday evening the restaurant will host a dinner with a live concert. This week the performing artist is Quince. For more info click here.
When: November 10 at 19:00 / Where: 19 Rue Poquelin Molière, 33000 Bordeaux
Foire de la Saint Martin
Another fun place to visit on this long weekend is Duras. Foire de la Saint-Martin will take place there on November 11 with more than 250 exhibitors and stands of local gastronomy, clothing, cars, a big vide Grenier and more. For more info click here.
When: November 11 / Where: the village of Duras
La Rochelle Swing festival
If you were planning to go to La Rochelle in the near future, this is a good opportunity. La Rochelle swing festival will take place this weekend (November 8-11) at the Lentrepot-Cabaret. For more details click here.
When: November 8-11 / Where: 3 Rue Augustin Fresnel, 17180 Perigny
Le Règne des Dinosaures – an exhibition for kids
This is the last weekend (until November 11) of the big dinosaurs exhibition for kids, taking place at the Hippodrome Bordeaux-Le Bouscat. For more details click here.
When: October 19 – November 11 / Where: 8 avenue de l’Hippodrome, 33110 Le Bouscat
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.
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.
With the highest number of restaurants per person in France, Bordeaux is heaven for foodies. If you find youreself hungry in this city, finding a place to eat will be an easy task 🙂 However, food specialty boutiques selling cheese, chocolate or products from the southwest of France are not as easy to find as one might think. I receive many messages from both tourists and locals asking me about the best streets for foodies, and hidden places where they could find specialty products that aren’t available at the supermarket.
Luckily that is exactly the research I had to do when I was building my food tours. I spend several days simply strolling the streets of Bordeaux, looking for those special places I can take my tourists to. Today I want to share some of these foodie secrets with you! In this article, I gathered a list of my favorite foodie streets in Bordeaux. Here you will find the best patisseries, specialty chocolate places, quality coffee, cute little cheese shops and more. So if you’re in a discovery mode, join me for a foodie ride in the streets of Bordeaux!
Foodie streets at the historic center of Bordeaux
rue des Remparts
Stop for cheese and wine – Rue des Remparts
Let’s start with one of my favorite foodie streets in Bordeaux center- rue des Remparts, located just next to the city hall of Bordeaux. At first glance, it looks like many other streets in this district full of fashionable boutiques and art galleries, but it’s actually one of the richest gastronomical streets in Bordeaux. As you climb the street heading north you’ll pass by plenty of specialty shops, many of which are focused on a specific local product. There are two great chocolate shops on this street. The first one is Mademoiselle de Margaux which sells specialty chocolates from Margaux located in the Medoc wine region and the other is a famous chocolate shop from Bayonne – l’Atelier de Bayonne. You’ll also find a fancy cheese shop (Chez Delphine) where you can stop for some wine and cheese (the best thing to do when in Bordeaux). Besides that, there are quite a few interesting shops you should keep an eye on, among them Pierre Oteiza with their Basque charcuterie and Noisettines du Médoc with their nut products from Medoc as well as Oliviers & Co, an olive oil shop.
Rue de la Vieille Tour
Once you finish rue des Remparts you’ll see the beautiful Porte Dijeaux on your left. Continue straight into another magical street that you might have missed when strolling the city – rue de la Vieille Tour. Until a few years ago rue de la Vieille Tour was just a quiet back street in the Hotel de Ville neighborhood. Today many people know it thanks to the presence of one of the best coffee shops in Bordeaux – l’Alchimiste. Just in front of the coffee place sits the second star of this street, the dunes blanches. This pastry was born a few years ago in Cap Ferret and was since embraced by the locals as a proper Bordelais pastry. I often stop there on my food tours and peoples’ reaction to the yummy cream-filled pastries never disappoints :). On the same little street, you can find two of the best chocolate shops in Bordeaux, Hasnaa Chocolat grand cru and La Maison Darricau. If you’re in the mood for a good homemade cake and tea don’t miss the cozy Mona cafe.
The next street on my list is still in the Hotel de Ville neighborhood but this time we’re heading towards the river on Rue des Trois Conils. I find this street a bit less charming than rue des Remparts but it’s no less interesting when it comes to food. In just two minutes’ walk, you’ll find two great chocolate shops (Yves Thuriès and Jeff de Bruges), a delicious Spanish ham place (Viandas de Salamanca), a chic canned products shop (Conserverie la belle-iloise) and more. It’s even more attractive if you love cooking or baking as there are two big cooking shops in the middle of the street, my favorite is Alice Delice. One of the most interesting boutiques on this street is La Trinitaine Biscuiterie. Here you can find plenty of traditional local sweet specialties like cookies and chocolate that are not easy to find in the center of Bordeaux. One such example is the Bouchon de Bordeaux, you can read more about this and other local desserts in my article about the sweets of Bordeaux.
a chocolate shop on rue trois conils
Le marché des Grands Hommes
The triangle d’Or district in the center of Bordeaux is probably one of the most attractive areas in the city when it comes to foodie boutiques. Here you can find some of the best wine shops and a number of lucrative chocolate boutiques. For example, just next to the Opera, on allee de Tourny, you will find l’Intendant, a shop that earned the name “the wine library of Bordeaux” due to its wide selection of local wine. Just a few steps from there, don’t miss the oldest chocolate shop in Bordeaux, Cadiot Badie.
In my opinion, however, the best foodie places are located on one of the narrow streets surrounding the marché des Grands Hommes, notably, rue Michel Montaigne. If you’re a patisserie snob, you’re likely to find one of the best patissiers on this street. David Capy is one of the best chocolatiers- patissiers in Bordeaux, and a visit there should not be missed. That is also the street I take people who join my food tours for cheese tastings. The shop is called Beillevaire and I especially like it as it’s both a shop and a cheese producer.
More foodie spots around Bordeaux
Rue Fondaudège
Rue Fondaudège by lost in Bordeaux
I bet that most of you visiting Bordeaux for a short period of time have never heard of rue Fondaudège but it’s actually one of the rising stars in Bordeaux. After several years of tram works this street finally got the spotlight it deserves. It’s a long busy street, very different from the cozy streets of the center of Bordeaux, and it’s quite easy to miss all the interesting food shops on it. But if food is your thing, it’s worth taking a few minutes to walk from the city center just to discover this street. Here’s just a short list of some of the specialty shops on this street: Chocolaterie Lalère, if you want a hot chocolate; Aux dix vin, a great little cheese shop; Perrin, a very good bakery and Original US, a shop of American products (a lot of candies 🙂 ). One of my favorite secret spots on this street is a little coffee place named Eriu. Apparently, other expats love it as well as you can often spot some English speakers ordering their scones there.
If you’ve been to Bordeaux for more than two days, most chances are that you have visited this street. Rue Notre Dame in the Chartron district is a stylish street full of boutiques, antique shops and restaurants but it’s especially attractive for foodies. La P’tite Boulangerie Notre-Dame, one of Bordeaux’s best bakeries is located just in front of the church, you will easily spot it by the long queue. A little pastry shop I especially love is Micheline et Paulette – they have a very small selection of cakes but they are all excellent and the place is super cute. If you want to stop for a cup of coffee don’t miss la Pelle cafe. Check also la Conserverie which will introduce you to a variety of local products and wines. The atmosphere in this place is great and they’re not closing after lunch which is unusual for Bordeaux.
Notre dame street and the central square next to it are full of specialty boutiques and good restaurants so one paragraph will not be enough to cover all of them. You have two choices, go and discover it for yourself or wait for my article about the Chartrons district coming up soon 🙂
Cours Portal
Cours Portal is not a very charming street but it definitely deserves a visit if you’re interested in food. It’s a long street but most of the good boutiques are located close to Place du Marché des Chartrons. Remember Beillevaire, the cheese shop I’ve mentioned before? Here you can find their second boutique in Bordeaux. Another good cheese shop is La Fromagerie de Pierre, visit both for the variety. If you like to make quality coffee at home, check out Café refuge, a coffee specialty shop. The coffee roaster machinery there is really impressive! Like every foodie street, Cours Portal has its own little patissier, named Taupy. One of the more interesting places on rue Portal is Gastronomie Des Pyrénées, a specialty shop offering products from the southwest of France.
Café refuge on Cours Portal
Marché des Capucins
Although my list includes only streets and not markets in Bordeaux, I had to add the place all foodies in Bordeaux fall for. Marché des Capucins is the ultimate place to go to if you want to explore the food of the Southwest of France. At the market, you have three-cheese shops where you can buy a variety of French cheeses. If you’re looking for a place to taste oysters while in Bordeaux, Chez Jean Me is definitely the place to go to. While on weekdays the atmosphere at the Capucins market is very chill, on weekends many more merchands are coming to sell their produce at the market. The central part gets completely covered with little stands of basque cheese, locally grown fruits and vegetables and plenty of local pastries such as the famous canelés and basque cakes in many flavors. There’s one local pastry in the market you shouldn’t miss called Puits d’amour by Maison Seguin. This little ‘well of love’ will keep you happy all morning 🙂 If you want to read more about sweet local specialties I invite you to read this article about my favorite sweets in Bordeaux. If you want to learn more about the market, check out my article about the best places to eat at Marché des Capucins.
Marche des Capucins by Lost in Bordeaux
I’m sure that many of you are familiar with other boutiques in Bordeaux where you can find fine cheese and delicious pastries. In this article, I focused on streets with a high concentration of shops selling products that will allow you to discover the gastronomic side of Bordeaux. If you know other streets and interesting specialty shops in Bordeaux, please share them with us in the comments below.
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.
Now that it’s getting chilly and rainy outside it’s time to warm up with some good food and wine and enjoy the indoor festivals that Bordeaux has to offer. The chateaux of Margaux and Sauternes will host you at their properties and Darwin will introduce you to the organic wines of the region. There are quite a few music and dance events in November, among them the Bordeaux Piano festival and the Tango Festival at the Opera of Bordeaux. Remember that if it’s raining you can always find something to do in my article about places to go to when it’s raining in Bordeaux. If you’re reading this article in October you may still want to check out what’s on in October in Bordeaux, so here it is. Here’s the list of things to do in Bordeaux in November 2019, Enjoy!
Vibrations Urbaines Festival in Pessac
This is the 22nd edition of the annual festival, Vibrations Urbaines, organized by the city of Pessac. The program is really cool and includes events like an international BMX contest, a skating contest, a hip hop dance battle, urban sports, workshops, street art exhibitions and more. The festival will take place from October 29 to November 3in the campus area in Pessac. See all the events on the website or facebook page of the festival.
