In Discover Bordeaux

The best outdoor bars in Bordeaux

Last updated on May 11, 2023 4 Comments

Bordeaux is a lively city throughout the year, with plenty of restaurants and wine bars which are perfect for a night out. However, summer is when Bordeaux truly shines with plenty of rooftops, terrace cafes, and open bars all over the city. Many of the outdoor bars in Bordeaux are open only during the summer season so you have a limited amount of time to enjoy them.

In this article, I included some of my favorite rooftops and terraces all over the Bordeaux metropole. Some are posh and chic and others are more simple and chill, there’s something here for everyone. You need to know that every district in Bordeaux has a different vibe to it so you need to visit a few to really enjoy the Bordeaux spirit 🙂

Mama shelter- one of the best rooftops in Bordeaux — *by Lost in Bordeaux*

If you’re about to spend the summer in Bordeaux be sure to also check my article about the best things to do in Bordeaux in the summer. If you’re interested in wine tastings in Bordeaux check out my article about the places for wine tasting in Bordeaux. For specific events and other ideas for things to do every weekend, I invite you to subscribe to my email list here.

Here’s a list of the outdoor bars and drinking terraces in Bordeaux for a perfect cocktail evening or an afternoon apero!

La guinguette chez Alriq – the best tavern in town

La Guinguette chez Alriq is one of my favorite places in Bordeaux and its opening event usually means that summer has officially started!

what to do in the summer in Bordeaux — *by Lost in Bordeaux*

The Guinguette is a big tavern located on the right banks of the Garonne in the Bastide neighborhood, hosting plenty of open-air concerts every summer. The performing bands and artists are coming from all over the world and create a laid-back party atmosphere.

There’s usually a small price to pay for the concerts taking place on Thu-Sat and on Sundays the entry is free. You can see their program here. The place is very popular so expect to see a line at the entrance.

Where: ZA Quai des Queyries, Port Bastide, 33100 Bordeaux / When: Thu-Sat from 19:00 to 1:00 and Sunday from 12:00 to 22:00

Les Chantiers de la Garonne

Just next door to La guinguette chez Alriq you can find one of Bordeaux’s best-hidden gems. Les Chantiers de la Garonne is an old hangar turned into a sailing club and a restaurant with one of the best outdoor spaces in Bordeaux.

The restaurant is located on the board of the Garonne River with an outdoor space that feels like a real beach. Low wooden tables are spread over the fine white sand adorned by fresh seafood and cold bottles of white wine. You can find more info about the restaurant and other activities proposed by the Chantiers de la Garonne here.

Where: 21 Quai de Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux / When: The bar is open from Wednsday to Sunday, see the hours here.

Mama Shelter – classic Bordeaux rooftop

Mama Shelter is probably the most popular summer rooftop bar in Bordeaux. It has a funky design and many original cocktails but I believe its location should also get a lot of credit for its popularity. It’s one of the only rooftops in the center of Bordeaux, located just next to the Cathedral Saint André, and has one of the best views of the city. If you come in the evening hours, booking in advance is recommended.

The most popular rooftop in Bordeaux - Mama shelter — *Mama Shelter- by Lost in Bordeaux*

Mama Shelter is also one of the best hotels to stay in when visiting Bordeaux.

Where: 19 Rue Poquelin Molière, 33000 Bordeaux / When: Open daily for lunch, dinner and drinks, see specific hours here.

Plage de L’IBOAT

The Iboat is a three-level ferry spanning 687m2, anchored to one of the docks of Bassins a flot and mostly known as a concert venue. During the summer they also open their “beach”, a fun outdoor space on the board of the Bassin a flot with a bar, comfy sofas, and different outdoor events. La Plage de L’IBOAT is definitely one of the best summer bars in Bordeaux for an afternoon drink! You can see the list of concerts and events here.

Iboat Bassin a Flot Bordeaux — *by Lost in Bordeaux*

For more cool places to visit in the Bassin a flot area check out my article about the Bacalan district.

Where: Bassin à Flot n°1, Cours Henri Brunet, 33300 Bordeaux / When: Every day, check out the list of events on their website

Le Bar de la Marine

Le Bar de la Marine is another hidden gem and like many places in this list, it’s also located in the Bacalan district. A few minutes walk from la Cité du Vin, you’ll pass by a little restaurant that doesn’t seem very impressive from the outside, but once you enter the door you’ll discover a magical universe.

La Bar de la Marine in Bordeaux — *by Lost in Bordeaux*

Since 2019, the Bar de la Marine belongs to chef Frederic Coiffe who not only makes great food but also knows how to create a perfect summer vibe. The restaurant has a secret garden in the back where you can enjoy lunch, meet friends for an afternoon drink or have a delicious family brunch on Sunday. See more details on their Facebook page.