When: October 29 – November 3 / Where: Avenue du Colonel Robert Jacqui, 33600 Pessac
Bliss Yoga Festival
The Bliss Yoga festival will take place on November 8-10 in Darwin. The program of the festival includes 45 courses aiming to make you discover different types of yoga no matter what level you are. Although yoga is the main event, there will be other activities such as workshops, different information stands, a well-being space, a children’s area, a photography exhibition, organic products and more. For more info check out the website of the festival and the facebook page of the event.
When: November 8-10 / 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 9-11 many of the wine producers of Sauternes and Barsac will open their doors to the public and give you an opportunity to discover thein estates and taste their wines. The program includes wine tastings, tours in the châteaux, gourmet food, concerts and activities for kids. The participating chateaux will be published later this month and I will laster add them to this article for you to have all the information you need. For now, take a look at the general list of the wineries of the area here. Also, check out the event at the Maison Du Sauternes on November 9-11.
When: November 9-11 / Where: Sauternes et Barsac– chose your chateau from the program (will be updated soon)
Halles de Bacalan – 2 years anniversary
Halles de Bacalan invites you to celebrate their second anniversary with a super gourmand event on the weekend of November 8-10. This fun market is one of the best places for drinks with friends, especially on rainy weekends, so this event is guaranteed to be good. For more info check out the facebook page of the event.
When: November 8-10 / Where: 10 esplanade de pontac, 33300 Bordeaux
Foire de la Saint Martin
Another fun place to visit on the long weekends of November is Duras. Foire de la Saint Martin will take place there on November 11 with more than 250 exhibitors and stands of local gastronomy, clothing, cars, a big vide Grenier and more. For more info click here.
When: November 11 / Where: the village of Duras
La Rochelle Swing festival
If you were planning to go to La Rochelle in the near future, this is a good opportunity. On the long weekend of November 8-11 the LaRochelle swing festival will take place at the Lentrepot-Cabaret. For more details click here.
When: November 8-11 / Where: 3 Rue Augustin Fresnel, 17180 Perigny
Montgolfiades de Saint-Emilion
Montgolfiades is an annual festival of balloon flights organized by Le Ciel est à Toi association. The flights will take place on November 15-17 above Saint Emilion and the vineyards around it, so the sight is promised to be breathtaking. For more info click here. Before you go be sure to check out my article about the best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion.
When: November 15-17 / Where: in the vineyards of Saint Emilion, just follow the balloons
Piano Festival
Festival L’esprit du Piano will take place at the Auditorium of the Opera of Bordeaux on November 13 – December 7. This magnificent festival hosts some important pianists (Grigory Sokolov, Jacky Terrasson and others), some of whom will collaborate with the National Orchestra of Bordeaux and the choir of the Opera of Bordeaux. See the program of the festival here and info about the tickets here.
When: November 13 – December 7 / Where: Grand Théâtre, Place de la Comédie – 33000 Bordeaux
Jazz Festival in Caudéran
The annual Jazz festival of Caudéran is taking place on November 14-16. For three nights, the Pergola Theater will host six international Jazz players. For more info about prices and the full program click here.
When: November 14-16 / Where: La Pergola Theater, Rue Fernand Cazères, 33200 Bordeaux
Margaux Saveurs
The annual festival, Margaux Saveurs will take place on November 15-17. The idea of the festival is to make you discover the great wines of the Margaux appellation and present to you all the winemakers, merchants and restaurants of this gourmet area. During the weekend you can enjoy special workshops in the different wine domains and enjoy fun activities and special menus made only for this weekend. For more details click here. If you’re attending this event be sure to read about other places to visit in the area in my article about the Medoc region.
When: November 15-17 / Where: different locations in Margaux
Bordeaux Cata Raid
The 7th edition of the Catamaran race will take place this weekend (November 19-20) in the Garonne river, just next to the central bank. This beautiful event, organized by the ‘les Marins de la Lune’ club includes 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 19-20 / Where: starts at 103 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Salon Ob’Art
Le salon Ob’Art (Objets de créateur) is a creator fair with a rich pedagogic program of activities, workshops, and demonstrations. The motivation for the event is to create a dialog between artists, craftsmen and the wide public in order to transfer their know-how and to make the young generation discover a variety of professional vocations. Le Salon Ob’Art will take place in Hangar 14 (Quai des Chartrons) on November 15-17. Entry is free for kids under 18 and 6.5€ for adults (free on the first day). For more info check out the website of the event.
When: November 15-17 / Where: 173 Quai des Chartrons, 33300 Bordeaux
Festival Tango à l’Opéra Bordeaux
The third edition of the Festival Tango à l’Opéra will take place at the Grand Theatre of Bordeaux on November 22-24. The rich program includes shows, dance workshops, exhibitions and a big inauguration evening on November 22nd. For more details and tickets click here and the full program here.
When: November 22-24 / Where: Place de la Comédie, 33000 Bordeaux
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 23-24 in Darwin. On the menu, a huge selection of organic wines from Bordeaux, Saint Emilion and many other wine regions of France. The entry is free. For more info click here.
Darwin Bordeaux
When: November 23-24 / Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Lettres du monde
The literature festival, Lettres du monde, will take place on November 13-24 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 all over the world. For more details go here.
When: November 13-24 /Where: Different places in Bordeaux – check the program
International History films festival
The theme of the 30th edition of the Festival international du film d’histoire of Pessac, taking place on November 18-25, is Latin America. 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.
When: November 18-25 / 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. This year the event will take place on November 23-24 and will include workshops, guided tours in the participating chateaux, tastings, exhibitions and more. On Saturday evening a big gourmet cocktail event will be hosted by two chefs from the Maison Claude Darroze. To reserve a spot for the dinner check out the facebook page of the event, the info will be updated there. For general info about the event click here.
When: November 23-24 / Where: Different chateaux in Loupiac-De-Cadillac
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 brocante will take place from November 22 to December 8. 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 22- December 8 / Where: Place des Quinconces
The Salon Bien-être
The big Well-being Fair of Bordeaux will take place on the weekend of November 29- December 1 at the Palais des Congrès. The event has 120 stands and 65 conferences all focused on different ways of improving the quality of life. The exhibitors are varied and come from all facets of daily life: food, home decor, therapies and beauty. For more info click here.
When: November 29- December 1 / Where: Palais des Congrès, Cours J.-G. Domergue 33300 Bordeaux
Exhibitions
Sam Dougados exhibition
If you ever visited Biarritz you’ve surely seen the amazing works of Sam Dougados on the beach. Sam’s Beach art, as he calls it, has appeared in many places around the world, from Maroco to South Africa and Spain. Now l’Institut Bernard Magrez is presenting the photographs of his best works at their atelier that is dedicated to promoting local talent. The exhibition will be presented until November 24th. For more details click here.
Beach art Biarritz
When: Until November 24 / Where: 16 Rue de Tivoli, 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
Robots in Cap Science
Robots is a cool exhibition for kids presented these days at the Cap Science, the children science museum in Bordeaux. The exhibition is dedicated to robots and their functions in our lives. It will be presented until May 3, 2020. For more details and tickets click here.
When: Until May 3, 2020 / Where: Cap Sciences Hangar 20
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.
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.
If you love wine, food and beautiful architecture you simply cannot miss a visit to Bordeaux when visiting the region. One day in this vibrant city may not be enough to discover all the attractions and gastronomic experiences it has to offer, but with the right plan, you’ll be able to explore the main sites and to appreciate its tranquil atmosphere. So for those of you wondering how to spend only one day in Bordeaux, in this article, I offer a plan to help you taste most of the amazing things this city has to offer. You will discover the remarkable architecture in the city center, visit the main market, taste Bordelais cuisine, ride a bike on the riverfront, eat delicious chocolate and taste amazing wine. By the end of this day, you’ll be exhausted and totally in love with Bordeaux!
Now let’s start discovering the beautiful capital of the Southwest of France.
Marché des Capucins – Visit the main market of Bordeaux
If you’re a foodie or just like discovering new markets, I highly recommend starting your one day in Bordeaux in Marché des Capucins. This is the biggest daily market in Bordeaux and has everything from stands of fruits, vegetables, sweets and spices to a bunch of lively cafés and restaurants. It’s a covered market so you can enjoy it on the city’s numerous rainy days. Most cafes and restaurants also have tables outside where you can have a coffee or an early lunch. While the market is pretty calm during the week it becomes very busy on the weekend when the Bordelaise rush to the market for their weekly shopping and a glass of wine.
Marche des Capucins – by Lost in Bordeaux
If you like oysters there’s one restaurant in the market you simply cannot miss! Chez Jean-Mi has become an institution in Bordeaux, attracting many locals for a plate of oysters with white dry wine. Before you go, be sure to check out my article about the best places to eat at the Marché des Capucins. The market is open from Tuesday to Sunday, however, be aware that not all the restaurants and stands are open on Tuesday and Wednesday.
If you need help in discovering the market, I offer a market tour where you will taste and get familiar with the flavors of the southwest of France. So if you’re into starting your day with a foodie experience check out my food tours page.
Stroll the narrow streets of old Bordeaux
I have yet met one person who was not stunned by the beauty of the “Vieux Bordeaux”, the historic part of the city. You can spend hours getting lost among the16th and 17th-century houses on the narrow paved streets of old Bordeaux. The historic center is also home to some of the city’s most emblematic monuments, which you shouldn’t miss on your one day in Bordeaux. The southwest capital has 362 preserved buildings labeled as historic monuments, second only to Paris. The historic part of the city (and several streets around it) is recognized by UNESCO as an “outstanding urban and architectural ensemble” of 18th-century architecture. Let yourself get lost for a few hours in the narrow streets of Bordeaux, that will give you the best introduction to the city.
The center of Bordeaux – by Lost in Bordeaux
Here’s a shortlist of the sites you should not miss on your visit:
Main sites in the city center
Grosse Cloche – the 15th-century gate to the old city. This stunning bell tower is part of a whole structure that was previously a part of the city hall of Bordeaux and at some point served as a prison to misbehaved juveniles (!). It’s one of Bordeaux’s most emblematic monuments and appears on the coat of arms of Bordeaux. The Gross Cloche is located on one end of rue Saint James, one of the liveliest streets of Bordeaux, with stylish boutiques and wine bars.
Porte Cailhau by Lost in Bordeaux
Porte Cailhau– another magnificent 15th-century gate to the historic center of Bordeaux. This glamourous monument was built to commemorate the glory of king Charles VIII and opens up to one of Bordeaux’s nicest squares, Place du Palais.