Where: 28 Rue Achard, 33300 Bordeaux / When: open daily – see hours on their Facebook page

Les Planches Éphémères

Les Planches Éphémères opened its doors last year and quickly became one of the local’s favorites. A huge outdoor bar, located at the Hippodrome of Bordeaux in La Bouscat, the place offers two bars, a dj set, and a huge chill-out area under the trees. The place is open every day until September 30. Check out their site for more info.

Address: 8 Avenue de l’Hippodrome, 33110 Le Bouscat

Where: 8 Avenue de l’Hippodrome, 33110 Le Bouscat / When: open daily from May 17 to August 31, from 17:00, see the opening hours here.

Effet Mer

If you didn’t have enough reasons to go to Bassin a flot, here’s another one. Effet Mer is a fun summer bar, located just next to the Base Sous-Marine. This cool place is open seven days a week and offers daily life concerts and dj sets. For more details click here.

L’Effet Mer is located just next to Les Bassins des Lumières, one of the best art venues in Bordeaux. A perfect opportunity to combine art with afternoon drinks!

Where: 280 Boulevard Alfred Daney, 33300 Bordeaux / When: open daily starting May 12, see the opening hours here.

Gina

Another very popular summer place in Bordeaux is Gina, a rooftop bar and Italian restaurant located at the new Renaissance hotel in the Bassin a flot district. The place is open seven days a week and on weekends offers brunch as well. The restaurant requires a prior reservation, you can see more details and book here.

Where: Place des Millésimes, 33300 Bordeaux / When: open daily – see the hours here.

Domaine de Raba

The beautiful chateau of Demaine de Raba is well hidden in a residential neighborhood in Talence. This place is a bit hard to describe as it has everything from a spa to a fancy restaurant, a bar, and different events like cinema nights and morning yoga. The menu of the bar changes every week and it has many special evenings with Dj sets and concerts. Booking in advance is recommended, you can do it online here.

In case you’re also looking for a romantic weekend, you should check out their cute hotel – Hôtel Domaine de Raba Bordeaux Sud.

Where: 35 Rue Rémi Belleau, 33400 Talence

Les Halles de Talence

The Talence market is the little brother of the Bacalan market, built by Biltoki in December 2018. Inside the market, you can find a very good cheese stand, tapas, Moroccan food, sushi, oysters, and more. The prices are a bit high except for the bar, which has a great variety of wines at a good price. The best part, however, is the outdoor area! Plenty of tables are spread in the afternoon between the market and the other restaurants in the Forum and you can enjoy a really fun apero or dinner with a very local vibe.

Halles de Talence - chic market near Bordeaux — *by Lost in Bordeaux*

If you want to discover other markets in Bordeaux check out my articles about the best markets in and around Bordeaux.

Where: Place Alcala de Henares, 33400 Talence / When: Daily except for Mondays, the market closes for a break between 14:30 to 16:30 on weekdays

Canopee Café in Merignac

If you want to avoid going to the city center the Canopée Café is a great option! The Canopée Café in Merignac has both an indoor restaurant (open for lunch and dinner) and a very chic rooftop with a huge selection of cocktails and a petanque court, called the Bodega.

This rooftop is located in the industrial zone in Merignac and thus lacks the beautiful view in Bordeaux’s rooftop bars but the place itself is super chic and there’s plenty of parking 🙂 If you’re a group of 15pl, you must book a table- all the details are here.

Canopée Café Mérignac - chic rooftop near Bordeaux — by Lost in Bordeaux

Where: Face Mérignac Soleil, 1 Chemin de Pouchon, 33700 Mérignac / When: The rooftop (La Bodega) is open Mon to Sat from 17:30.

Eklo’s Guinguette

Eklo in the Bastide neighborhood is an eco-friendly hotel and also a fun bar/restaurant with a huge terrace. The atmosphere there is very chill and less posh than some of the other places on this list, and it’s definitely a positive thing. The menu mostly includes charcuterie, cheese, and some snacks so don’t expect a proper dinner. There’s usually a D.j set in the evening, see the program here.

Where: 10 Rue de la Gare d’Orléans, 33100 Bordeaux / When: Thu to Sat from 16:00 to 23:00

Moxy

A similar vibe of a light, fun, and unpretentious terrace bar you can find at Moxi, a 3-star hotel located next to the Bacalan market. The bar has a chic interior space (which is even kids-friendly) and a fun outdoor space. Like many other summer bars, they have quite a lot of live shows and dj sets. See the program here.