Two other important monuments are located on the border between the historic part and the fancy triangle d’Or neighborhood.
The Grand Theatre -The beautiful 18th-century building on Place de la Comedie will be hard to miss. This is one of the most impressive buildings in the city and is home to the National Opera and the national ballet of Bordeaux. If you have the chance, try to book tickets to one of the concerts of the Opera or the national ballet. Continue from there to Place des Quinconces, the largest city square in France and one of the biggest in Europe. On one of the sides of this enormous square, you will find the beautiful monument dedicated to the Girondins (members of a political faction) who were killed during the French Revolution. Throughout the year the square hosts many different events, festivals and fairs such as the Brocante de Quinconces. Check out the weekend [psts on this blog to see what’s currently on at Quinconces.
Discover the monuments of Bordeaux
Have a drink on the lively squares of Bordeaux
There’s a very special atmosphere in Bordeaux. It’s a very touristy and lively city that somehow is able to maintain its tranquility (except on the shopping street, Sainte Catherine). What contributes to that are the lively squares in the city center, linked by pleasant pedestrian streets. On every square, you can find terrasse restaurants and coffee places with someone sipping a glass of Bordelais wine anytime during the day. Some of the liveliest squares in the city center include the Place du Palais with a magnificent view of Porte Cailhau, Place Pierre with the Saint Pierre church right in the middle of it and Camille Julian with the nice Utopia bistrot (an old church converted into an independent cinema and restaurant). The biggest square in the old center is Place du Parlement, which was built in the 18th century in an Italian style. Its facades are very richly decorated and resemble the facades of the buildings on the riverfront of Bordeaux and the magnificent Place de la Bourse.
Lift your eyes to see the mascarons
Mascaron in Place de la Bourse
If you’re following my advice and on your way to Place du Parlement don’t miss the beautiful little sculptures that decorate the buildings. Just lift your eyes and look at the buildings of this beautiful square as well as Place de la Bourse and most of the buildings on the riverfront of Bordeaux. The sculpted faces between the ground and first floor are called mascarons, a variation on the word masks in Italian. There are more than 3000 mascarons decorating the buildings and the monuments of Bordeaux, taking inspiration from Greek mythology, wild animals, religion and the economical development of Bordeaux. Some examples are Neptune who represents the importance of the river and African faces, a memory of the slave trade Bordeaux was part of.
After the long walk, a proper lunch is in order! In recent years Bordeaux is gaining popularity as a gastronomic city and even holds the record for the number of restaurants per person in France. If you have only one day in the city, trying one of Bordeaux’s restaurants should be on your list. There are a lot of excellent restaurants in the city center and choosing one won’t be easy, but let me suggest just a few.
If you want to enjoy an elegant lunch by one of France’s celebrity chefs, Philippe Etchebest, go to Le Quatrieme Mur, a beautiful restaurant located inside the Opera building. To taste the specialties of the area go to Les Noailles or le Mably. These are not cheap restaurants but they offer a traditional Bordelais cuisine which is not as easy to find as you might think. For meat lovers, Le bar du Boucher and Le Grill Bordelais are great restaurants. You also have L’entrecote with its famous steak sauce, however, prepare yourself for a long queue if you decide to go there. Other great restaurants include Le Bouchon Bordelais, Le M restaurant, Miles and Frida. For a great view, you can also pass the river to the other side and enjoy lunch at L’Estacade. The list can go on and on but I won’t confuse you with too many options.
Le Quatrieme mur – by Lost in Bordeaux
It’s important to notice that restaurants in Bordeaux tend to be closed on Sundays or Mondays (or both) so check out their websites when planning your trip. Also, it’s always recommended to book a table ahead of time, even if you do it on the same day.
Have a picnic in Jardin Public, Bordeaux’s main park
Jardin Public in Bordeaux – by Lost in Bordeaux
If you prefer leaving the dining experience for the evening you can replace a fancy lunch with a picnic in the beautiful park of Bordeaux, Jardin Public. Make yourself a basket of regional products and join the other Bordelais on the vast green planes. Don’t forget to add a bottle of Bordeaux wine you can get in most supermarkets or in dedicated wine shops. One of the most interesting wine shops is called l’Intendant, which holds the nickname “the wine library” due to its 15,000 bottle collection.
Jardin public is beautiful and by far one of the most kid-friendly places in the city. However, it’s not the only good spot for a picnic or a little break. Bordeaux has many gardens and parks that you can enjoy on a sunny day. To discover them check out my post about the best places for a picnic in Bordeaux.
Shop on the Longest street in France
Sainte Catherine is the longest pedestrian street in France, full of clothing boutiques and one of the only places in the center where you can find all the main fashion retail stores. If you prefer smaller boutiques, you won’t find them on the main streets but rather on the small narrow streets of Saint Paul and Saint Pier districts, as well as on rue Notre Dame in Chartrons.
The big Cathedral on the main square of Pey Berland is a Roman Catholic church and the seat of the Archbishop of Bordeaux. This cathedral has an important part in the history of Bordeaux. Here, the 13 years old Eleanor d’Aquitaine, married the future king of France Louis VII, therefore making her the queen of France (for a very short period of time). Like many other churches and basilicas in Bordeaux, Saint-André is classified as a national monument of France. In the evening the Cathedral often hosts concerts of classical music, choirs and an organ festival during the summer. You can check out more info about the concertshere.
Eat chocolate in the fancy district of Bordeaux
It’s time for a little dessert and there’s no better place for it than the Triangle d’Or neighborhood, the fancy district of Bordeaux. You will immediately notice that the architecture and landscape of this district are different from the narrow streets of the historic center of Bordeaux. The wide boulevards and decorated 18th-century houses reflect the economic boom that the city was undergoing at the time. Today it’s considered as the gourmet district with plenty of wine and cheese boutiques.
Like every French city, Bordeaux too has its chocolatiers and many of them are located in and around Triangle d’Or. On rue Michel Montaigne you will discover the most famous local patissier and chocolatier, David Capy. On Allée de Tourny you will visit the oldest chocolatier in Bordeaux, Cadiot Badie. It’s a very prestigious place that feels more like a jewelry shop than a chocolate boutique. Other amazing chocolate shops are la Maison Darricau and Hasnaa Chocolat grand cru.
Taste chocolate and delicious pastry at David Capy
If you also want to take the opportunity to stop for a coffee. Bordeaux has some amazing coffee shops. You can read about my favorite ones in my article about the five coffee places in Bordeaux you don’t want to miss.
Chill at the Miroir d’eau
Now it’s time to visit Bordeaux’s most famous attraction and one you have probably seen in any guide or video about Bordeaux – Le Miroir d’eau. This modern monument, built in 2006, is the world’s largest reflecting pool. The surface is made from blue granite covered in water, reflecting the 18th century Place de la Bourse. It’s a perfect place to chill on a hot sunny day in Bordeaux. If you’re coming with kids you can easily spend more than an hour here as it’s going to be quite hard to get them out of it. Kids seem to really love it! (don’t forget to bring replacement clothes for the kids, they tend to get soaked!)
Take a bike ride on the banks of the Garonne
The promenade on the left bank of the Garonne river is one of Bordeaux’s highlights. Since the massive overhaul project in the early 2000s the quais (docks) of Bordeaux have become one of Bordeaux’s most popular spots, hosting many events and festivals during the summer. The 4.5 km promenade is also perfect for a walk or a bicycle tour. The most interesting part of it is between the two bridges of Bordeaux – Pont Saint Pierre in the center and Pont Chaban Delmas in the north of the city, which includes the Miroir d’eau as well as playgrounds for kids and restaurants with a view on the river.
take a ride on the riverfront of Bordeaux
You can use city bikes that are spread all over the city. The price is only 1.7 euros for 24 hours if you return them to the station every 30 minutes (you can take another bike right away). If you rather not spend your time looking for a station in the middle of your trip you can return them after you finish your ride and pay 2 euros for every additional hour.
Discover the hipster side of Bordeaux
After spending several hours in the classic left side of the river, it’s time to discover the more hipster right bank of the Garonne. If you take my advice and go on a ride on the riverfront you can continue with the bike to the other side, there are V3 stations (the Bordeaux city bikes) there as well. When you cross Pont de Pierre to the Bastide neighborhood you’ll discover a very pleasant park along the riverbank. There are a few great restaurants with a great view of the old part of Bordeaux that operate from May to October.
The Bastide district by Lost in Bordeaux
But the main attraction of the Bastide neighborhood is Darwin. An old military base turned into an urban space with a workspace/incubator for startups, a skate park for all ages, a restaurant and many other surprises, all with an agenda of ecological awareness. One of the buildings hosts the restaurant and the Darwin products store with a huge selection of different organic products from pastries to beer and even soap. Darwin is one of the most extraordinary places for street art and includes some amazing works by a lot of talented regional artists on every one of its buildings.
Darwin by Lost in Bordeaux
If you visit the Bastide district on the weekend (during the summer) don’t miss one of Bordeaux’s hidden gems, La Guinguette chez Alriq. The Guinguette is a tavern on the banks of the river hosting plenty of open-air concerts from May to the end of September. The performing bands and artists are coming from all over the world and create an atmosphere of a laid back world music party.
Have a drink in one of Bordeaux’s wine bars
Wine bars are springing up like mushrooms in the center of Bordeaux. It’s not a big surprise considering it’s the capital of the biggest wine area in France. A great way to finish your one day in Bordeaux is by tasting some of the best wines of the region in one of Bordeaux’s wine bars. There are plenty of bars to choose from in the city center, here are some of my favorite ones: Un Chateau en Ville for a cozy family feeling, Wine more time for their huge selection, and le Bar a Vin for the beautiful decor and professional waiters. Other great bars with knowledgeable staff include Le wine bar, La ligne rouge, Le Flacon and Vins Urbains.
photo by Lost in Bordeaux
Some bars offer wine tasting experiences that allow you to better understand the wines of the region. To discover the best places for wine tasting check out my article about wine tasting in Bordeaux.
If you’re interested in wine don’t miss a trip to Saint Emilion where you can visit some of the best wineries in the region. You can easily plan the trip by yourself using my post about the best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion. Not less interesting and beautiful is the Medoc wine area where you can see some of the most impressive chateaux in the region. Follow my post about the Medoc wine route when planning your trip there.
I hope you enjoyed this beautiful city and if you have a few more days in the area don’t forget to check out my article about the best day trips from Bordeaux.
If you want more tips on restaurants, concerts and exhibitions follow me on facebook/Instagram. Or better yet, join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.
The harvest season in Saint Emilion or the ”vendange” as the French call it, is an old tradition that attracts many locals and foreigners to the area. While the prestigious wine region enjoys a steady stream of visitors starting from early Spring, Saint Emilion’s harvest season in September seems to be the busiest time of the year. It’s hard labor no doubt, but it doesn’t stop the flock of mostly young locals and foreigners taking part in this beautiful tradition. These days, the wineries are reluctant to take volunteers because of strict working regulations and their desire to control the quality of the harvest. That doesn’t mean however that you cannot take part in events related to the harvest in Saint Emilion and Bordeaux. In this article, I want to help you explore all the harvestrelated activities and make the best out of the harvest season of Bordeaux wines. Some Cheateaux I’ve been talking to are still planning their activities so I’ll update here with more events as they become available.
The ceremony of the harvest in Saint Emilion – Ban des Vendanges
The ceremony that kicks off the annual harvest in Saint Emilion is called Ban des Vendanges, meaning ‘the harvest ban’. The exact term is actually lifting the ban of the grape harvest, which historically allowed the winegrowers to start collecting the grapes from the vineyards. The ceremony is held in front of the beautiful front collegiate church of Saint Emilion by the Jurade, winegrowers dressed in red caps and robes. The Jurade is a brotherhood of 140 Jurats (members) founded 800 years ago with the mission to supervise the production and making of fine wines. Today they have a more symbolic role of maintaining the traditions of the Saint Emilion wine area.
This year the events of the “Ban des Vendanges” will take place on the weekend of September 21-22, as part of the European heritage days. The first ceremony of the Jurade will take place on the evening of September 21st (Starting at 22:15) at the Tour du Roy and will end up with a sound and light show. The second day of the ceremonies (September 22) is a celebration of the new vintage.
The day includes the Jurade ceremony which will be followed by a lunch reserved for wine professionals, many of whom attend the event only for this great networking event. Learn more about the Jurades ceremony here.
If you want to see how the harvest process is actually done you can join the Journée Vendanges at Château Mangot (September 28). It’s a half-day activity where you get to visit the vineyards accompanied by in-depth explanations about the “vendanges” and the tradition and history of the château. You will also visit the cellars and taste the 2018 wines from the barrels. The day includes lunch at the park of the chateau. The price is 39 euros per person and you can book it here.
As it’s the patrimony days, it a good opportunity to discover some of Saint Emilion’s most emblematic sites. On September 21-22 you are offered free visits to fascinating places like the Monolith Church and the collégiale of Saint-Émilion, guided free tours in the city, tours for kids, light shows and more. You can see the full program for the weekend here.
Chateau La Croizzille – by lost in Bordeaux
If you’re going to spend the weekend in Saint emilion it is highly recommended to try and book a visit to one of the wineries in the area. Some of them will probably be busy with the harvest season but others have enough personnel to welcome you in their domain. To chose a chateau, go to my article about the best wineries to visit in Saint Emilion.
Grapes harvest in Bordeaux – other activities
The harvest season celebrations in Bordeaux are not limited to Saint Emilion. Bordeaux will host the big “Bordeaux fête ses vendanges” event on the weekend of September 12-15. On September 12, the Triangle d’Or district will host a jazz concert to celebrate the new harvest. On September 13-14 the city center will transform into a huge terrace with plenty of restaurants that will help you discover the different wines of Bordeaux. For more info about “Bordeaux fête ses vendanges” click here.
The grape harvest celebration will end with the Vign’en ville festival, hosting winemakers in Jardin Public that will teach you all about wine production through a series of workshops and activities. You can read more about the Vign’en ville event in my post about things to do in Bordeaux in September.
Another great harvest event will take place at the Sauve-Majeure, the ruins of the 11th-century Benedictine monastery. The site also hosts the Maison des Vins de l’Entre-deux-Mers, one of Bordeaux’s wine regions known for its white wines.
This is a very kids friendly event with pony and tractor rides, collecting grapes and a musical aperitif. The Fête des Vendanges will take place on September 14 at Place Saint-Jean in La Sauve Majeure, starting at 14:00. Click here for more info and reservation details.
The pink house – Château Loudenne by Lost in Bordeaux
If you’re a wine enthusiast and you want to discover more than just Saint Emilion, check out my guide to the wine trip in the Medoc wine region. It is a beautiful region with some of the most impressive chateaux in the area and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Bordeaux (even if you don’t like wine). If you don’t have enough time to discover all the wine regions of Bordeaux you can simply taste many of the wines at wine bars in Bordeaux. For that, you just have to read my article about wine tasting in Bordeaux.
If you are looking for another fun and delicious activity in Bordeaux, check out my food tours in which I’ll take you through a three-hour journey in the culinary scene of the Southwest of France.
If you’re visiting Bordeaux for the first time, be sure to check out my ultimate guide to Bordeaux to get familiar with all the must-see places in the city. To help you choose a hotel 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 location.Want more updates about things to do in Bordeaux and the area? All you have to do is follow me on facebook/Instagram ! Or better yet, join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.
In Bordeaux, you don’t really have to leave the city in order to taste some of the best wines in the world. Several bars and wine shops offer wine tasting experiences that will allow you to discover different wine appellations and learn about the growing and production processes. In this article, I gathered several bars and wine shops in Bordeaux that offer great wine tasting experiences. They vary in the reputation of the wines served, the depth of the explanations and the prices of course, and yes, you can enjoy a wine tasting experience even on a budget! All the places on my list offer guidance in English and some also offer other languages such as Spanish. Let’s dive into the world of wine tastings in Bordeaux!
Best bars for wine tastings in Bordeaux
Un Château en Ville
Château Lestrille was the first wine producer in the Bordeaux area to come up with the brilliant idea to open a bar in the city center and offer their wine directly to the public. The winery is located in the Entre Deux Mers wine region, producing white, red and special rosé that you can only taste here in Bordeaux. If you want to feel like you’ve visited a wine château without actually leaving the city this is a great option. The bar offers wine tastings that include 3 glasses of wine (white, red and rosé) all from Château Lestrille.
photo by Lost in Bordeaux
The super friendly and knowledgeable staff accompany you during the tastings with interesting explanations about the production process, the soil, the Entre Deux Mers wine region and more. They also have a great food menu that is perfectly paired with their wine, such as cheese, tapas, duck sausages, oysters on weekends and more. The price is 6 euros per person. Un Chateau en Ville is open Wednesday to Sunday. This is one of my favorite bars in Bordeaux and I often stop there during my afternoon food tours so it’s a warm personal recommendation 🙂 Contact for reservations: [email protected] +33 9 53 04 48 93 Address: 25 Rue Saint-James, 33000 Bordeaux
Wine more time
On the same lovely street, you have another great wine bar carrying the amusing name, Wine more time :). While the first bar on our list focuses exclusively on wine produced in one château, this one is the opposite. The idea is to offer a huge selection of wines and let the customer decide on the theme. The themes can be varied, you can choose to taste only red or white wines from different areas in Bordeaux, focus on certain years, taste wines only from Medoc, or from Saint Emilion, or try only wines made from a certain grape type. You get the picture. They have a selection of 400 bottles so there’s an endless amount of combinations you can think of.
photo by Lost in Bordeaux
The only downside is that you can’t do that if you’re alone or a couple. As they are opening the bottles especially for the occasion, the wine tastings in Wine More Time are open to groups of at least 5 people. The price is 20 euros per person which includes on average 3-4 bottles, the exact number varying according to the wines you choose. During the evening you will get a detailed explanation of the wines and winemaking process, which will be adapted to the customer’s knowledge level. So if you’re a newbie wine taster, you’ll get the “wine for dummies” session:). It is recommended to book at least a week in advance. Contact for reservations: [email protected] +33 5 56 52 85 61 Address: 8 Rue Saint-James, 33000 Bordeaux
Bar à Vin
photo by lost in Bordeaux
Bar à Vin is one of Bordeaux’s wine institutions, located in the 18th-century residence of the Bordeaux Wine Council. This place is quite surprising I must say. The fancy decor can be a bit intimidating if you’re on a tight budget and want to be able to taste more than one glass of wine. But in reality, it is the cheapest place in the center of Bordeaux for wine tastings! Bar à Vin offers two half glasses of Bordeaux wine for only 3 euros! The tastings are not accompanied by extended explanations, like in other bars on this list, but as all the people working there are sommeliers, you can freely ask them as many questions as you want and get thorough explanations to anything you ever wanted to know about wine. This is one of my favorite stops in Bordeaux due to the chic decor and friendly atmosphere. Bar a Vin is open daily except for Sundays. Contact for reservations: https://baravin.bordeaux.com/en/ +33 5 56 00 43 47 Address: 3 Cours du 30 Juillet, 33000 Bordeaux
Le Boutique Hotel Bordeaux wine bar
photo by Lost in Bordeaux
The Boutique Hotel is a popular 4-star luxury hotel with a very nice wine bar on its ground floor. The bar offers daily wine tastings taking place from 17:15 to 18:15. The tastings include five different Bordeaux wines (usually reds) and a cheese and charcuterie plate for 35 euros per person. During the tastings, you will learn about the different Bordeaux appellations, wine production, tasting techniques and more. After the workshop, you can take your wine glass and move to their beautiful terrace to enjoy the rest of the evening. The tastings must be booked in advance. Contact for reservations: www.hotelbordeauxcentre.com +33 5 56 48 80 40 Address: 3 Rue Lafaurie de Monbadon, 33000 Bordeaux
La Conserverie
photo by lost in Bordeaux
La Conserverie is one of those places you pass by unaware of the magical world hiding behind the door. It’s a wine and gourmet food store but also a restaurant with a cozy design and a cute little courtyard that is perfect for sunny days. If you want to discover local food they are a great place for lunch. The service is amazing and they love interacting with the clients, happily giving you detailed explanations about any wine you drink. For the tasting part, they offer a deal of four glasses and a charcuterie plate for 15 euros per person. The place is open from Tuesday to Saturday. Contact for reservations: [email protected] +33 5 56 81 49 17 Address: 18 Rue Notre Dame, 33000 Bordeaux
Wine shops that offer wine tastings in Bordeaux
Cousin et Compagnie
Cousin et Compagnie is a beautiful wine shop located just next to Place du Parlement offering a large selection of Bordeaux wines. They offer three different wine tasting experiences. The basic tour can be done daily and includes three to five glasses of wine (from 10 to 15 euros per person). The tasting lasts about 20 minutes and includes an explanation of the wines and tasting techniques. On Saturdays you can enjoy a more fancy experience (79 euros per person), tasting four Grands crus wines, accompanied by a professional from one of the châteaux. Here, you get a 1.5-hour training on wine classification, the Bordeaux vineyards and more.