Where: 25 Quai du Maroc, 33000 Bordeaux, France

Le Café Utopia

This isn’t specifically a Bordeaux summer bar but it’s one of my favorite Terraces in Bordeaux all year long (when it’s not raining of course). For those who’re not familiar with the place, Utopia is an independent cinema theater, installed in an ancient church, l’église du Vieux Bordeaux. At the entrance to this beautiful building, you’ll find le Cafe Utopia, a nice bistro, and a good to take your laptop for a few hours of work.

However, the best part is the terrace which has plenty of tables on one of the liveliest squares in Bordeaux, Place Camille Jullian. If you’re looking for a nice, simple place for a drink in the center of the city, this one is recommended.

Cafe Utopia - one of the best terraces in Bordeaux — *Cafe Utopia – one of the best terraces in Bordeaux*

Where: 5 Place Camille Jullian, 33000 Bordeaux / When: Daily from 10:00 to 22:30

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

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

Liked the article? Want to read it again when you’re in Bordeaux? Save it on your Pinterest board.

If it’s your first time in Bordeaux you may also like to read some of the following “intro to Bordeaux” articles I wrote:
The Ultimate Guide to Bordeaux
The best districts in Bordeaux
Where to stay in Bordeaux
What to do in one day in Bordeaux
Things to do with kids in Bordeaux

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

In Around Bordeaux

Where to walk your dog around Bordeaux

Last updated on May 31, 2021 No Comments

You need to add a widget, row, or prebuilt layout before you’ll see anything here. 🙂

From time to time I receive questions about beautiful places to walk dogs in Bordeaux, and so “inspired” by the third confinement in France I decided it’s time to dedicate an article to our little four-legged friends. In the last few months, I wrote numerous articles about hiking and parks in Bordeaux that many found useful this year. Most parks in Bordeaux are very dog friendly so I really recommend you go through my previous articles:

The most beautiful parks in Bordeaux
The best hiking trails around Bordeaux
Best places to visit 20km from your home
The most family-friendly hiking trails in Gironde

Important note: In many parks in Bordeaux dogs are allowed only on a leash and some need to be muzzled, here’s the exact wording from the site of the Marie de Bordeaux: “Les chiens “non classés” sont autorisés tenus en laisse, de même que les chiens de seconde catégorie tenus en laisse et muselés”

In this article, I want to give you a bit more than just the list of parks. This year I’ve spent quite a lot of days exploring nature around Bordeaux with my kids, looking for hidden lakes, easy walking trails, streams, and just any beautiful place where my kids can feel free to run and enjoy nature. I’ve noticed that many of these places are perfect for dogs as well, in many of them you can let them run free and they can even enjoy a swim. So here are some of the best green spaces to walk your dog in Bordeaux metropole.

Parc des Berges de la Garonne in Bègles

Berges de La Garonne is one of the hidden gems of this region. Many, visit this part of Bègles to do shopping in Rives d’Arcins without even knowing that behind the big shopping center hides a very tranquil green park with a beautiful view of the Garonne river. Take your dog for a walk along the river and enjoy the metallic sculptures along the way. Don’t miss the Carrelets, the traditional fishing cabins that you can find mostly on the banks of the Gironde Estuary.

Where to park: You can park near Cultura in the main parking of the shopping center and go in the direction of the Garonne river until you see the park. You can equally find parking at the port of Begles and start the walk from the northern part of the park.

Bois de Thouars in Talence

The Thouars forest is located on the border of Talence and Gradignan and has 4km of walking paths in the woods and around the lake as well as different sports facilities. The hilly path around the lake is especially beautiful and is a great adventure for dogs and kids alike.

Where to park: There’s a huge parking in front of the pool at 235 Avenue de Thouars, 33400 Talence.

Bois des Sources du Peugue in Pessac — Bois des Sources du Peugue

Bois de Thouars in Talence — Bois de Thouars

Parc de Montgaillard in Gradignan

Gradignan is known as one of the greenest towns in Bordeaux metropole so it’s not a surprise that one of our dog-friendly places is located there. The path follows the Bourde stream that goes through Gradignan and continues to Canejan, a great hiking path for the more avid walkers among you. At the heart of this park, you’ll find one of the last fully restored water mills in the metropole, a fishing lake, playgrounds, and a picnic area.

Where to park: There are several parking spots around the mills at Chemin des Moulins, 33170 Gradignan

Bois des Sources du Peugue in Pessac

How about a hike in a magical forest with a beautiful lake where your dog can swim? Bois des Sources du Peugue in Pessac is one of the less known forests/parks in the metropole, but it’s really worth a visit. It has plenty of trails that are perfect not only for hiking but also for cycling. It’s a perfect place to walk your dog and also to have a picnic at the end of the walk.

Where to park: You can find parking around the intersections of Avenue du Port Aerien et Rue des Bouvreuils.