photo by Lost in Bordeaux
Last but not least is their wine tasting on a boat experience that you can do during the summer season on Mondays and Tuesdays. This experience, priced at 49 euros per person, includes 3 glasses of wine with a plate of cheese and charcuterie and a romantic scenery of the Garonne river. It’s limited to 12 people so book in advance to be sure to have a spot. Contact for reservations: the two more expensive tastings require prior registrations: [email protected] +33 5 56 01 20 23 Address: 2 Rue du Pas-Saint-Georges, 33000 Bordeaux
Max Bordeaux
photo by Lost in Bordeaux
Max Bordeaux is a wine shop with a neat concept allowing you to taste a lot of prestigious Bordeaux wines without paying for the whole bottle. Entering the bar you’ll discover huge wine columns with built-in wine machines containing many different Bordeaux wines. There are 3 different sizes (25, 50 and 75 ml) you can choose from ranging in price from 1 euro (for the cheaper 25ml servings) to 10 euros for the more luxurious wines. While this is not a guided tasting experience it does allow you to discover the Bordeaux wine area at your own pace and budget. The other option proposed by Max Bordeaux is their wine tasting atelier, a more traditional experience where you taste three Grands crus wines for 35 euros. The tastings are guided by a wine professional and last about an hour. The guided tastings must be reserved in advance. Max Bordeaux is open from Monday to Saturday. Contact for reservations: [email protected] +33 5 57 29 23 81 Address: 14 Cours de l’Intendance, 33000 Bordeaux
Emile & Marguerite
photo by Lost in Bordeaux
This article is about wine tastings in Bordeaux but I had to add one place where you can taste other spirits that this region is famous for. Emile & Marguerite is a charming shop in the heart of the center of Bordeaux specializing in made in France alcohol. They have everything from Whisky to Gin, vodka and a huge selection of local beers. But what’s more interesting is their large selection of Cognac and Armagnac brandies originating from the Southwest of France. The shop offers spirit tastings that include 3 different spirits (10 euros) and if you buy a bottle (for more than 40 euros) the tastings are on the house. If you don’t have an extra day to go to Cognac or Armagnac this can be a very nice way to taste and gain more knowledge about these two exceptional French spirits. You don’t have to make reservations, just pass by and you’ll be welcomed anytime. The shop is open daily, check out their facebook page for more info. Address: 13 Rue Parlement Saint-Pierre, 33000 Bordeaux
That’s it for today! Hope it gave you plenty of ideas for wine tastings in Bordeaux!
If you are looking for another fun and delicious activity in Bordeaux, check out my food tours in which I’ll take you through a three-hour journey in the culinary scene of the Southwest of France.
Lost in Bordeaux helps you enjoy the city and region in many ways so be sure to follow us on facebook/Instagram for more daily updates on things to do and see. Or better yet, join my newsletter where I share a lot of exclusive info about Bordeaux and the region – sign up here.
Bordeaux may not be France’s fashion capital but the Bordelais are actually quite stylish. And just like everybody else, they also love to buy some of their items in second hand shops. However, these are not so easy to spot without some guidance. That’s why I decided to gather a list of the best vintage and second-hand shops in Bordeaux. The guide includes both trendy boutiques with special items from the 80s as well as more day to day shops where you can find cheap and beutiful items. Second-hand shops are chic and environmentally friendly so I’m totally for it! Let’s start with our list!
Second-Hand shops in Bordeaux city center
Freep’show
Freep’show the funky second-hand shop in Bordeaux
This is one of the funkiest shops in Bordeaux. Once you take your eyes off the big Slash mannequin in the entrance, you can spot plenty of second-hand items from the 80s and 90s that will make you instantly nostalgic. The shop is not big but the selection of plaid shirts, short jeans, and colorful dresses is really impressive. Freep’show has a hipster vibe to it. Stylish employees moving to the beat of the music played in the shop decorated with vinyl records (you get the picture..). The prices are very low, you can find plenty of items for 10 euros or less.
Address: 80 Rue du Loup, 33000 Bordeaux
Chamade
Chamade – here you can also sell your clothes
Chamade looks like a fancy boutique from outside but it’s actually another beautiful vintage shop on rue du Loup. They have an impressive collection of women’s wear, a lot of stylish skirts and button-down shirts. They also have a big collection of beautiful jewelry, which is not second-hand but complements their vintage clothes perfectly. This store also buys second-hand clothes so if you have some stylish items to get rid off you may make some money on the way.
Address: 76 Rue du Loup, 33000 Bordeaux
Jolie Mome
Jolie Mome – chic store in Bordeaux center
Jolie Mome is a super stylish second-hand boutique with a very young vibe to it. They have a big selection of trendy outfits and the store has a very similar design to other fashion boutiques in the city center, so it’s hard to tell from the outside that it’s a second-hand shop. They sell only women wear, offering a lot of beautiful dresses you could wear on events as well as nice accessories like bags and scarves. The prices are really good with a lot of items at around 20 euros.
Address: 22 Rue du Pas-Saint-Georges, 33000 Bordeaux
Madame plus
Madame Plus – a good store for women and kids
Another good second-hand shop is Madame Plus, which has a big selection of women wear but also a nice section dedicated to kids and babies. It’s very well organized and you can find plenty of casual items from dresses to jeans and bags. I found the shopping experience there very pleasant.
Address: 22 Rue Castillon, 33000 Bordeaux
Backstage
Backstage – luxury second hand shop
This is the most high-end vintage store in Bordeaux. From first glance, it looks more like a luxury bridal shop than a second hand one. There are lots of special vintage items like designer dresses, bags and beautiful hats. The prices are quite high but if you’re on a hunt for a special item for an event, this is a good store to stop by.
Address: 14 Rue Maucoudinat, 33000 Bordeaux
Vintage Paradise
Vintage Paradise – plenty of colorful shirts
A very colorful shop with a huge selection of shorts and jeans for both men and women. You won’t find elegant dresses or bags in this shop but rather plenty of casual wear. The items are very fashionable with a lot of reference to the 90s. The prices in the shop are really affordable with most of the items ranging between 10 and 20 euros.
Address: rue 33000, 2 Rue Tustal, 33000 Bordeaux
Amos
Amos – a solidarity shop with chic
Amos is an association that employs people going through reintegration into society and all of the clothes you’ll see in their stores are coming from donations. They have several stores in Bordeaux with the most central and stylish being the one on rue Sainte Catherine. All the shops have women, men and kids wear, with some offering also toys and books. The prices are very low and it’s nice to be able to take part in a social project. If you have clothes that you don’t use anymore, you can donate them to Amos. Their containers marked AMOS, are spread all over the city (click here to see where the containers are located).
Address: 146 Rue Sainte-Catherine, 33000 Bordeaux
Mad Vintage
Mad Vintage – a good selection for men
Mad Vintage is a big second-hand store on rue Sainte Catharine that looks like a regular clothes store rather than a thrift shop. The shop is very well organized with a big selection of basic t-shirts and jeans and a section of 90s jackets, with some looking like they have been taken from the set of the Fresh Prince of Bel-air. This store has one of the best collections for men in Bordeaux, as opposed to many other second-hand shops that sell only women clothes.
Address: 142 Rue Sainte-Catherine, 33000 Bordeaux
Platine Vintage
Platine – 90’s chic
Platine is a small store in one of the chicest areas in Bordeaux, located just next to the Grosse Cloche. It has a very strong 90’s vibe, offering a big selection of jeans jackets, belt pouches, polaroid cameras, and more. While I did find some nice 90’s accessories in the shop, I believe that in the clothing section it has a better selection for men than for women.
Address: 4 Rue Bouquière, 33000 Bordeaux
Help
This is not one of those chic shops you go to for the second-hand shopping experience but rather a big shop where you go to dig in piles of clothes to find that one special item. It’s an outlet store and next to some second-hand items you can find plenty of clothes from retail stores and designers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Prada and more. The prices are very low and you can find anything from coats to women lingerie, kids wear and ties for men. The store doesn’t look big from outside but it’s actually huge once you go inside.
Address: 187 Rue Sainte-Catherine, 33000 Bordeaux
Second-hand shops in Saint Michel and Victoire, Bordeaux
Declic
Declic – my favorite style
Declic is one of the most stylish vintage shops in Bordeaux. The boutique, located next to the Victoire square, is beautifully designed, offering a great shopping experience. If you’re looking for something to wear to an event that would be the best shop to start with. On the display, you can find plenty of beautiful dresses, stylish bags, belts and hats. The owner has already made the work for you by creating some beautiful combinations that you can see on the store’s walls. The prices here are a bit more elevated as its a vintage shop with very carefully selected items, but you can still find a lot of items at around 20 euros.
Address: 17 rue des Augustins, 33000 Bordeaux
Steack-Fripes
Steack- Fripes is one of the most popular second-hand shops in Bordeaux. It offers a very eclectic style from vintage dresses from the 20s to old costumes and hats, all organized by color code. The owners are pretty good at selecting a lot of special items so if you want to add a twist to your look, you should definitely check out this store.
Address: 62 Rue du Mirail, 33000 Bordeaux
Boutique Marcelle
Boutique Marcelle, located in the Victoire neighborhood is more of a thrift store, meaning that you’ll have to work a bit to find the more stylish items. It’s packed with clothes, bags and shoes for both women and men. It’s not a very fashionable shop but it offers plenty of items with very eclectic styles. So if you have the time for some digging you might find great bargains here.
Address: 55 Rue du Mirail, 33000 Bordeaux
Le Fil a Retordre
Le Fil a Retordre – a small shop with everything you need
Le Fil a Retordre is a cozy little second-hand shop in the Saint Michel neighborhood. It looks small but has everything you need, clothes, shoes, books, toys, house decor and even some original designs of clothes and bags recycled from old items, all in very good condition. It’s owned by a nice lady who has owned several second-hand shops in Saint Michel in the last 35 years.
Address: 9 rue des Faures, 33000 Bordeaux
That’s it! 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.
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Bordeaux isn’t one of France’s cheapest cities but there are quite a lot of things you can enjoy here for free (or at a very low price). In this article, I gathered plenty of ideas for you to enjoy the city and the area around Bordeaux without spending a dime. Following my list, you will learn how to dance, discover amazing art, visit beautiful beaches and do most of it completely free. If you’re coming with kids, this post will give you some nice ideas for entertaining them without breaking the bank. Many of the offered attractions in this article are available during the summer season but some things you can do during winter as well. So let’s start with the list of free things to do in Bordeaux!
Free things you can do all year long in Bordeaux
Stroll the historic city
The Girondins monument
You don’t need much to enjoy this amazing city. The exceptional architecture is present on almost every street. The old gates to the city, the romantic streets leading to lively squares, the wide beautiful promenade on the river banks will all leave a great impression on you. After Paris, Bordeaux has the highest number of preserved historical buildings in France. No wonder that its historic part was declared as an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble by UNESCO. If it’s your first time in Bordeaux you can read about the most important monuments in my guide to a weekend in Bordeaux.
Darwin – hipster paradise
Darwin Bordeaux
If you want to take the off-beaten track go to where the locals love to hang out. Darwin is an old military base on the right bank of the river converted into an urban space with a very cool vibe to it. It has a very chic restaurant and several shops but you don’t really need to spend money to enjoy it. You can stroll around the hangars, check out the charity shop, see plenty of street art and just embrace the hipster vibes :). Darwin and the associations it hosts are very active and offer plenty of free events. I tend to write quite a lot about it, so check out my weekend posts. You can also have a picnic at the Parc aux Angéliques located just in front of Darwin.
Address: 87 Quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux
Free museums Sunday
Musee des beaux arts
in Bordeaux
Like in most cities in France, the first Sunday of the month is a free museums day. You have a free entrance to all the public museums and to most exhibitions. Check out the full list of museums in Bordeaux that you can visit for free this Sunday.
Free galleries in Bordeaux
Discover the local art in the many galleries spread in the city, many of them you can visit without a reservation. Here are some of the best galleries in Bordeaux: Galerie D.X., Bouillon d’art, A deux pas d’ici (photography), Cox gallery (street art). For contemporary art, head to FRAC which is located at the new MECA, an interesting architectural attraction by itself.
One of the best ways to discover the city is by bike and you don’t even have to pay much to do that in Bordeaux. There are city bikes (V³) stations spread all over the city and they cost only 1.7 euros for 24 hours. You have to return it to the station every 30 minutes and you can immediately take another one to continue your journey. You can also pay 2 euros per hour and return it later if you want to make a longer ride to areas without city bikes stations. See the location of the stations here.
See Bordeaux’s most ancient monument
Palais Galien
Strolling the city center you’ve probably noticed a lot of impressive monuments dating back to the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries such and the Grosse Cloche or the Saint Michel Basilica. But Bordeaux’s oldest monument is actually located outside of the old city walls.Palais Galien is the ruins of a Gallo Roman amphitheater dating back to the second century when Bordeaux was called Burdigala. The site is located a few minutes walk from Jardin public and you can see all of it from the street. There are guided tours to Palais Galien during the summer season. You can book them calling this number +33 5 56 00 66 00.
Bordeaux churches
Bordeaux Metropole is rich with many basilicas and churches, decorating almost every big square in the city. Its history is blended with religion and the churches are a testament to the development of the city. One of the best things about them is that they are always free and open every day. Bordeaux is an old city so you get to explore religious temples from various periods in time, carrying very different styles. Some examples are the amazing Saint Andres on Place Pey Berland that is built in a Gothic Style or the church of Notre Dame with its Baroque style. Other impressive and interesting churches and Basilicas include Saint Croix, Saint Michel and Saint Bruno.
Free events
The Carnival of Bordeaux
There are free events taking place every weekend, from concerts on the street to huge brocantes, street art events, dance lessons and more. All you need to do is follow my weekend list to be updated on what’s happening in the city at the moment.
Drink at the Capucins Market
One of the main attractions in Bordeaux is Marché des Capucins, Bordeaux’s main market. Eating at the market definitely isn’t free (although very affordable) but you don’t have to eat there to feel the vibe. You can just sip a glass of cold white wine at Chez Jean Me (only 2 euros a glass) and absorb the sounds and smells of the market. If you need more recommendations check out my post about the best restaurants at the Capucins market.
Discover the street art
Like many other cities, Bordeaux too has the street art fever, with numerous talented local artists. One of the best things about street art is that it’s usually free, you just need to put some effort to find it. Darwin is one of the places that have the largest concentration of street art by local artists in Bordeaux. Other spots in the city include the Bassin a Flot district, rue du Loup with a beautiful work by Nasty, rue Bourrard, quai des platitudes, the Mur in Chartrons, rue Bergeret. One of the most beautiful works, in my opinion, is located just next to Pessac’s train station. The street art scene is always evolving so again you’ll have to get back here for updates 😉
Brocante in Saint Michel
Antiques and flea markets are a popular attraction in many cities. Some people go there to hunt for special bargains to take home and others see it as a way to discover more about the place through the pieces on display. Bordeaux is quite rich with Brocantes and Vide Greniers (a local version of a garage sale) and you can find many of them both in the center and the villages around it. The most famous one is located in Passage Saint Michel, a hangar that gathers about twenty brocanteurs (second-hand goods dealer) together. Just in front of it, on the main square in Saint Michel, you will find the Sunday Brocante with much cheaper items for sale. Another neighborhood to visit is Chartrons, with plenty of more expensive Antique boutiques. If you want to experience a local and cheaper “flea market” you should attend a Vide Grenier in one of the suburbs or the villages next to Bordeaux. To discover when are the next vide greniers taking place check out this site.
Take a free tour in Bordeaux
If reading about the history of Bordeaux feels like a daunting task to you, you can just take a tour and let a professional guide tell you all about it. Free walking tours offer free tours in the city center and you can tip them at the end as you want.
What to do for free in Bordeaux during the summer
Go to a free music concert
Bordeaux open air festival by Lost in Bordeaux
The summer in Bordeaux is one big music festival with plenty of free concerts and parties scattered all over the city. There are several associations that organize free concerts from June to the end of September in many different styles and locations. Bordeaux Open Air offers amazing electronic festivals in the parks of Bordeaux almost every summer. Relache will make you rock with free rock concerts on different squares of Bordeaux. Banzai lab has amazing parties on the weekend of July and the Pavillon d’été welcomes you to enjoy free music concerts on the right bank of the river. For more information follow my post about things to do in July and August as well as my what to do this weekend post that I publish every Wednesday/ Thursday.
Learn how to dance
learn how to dance with Dansons sur les quais
If dance classes are too expensive for you, in Bordeaux you can learn it for free! The main dance festival in the summer is Dansons sur les quais, with free dancing lessons on the promenade. The lessons are taught by professional teachers and it’s quite an amazing experience for both kids and adults. However, this is not the only place to take free dance classes in Bordeaux during the summer season. You can also learn how to dance Tango with Tango Bordeaux association and Swing with the Swing In Kiosque at Jardin Public.
Have a picnic at the Park
chateau peixotto in Talence
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy a proper French meal or snack. Just buy some cheese and wine, add to it a crispy baguette from the boulangerie and head to one of Bordeaux magical picnic spots. Many of you probably heard about the beautiful Jardin Public, but this is far from being the only park in Bordeaux. Check out my list of the best picnic places in Bordeaux where I also included information about playgrounds for kids and the closest supermarkets.
Listen to music and dance at la Guingette chez Alriq
La Guinguette chez Alriq is one of the best summer places in Bordeaux with plenty of concerts in the open air. During the summer they host amazing bands from Thursday to Sunday. While on most evenings the concerts cost 6 euros on Sunday afternoon the concerts are free!
Adress: ZA Quai des Queyries, Port Bastide, 33100 Bordeaux
Go to one of the beaches in the city
One of the best free attractions to do during the Bordelaise summer is going to a beach. There are many lakes in the area and two of them happen to be in the city and you can even reach them by public transport. Bordeaux Lac is a fantastic little beach in the north of the city. Unfortunately, the direct line to the beach (line c) from the city center is going through some works until September so going to the beach will take more time than usual. The second city beach is located in the southern suburb of Bordeaux, Bègles. Bègles plage can be reached by line c within 25 minutes from the train station.
Fun stuff to do (almost) for free with kids in Bordeaux
Chill at the Miroir d’eau
The best free attraction for kids (and adults) in Bordeaux is definitely Mirroir d’eau. Kids absolutely love splashing in the water, especially on hot summer days. When tired you can have a picnic at the little garden right next to it.
Go to the pool
Going to the pool is not really free in Bordeaux but it’s very affordable and you can spend the whole day there. There are several kids friendly pools in Bordeaux metropole, two of them are not very far from the city center. Next to the Meriadeck, you’ll find the piscine Judaique located in a beautiful art deco building. A bit farther from the center is Piscine du Grand Parc. Both are very kids friendly with facilities like kids’ pool, water slides, floats and more.
Skateboarding on the quai
If your kids love skating be sure to bring the skateboard with you when coming to Bordeaux. One of the best skateparks in the city is located on Quai des Chartrons and it’s free. For those heading to the Sunday market on the quai, that would be a great break for the kids.
There are plenty of amazing day trips you can go to when visiting the Bordeaux area. It’s not entirely free of course as you have to rent a car but it gives you the chance to discover plenty of amazing places around Bordeaux without paying a dime. Also, If you make sure to rent it a few months before your arrival rental prices are fairly low. If you prefer to go by train, check out my list of the 10 day trips you can do by train from Bordeaux.
Discover the beautiful châteaux of the Medoc region
Château d’Arsac by Lost in Bordeaux
Even if you don’t want to spend money on a wine tour I highly recommend doing the route du Vin, just for the beautiful châteaux all along the way. If you don’t want to rent a car you can do most of the trip by bike. While in many wineries you’d have to pay for a guided tour, some will offer you to taste their wine for free. For more information check out my article about the wine road in Medoc.
Go to one of Bordeaux’s beautiful beaches
Plage de la Hume on the Bassin d’Arcachon
Above I’ve mentioned two beaches that are located within the city but with a car, Gironde is a paradise for beach lovers. Plenty of beautiful sandy beaches surround the Bordeaux Metropole. The more kids friendly ones are located on the lakes, such as lac Lacanau or lac Cazaux and on the Bassin d’Arcachon. Surfers will definitely fall in love with the beaches on the Atlantic coast. If you need help in choosing the best beaches, I just recently released a post about the best beaches near Bordeaux.
Visit medieval villages
Rions
To its south and east, Bordeaux is surrounded by amazing medieval villages which you can reach within less than an hour drive. One of the most famous villages in our area is Saint Emilion, but it’s not the only charming village in the area, others include, Bazas, Saint Macaire, La Reole, Rions and more. For more information about some of these destinations check out my article about day trips from Bordeaux.
I hope I convinced you that a trip to Bordeaux can be quite cheap when you have so many incredible free things to do. Hope you enjoyed the list!
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Apart from luxurious wine, the Bordeaux area is also known for its beautiful beaches. On sunny days many tourists rush to the coast of Arcachon without knowing that there is actually a great deal of amazing beaches near Bordeaux. In this article, I want to share ten beaches in the area that I find absolutely stunning. The list includes both lake beaches, ocean beaches and of course the best beaches on the Bassin d’Arcachon. There are many more gorgeous beaches in the Southwest of France but I made sure to include only those that are located within a reasonable distance from the center of Bordeaux. Hope you’ll enjoy the article and the beaches around Bordeaux 🙂
Lake beaches near Bordeaux
Plage du Lac d’Hostens – South of Gironde
Plage du Lac d’Hostens – by lost in Bordeaux
Hostens lac is one of the highlights of the South Gironde region. Domaine des Lacs d’Hostens is located at the heart of the Landes de Gascogne forest (50km from Bordeaux) and has one of the most beautiful beaches in our area. This place is much more than just a nice place to swim. Hostens offers plenty of water activities such as kayaks and pedaling as well as hiking trails, mountain bike trails and more. There are actually 5 lakes at the domain but the beach is located on the shores of lake of Lamothe. There’s also a restaurant and a snack bar next to the beach so no worries if you didn’t come prepared. You can get more information about the activities at the tourist information point which is located next to the parking at the entrance to the Domain or read some of it here.
Bordeaux Lac – in Bordeaux city
Bordeaux lac by Lost in Bordeaux
If you’re in Bordeaux and prefer to avoid renting/using a car, this beach is perfect for you. Bordeaux Lac has everything you need, a sandy clean beach and a lot of shade from the nearby 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 it offers water and beach activities such as sailing, kayaking, mini-golf and more. Check out the list of daily activities here.
La Plage du Moutchic – Lacanau
La Plage du Moutchic by lost in Bordeaux
Plage du Moutchic is located on the banks of Lacanau lake, about 50 km from Bordeaux. This beach has a nice supervised swimming area, a shaded picnic area and sports facilities like boat rentals, windsurfing, canoes and paddle boats which makes it very popular with families from the region. In case you forgot to bring food (god forbid), there’s a snack bar and two restaurants with a beautiful view on the lake. For those who don’t like sand (my hubby including 🙂 ), part of the beach is covered with soft green grass. There’s big free parking behind the beach.
Plage Laouga – Close to Arcachon
Plage Laouga on Lac Cazaux is a fine sandy beach located about 400 m from the main beach of this beautiful lake (Plage Cazaux). Its calm warm water makes it one of the best places for families. This part of the lake is sheltered by the pine forest of Landes de Gascogne, which creates a lot of shaded spots on the beach (a must in the South-west summer). The beach is supervised during the summer season (mid June- mid September) and has free parking just next to it. Plage Laouga is located about 70 km from Bordeaux.
Beaches on the Arcachon Bay – close to Bordeaux
Le Moulleau beach
Le Moulleau, while officially a part of the city of Arcachon, feels like a completely separate little resort town with its own center, beaches and restaurants. It’s a very popular beach that attracts both families and many young people. The Moulleau is located midway between the center of Arcachon and the famous Dune du Pilat which is always a great spot to finish your day. There are a few bars and restaurants very close to the beach so you can easily spend the whole day in this resort. You can also take a ferry and check the beaches on the other side of the Bassin at Cap ferret. The beach can be reached by car, bike or a bus from the train station of Arcachon.
Plage Pereire, one of the most popular beaches in Arcachon, is located in Ville de Printemps (the winter city of Arcachon) about 67 km from Bordeaux. It’s a beautiful three km long beach with white sand and an amazing view of the Cap Ferret peninsula on the other side of the bay. This beach is equipped with many sports facilities, a cycle path and green lawns for people to have a picnic on. When coming from Arcachon center, one of the best ways to get there is cycling. A flat cycle path, stretched from the central beach to the Dune du Pyla, passes through Plage Pereire and other Arcachon beaches. On a hot summer day, you can enjoy a cold rosé at the bar-restaurant du soleil located on the beach.
Andernos les bains
A more isolated beach in Andernos les bains
Andernos les bains at the north of the Bassin d’Arcachon is one of the most attractive towns in the area, especially during the summer season. It has a cute little center leading to the main beach that is abundant with restaurants, ice cream shops and beach clothing boutiques. While the main beach is really nice, if you want a more isolated and relaxed atmosphere you should continue in the direction of the oysters port and go the remarkable nature reserve of les Quinconces. After a short walk from the port into the reserve, you’ll discover a beautiful beach with the forest as your background. This beach is quite isolated so there are no facilities here and it’s not supervised. Andernos les bains is located about 50 km from Bordeaux.
Plage de la Hume – Gujan Mestras
Plage de la Hume on the Bassin d’Arcachon
Plage de la Hume is a family friendly beach located at the touristic part of Gujan Mestras, a little town known as the capital of oyster farming on the Bassin d’Arcachon. Its location on the bay makes the water very calm and easy to swim in. However, if you’ve come for more than the beach itself and really want to swim, check the tide hours first. They are changing daily and in some hours of the day, you can barely see any water. Click here for the daily hours. The beach is supervised in July and August (from 10:00 to 19:00), which makes it a very safe place for kids. Plage de la Hume is located just next to the ports that Gujan Mestras is famous for, so if you’re getting hungry you can always stop in one of the cabanes on the port for fresh oysters.
Beaches at the Atlantic coast
Plage du Grand Cohort – Lège Cap-Ferret
Grand Cohort beach is located on the Ocean side of the Cap Ferret peninsula. As opposed to the more calm water on the side of the Bassin d’Arcachon, on the ocean side, the waves are strong which makes it a surfing paradise. This beautiful white sand beach attracts both kite surfers and families that love to swim in the ocean. In the summer the beach tends to be quite busy and sometimes parking can be an issue so try to come early. If you’re coming with kids, this beach is supervised during the summer. This beach is located about 60 km from the center of Bordeaux.
Lacanau Ocean beaches
Lacanau-Ocean main beach
If your idea for a beach day is a more active one, this is the beach for you. The Lacanau Ocean beach begins right at the end of Boulevard de la Plage at the Lacanau Ocean town, which is located about 55km from Bordeaux. It is one of the longest beaches in the Aquitaine area, spreading to 15 km of white sand. The beach is considered a perfect place for surfing and windsurfing and it has become known for surfing competition and events. This long beach is also a great place for bathing in the sea with your family and has all the facilities you need, including many restaurants and shops in its little center.
There are plenty of other amazing beaches near Bordeaux but I think that these ten beaches will give you a sense of how beautiful and magical the Gironde region is!
For more places to visit around Bordeaux check out my guides about day trips from Bordeaux by car and by train.
The Bordeaux wine route is one of the most visited attractions in the south west of France. It’s actually not one but five different wine trails around Bordeaux and one of them is the beautiful Medoc region. “Route des chateaux” is the unofficial name of this magnificent wine trail, which combines nature, history and culture in one beautiful road. If you have more than a day to spend on a wine trip in Bordeaux, you should definitely consider Medoc. In two days, you can see a wealth of beautiful chateaux, taste some of the best wines in the world, go to the beach on the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy the local cuisine. The list of things to do in Medoc is quite long and you can easily turn it into a weeklong vacation if you like. However, as most people go to Medoc for a weekend, I decided to write a two-day itinerary. I tried to cover the most important things to do and places to visit in the Medoc Peninsula, so apart from wine related activities I also included recommendations of beautiful villages to visit, beaches, markets, hotels, restaurants and more. I truly hope this article will help you plan your wine trip in the area and will make you fall in love with the marvelous region of Medoc.
If you’re interested in doing more than just one wine route while in Bordeaux, you should check my list of châteaux to visit in Saint Emilion.
The Medoc wine region in numbers
The Medoc wine region consists of eight appellations (AOC) covering 16,500 hectares, which include Médoc, Haut-Médoc, Margaux, Pauillac, Saint Julien, Saint-Estéphe, Moulis and Listrac. The Medoc wine is classified according to the Bordeaux wine official classification of 1855 with five levels of Grand cru classé, Premier cru classé being the highest of the five. There are five chateaux classified as Premier cru classé in the Bordeaux area, four of them being in the Medoc area: Château Margaux, Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour and Château Mouton Rothschild. The fifth one is Château Haut-Brion from the Graves wine area. Visiting the Medoc Premier cru chateaux can be complicated as they are usually open only to professionals or by appointment. But you don’t really need these four to make it an unforgettable trip. There are 60 Grand cru classé wineries, craft and cooperative chateaux and many other incredible wine chateaux that you can visit on the Medoc route. Now it’s time to discover them, so let’s dive into the two-day itinerary in the Medoc wine route.
Day one – Châteaux along the Medoc wine road
Start your day from Bordeaux on the D2 road, which is essentially the famous wine road called “Route des châteaux”. It starts at Blanquefort and continues all the way to the top of the Medoc Peninsula. All along the D2 road, you will pass through tens of km of vineyards and châteaux and through towns like Margaux and Pauillac, names you may know from the labels of Bordeaux’s wine bottles. The Medoc wine route is beautiful and you will enjoy it even if you don’t plan to taste any wine at all. Take your time to admire (and take photos of) the breathtaking châteaux that you will randomly see by the road. Some of them are so magical that you start feeling as if you’re on a movie set.
For the full wine route experience you need to actually visit one or several wineries and taste their wines. However, as you will witness, there are so many of them on the D2 road that choosing one or two to visit is practically impossible without some guidance.
Visiting a château in Medoc – how to go on a wine tour?
Visiting a wine château in Medoc is a marvelous experience providing you with a glimpse into wine-making in one of the most prestigious wine areas in the world. Most guided visits in the wineries will start with a tour of the properties, many of which carry historic value. Often this includes the story of a wine making family over several generations. Some châteaux also hold little art museums with family collections. Others display impressive exhibitions of art in their gardens or even in the cellars themselves. In some cases, the property won’t be very impressive but the warm welcome of the family will make it an unforgettable visit.
Château Siran private collection – by lost in Bordeaux
The second part of the visit deals with the wine itself. You get to visit the vineyards and hear the characteristics of different types of grapes and blends. In most tours, you will continue to the cellars and see some old and new techniques of wine making. And there’s always the fun part, the tastings, where you get to taste two or three different wines of the château.
There are many wineries who welcome visitors to their wineries but it’s important to know that they usually require prior reservations for the tour. However, if you come spontaneously and ask to have a quick look on the property and taste some wine, many of them will happily welcome you inside (if they’re not in the middle of a tour). If you don’t want to be calling the wineries yourself you can buy tickets to many of the tours through the tourist office in Pauillac.
Don’t try to run and see tens of chateaux, there are just too many of them, just take your time to enjoy a few. I recommend visiting two or three châteaux just for the sake of comparison.
Coming from Bordeaux, make the first stop at the southern appellations, not far from the Margaux area. As it’s located only about 30 km from Bordeaux city, you can make it early and still have time to visit more chateaux that day. Some of the châteaux I really loved in this area are: Chateau de Taillan which is owned by 5 sisters; Chateau d’Arsac, one of the most beautiful properties in Medoc with an extravagant display of art in its enormous gardens. Closer to Margaux itself you have the charming family-run Chateau Siran and Chateau Kirwan.
Château d’Arsac by Lost in Bordeaux
The town of Margeaux
Margaux isn’t very impressive on its own, but there are several reasons for a quick stop there during your trip. First one being Mademoiselle de Margaux, a chocolate shop and factory with chocolates you can find only in the region. The factory was created in Margaux in 1969, and produces delicious chocolates that are inspired by wine. If you’re looking for an original present to bring back home from Medoc, this is one of the best options. Also, Margaux is home to one of the most famous châteaux in the world, Château Margaux. They don’t offer visits to individuals but you can still take a walk around some of their facilities and see the magnificent mansion through the gate. If it’s lunch time, there are a few restaurants in the center. Remember, in France all the restaurants close for a break at 14:00 so try not to miss the lunch slot!
Pauillac
Next on our route du vin is Paulliac, one of the main wine destinations in the Bordeaux area. It’s a very nice town with a charming riverfront where you’ll find plenty of restaurants. If you want to stop for a nice meal of mussels and wine, les Moules du Cabanon on the riverfront is the perfect place. Pauillac is also home to the famous Café Lavinal, one of the most renowned dining institutions in the area. If you wish to discover the traditional food of Medoc, this is the place for you.
Château cos d’Estournel by Lost in Bordeaux
After lunch, head to the Tourist Office and the Maison du Vin which is located on the riverfront. Contrary to many tourist offices, this one is a very informative resource to all you can do in the area. They have recently launched a new interactive activity for kids and adults where you get to practice your wine smelling skills. They can also advise you on the closest wineries to visit in the afternoon. There are plenty of impressive chateaux to see in the northern area of Medoc, both in Pauillac, Saint Julien and Saint-Estéphe. Some of the most impressive and interesting ones are Château Beychevelle, Château Cos d’Estournel, Château La Tour de By, Château la Tour Carnet,Château Lafon-Rochet andChâteau Pichon Longueville Baron. As mentioned above, many of the wineries require you to book the visits in advance so go to their sites to see more details.
Château Loudenne for a special experience!
Château Loudenne was one of my favorite experiences in the region. It’s a 17th-century mansion, known as château rose, the pink house, which you get to explore during the visit. The château is located almost at the end of the wine route and is the only château in Medoc that has a private port, with a beautiful view on the Garonne Estuary. Apart from the impressive property, they have a beautiful garden where you can take a walk after tasting their divine wine. They offer two free tours at 11 am and 2 pm during the touristic period and will welcome you without reservation when it’s less busy.
The pink house – Château Loudenne by Lost in Bordeaux
If you arrive for the morning visit (11am) you can spend the whole day at the château. They offer an amazing picnic basket (which you should order ahead) so if the weather is nice you can have a picnic on the river banks. There are boats that pass by the port several times a week, proposing a guided tour of the Gironde estuary. Book the boat tour at the same day as it will depend on the tide. Chateau Loudenne is open from Tuesday to Saturday, check out their contact details on their website.
Have dinner on the Port of Saint Vivien de Medoc
The northern part of the Medoc peninsula is a magical place most travelers don’t get to see. Starting from Château Loudenne the vineyard landscape starts to change into a completely different scenario of little ports on the Gironde Estuary. Several little port villages lay between the last châteaux and Le Verdon sur Mer, the northernmost point of Medoc. One that I found especially charming was Saint Vivien de Medoc, with a cute little portwith several restaurants and bars perched along the river. My favorite one was la Cabane du Port, a charming tapas bar with comfy chairs, great food and a great view of the docking boats. The Kayak Café is also great for a more substantial meal.
The port of Saint Vivien de Medoc by Lost in Bordeaux
Visit Phare de Richard and the traditional fishing houses
Phare de Richard is an old lighthouse turned into a nice museum telling the story of the Estuary and the fishing industry around it. If you come during the opening hours you can climb to the top and see a beautiful view of the Estuary. However, the site is worth a visit even without entering the lighthouse just to see the Carrelets, the traditional fishing cabins. The site also has a very nice picnic area with a small playground for kids.
Carrelets in Medoc by Lost in Bordeaux
Second Day – from wine to the ocean – discovering Medoc Atlantic
Soulac Sur Mer – the Arcachon of Medoc
This charming little town is one of the highlights of the Medoc region, located at the very top of the Medoc Atlantique, about 90 km (55 miles) from Bordeaux. Soulac sur mer looks like a little Arcachon, with the city center resembling Ville d’été and the impressive 18th-century villas has a similar architectural style of Ville d’Hiver in Arcachon (For more details about Arcachon click here). Soulac has some of the most beautiful beaches on the Atlantic coast, attracting many French tourists to the area. There are plenty of cute little restaurants both in the center and on the promenade. Seafood is a very important part of the local cuisine and so many restaurants will serve oysters and large shrimps. While there, don’t forget to visit the amazing covered market of the region that sell all the delicacies of the area. Also, if you want to stop for a coffee, Livres Et Cornets is a cute chic cafe on the main pedestrian street.
Soulac sur mer by Lost in Bordeaux
Sunday Market at Montalivet les Bains
The Montalivet market is not to be missed if you happen to be there on Sunday morning. This is one of the biggest markets in the area, hosting more than 200 merchants all year long. Here you will find all the delicacies of the region, the Medoc wine, oysters from Cap Ferret and Île de Ré, cheese from the Basque country and more. But the real attraction of the market is the oysters stands where plenty of people gather to sip white wine accompanied by this local delicacy. By 11am it gets really crowded so try to make it as early as possible.
The Montalivet market by Lost in Bordeaux
Due to its location on the Atlantic coast, Montalivet les Bains became a popular destination for surfers. The city center, which is located close to the main beach, looks like a typical surf resort town with plenty of surf and water equipment shops. All along the main street, restaurant owners will invite you to have a drink or lunch on their terraces. The highlight for me was the gallery café, located just in front of the market, which is both a very chic coffee place and a vintage shop. They serve delicious fresh food and it’s a perfect spot for a brunch. The address is 49 Avenue Brémontier, 33930 Vendays-Montalivet. If you’re travelling with kids, this town can be a nice break for lunch but I didn’t find the beach very kids friendly.
Visit Vertheuil – an old beautiful village
If you’re done with wine and the ocean (if that’s at all possible) there’s one last stop to make on the way back from your Bordeaux wine route. Vertheuil is probably one of the most charming little towns in the Medoc area. It’s located somewhere in the middle of the peninsula so it can be on your way whether you still have some wineries to visit or want to go back straight to Bordeaux. It’s a very small village surrounding the Abbey of Vertheuil that dates back to the 12th century (and reconstructed in the 18th century). At the back of the Abbey there’s a lovely garden with a terrace cafe and even a little playground for kids. The Abbaye of Vertheuil is open from Tuesday to Sunday in the afternoon on July and August.
The Abbey of Vertheuil by Lost in Bordeaux
If you’re hungry there’s a nice little Italian restaurant right in the center of the village called Casa Trogarra.
Where to stay in the Medoc area?
There are plenty of accommodation options in the Medoc area, you just have to decide on the setting and view. You can spend a night in the vineyards and enjoy the calm atmosphere, sleep in a gorgeous chateaux on the Route des chateaux or have a more lively vibe in the center of Soulac sur mer. Here are some good options:
Hotels in Medoc
Château de l’Isle
An exceptional bed and breakfast in a beautiful 18th-century house, located between Margaux and the two lakes of Medoc Lacanau and Hourtin. The breakfast is served outside in the beautiful garden, just next to the pool. They provide their guests with bikes so you can even enjoy a bicycle ride in the vineyards of Medoc. They have only four rooms in the chateau so try and book as early as possible. Book it here
Relais de Margaux
A 4 star hotel located in a beautiful 19th century chateau in the heart of the Margaux vineyards in Médoc. The hotel has beautiful and spacious rooms and offers a spa and an outdoor pool. There’s also a golf course but it’s currently closed for renovation. Book it here
Sleeping in a wine Chateau
You’re travelling on the wine road so why not make your hotel part of the journey and stay in one of the wine producing chateaux that also offer accommodations? Here are some options:
Hotel Rollan de By
A beautiful 3 stars hotel located in one of the most gorgeous areas in the Medoc, between the vineyards and the Gironde Estuary. The hotel is quite close to the little ports I’ve mentioned above meaning you have a lot of options for dinner. Rollan de By is an active winery so you can have a wine tour and tastings while staying at the chateau, how great is that? Book it here
Château du Tertre
credit Chateau-du-Tertre
This is a beautiful guesthouse, located in a 19th century mansion. The rooms are elegantly decorated and have a view on the vineyards of the estate. You also get a free tour in the château and the cellars, which are quite remarkable. This is the closest hotel to Bordeaux, so if you want to visit Bordeaux and the Medoc area without changing your accommodation, this is a great option. Book it here
Château La Tour Carnet
If you want to feel like you’re staying in a real castle, this is your best option. Château La Tour Carnet is a famous winery located in one of Médoc’s oldest estates, a former medieval fortress. The amazing room decorations and the setting in a 12th century castle is an experience like no other in the Medoc area. There are only two rooms in the chateau so it’s almost private. The stay here is not cheap but its truly exceptional! Book it here
Château Pierre de Montignac
This is a more simple and affordable place if you want to stay in a wine chateau. The rooms are comfortable and clean and you get a nice breakfast in the morning. And you even get a gift bottle as a gift 🙂 Book it here
Soulac sur mer – for a more lively stay
Au cœur de la station et de la plage
A charming apartment in the center of Soulac sur mer, just a few minutes walk from the main beach. Book it here
Villa Le Cid
A guest house in one of Soulac’ most beautiful villas. The rooms are quite simple but the house is incredible and the staff is amazing. It’s located a few minutes walk from the market of Soulac. Book it here
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.
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