Parc de la Bruthe in Floirac

Moving on to rive droite to the beautiful Domaine de la Burthe in Floirac. This park is part of a beautiful forest and is a perfect place for hiking and for spending the day enjoying the hidden spots between the trees. The place is also home to the equestrian center so you can see plenty of horses all over the park.

Where to park: Chemin de la Burthe, 33270 Floirac

Parc de la Bruthe in Floirac — Parc de la Bruthe

Bois d’Arboudeau in Parempuyre

Another hidden gem that many are not aware of is the Arboudeau forest in Parempuyre, one of the northern towns in Bordeaux metropole. Like other places on this list, this forest has a beautiful lake in its center and you can do a fun circuit with your dog around it.

Where: Rue de Bordeaux, 33290 PAREMPUYRE

Lac Bleu and Lac Vert

These two lakes are very popular among dog owners and they are also two of the most beautiful lakes in Gironde. The first one is Lac Vert (the green lake) in Canejan and the second one is Lac Bleu (the blue lake) in Leognan, both located about a 15/20 minute drive from Bordeaux. Their names derive from the color of the water and they are both stunning. I think that Lac bleu is the dogs favorite one 🙂

Forêt de Migelane in Martillac

Forêt de Migelane is a 280 hectares forest situated on parts of the Saucats, Martillac, and la Brède towns in Southern Gironde. This calm forest has several hiking trails to offer, all of them are perfect for walking your dog: la Petite Boucle circular (1.4 km), La Petite Boucle circular trail to la Balade Forestière (2.7 km), la Balade Géologique (5.2 km) and la Grande Balade (6.5 km). See more info here.

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

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

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

In Biking, hiking and nature in Bordeaux

The most beautiful parks in Bordeaux

Last updated on October 12, 2020 No Comments

The amazing response to my Hiking in Bordeaux article last week, made me realize that now, more than ever, people are looking to replace their city center outings with parks, beaches, and forests. So maybe not everyone is up for a 9km hike but I’m sure most of my readers would love to discover new places where they can admire exotic flowers, observe ducks swimming peacefully in a cute pond and enjoy an outdoor picnic. I know we all miss going to restaurants but opening a bottle of good Bordeaux wine accompanied by cheese, charcuterie and a beautiful view doesn’t feel so bad to me! So this week I decided to write an article about the most beautiful parks in Bordeaux, or better yet “my favorite parks in Bordeaux” 🙂

If you leave the city center and travel to the other towns of Bordeaux Metropole, you will discover that there’s a huge amount of parks and green spaces in the Bordeaux region. Some of them have lakes, playgrounds, picnic areas, others have a more foresty vibe to them and some even have beautiful art installations. In some parts of this article, I mention things like playgrounds, animal parks, coffee places, and picnics, which were a normal thing before the pandemic. I hope that things can get back to normal as soon as possible but for now, please know that some of these places are still closed and that no gathering of more than 10 people is allowed. So be safe and prudent when visiting public spaces.

If you’re keen on staying close to the center you can check out my older article about the best places for picnics in Bordeaux. Also, I just want to remind you that on my Instagram I post plenty of photos and stories from the places I visit in Gironde so follow me to get much more info about the hidden gems of our region.

Table of Contents

The best parks in Bordeaux – Rive Gauche

Jardin Public in Bordeaux center

For those living in Bordeaux, my choice to start with Jardin Public would seem too obvious, but one cannot make a list of parks in Bordeaux without mentioning this beautiful green island harmoniously placed among the historic buildings of Bordeaux. Jardin Public, created in the 18th century is the biggest park in Bordeaux center spreading over 11 hectares! This place is the epitome of city parks, it has a beautiful pond with ducks and swans, a wide green area for picnics, a lot of space for runners and two fun playgrounds for kids. It’s also home to Bordeaux’s natural history museums which is a great spot for families. You can clearly see why it’s one of the most visited places in Bordeaux by locals and tourists alike. In the summer, the park hosts a daily traditional puppets show, which makes it even more attractive for families. For more activities for kids check out my article about the best things to do in Bordeaux with kids.

Parc Bordelais in Cauderan

Parc Bordelais in the Cauderan neighborhood is the biggest park in Bordeaux city. It’s a beautiful 28-hectare green space that attracts both friends and families for picnics around the lake, as well as runners and bikers. It also has a chic cafe, for those of you in need of a cold glass of rosé 🙂 I would dare to say that it’s the most kids-friendly park in Bordeaux. Besides two large playgrounds (for younger and older kids), there is a puppet theater, a little animal park and a kids train that takes you on a tour of the park. While it’s not in the hyper center like Jardin Public, it’s really worth the travel.

There’s no tram directly to the park but you can easily reach it by bus (number 2 or 3) from the center of Bordeaux. You can also take tram D and walk about 15 minutes to the park. It will take you about half an hour to get there walking from the center of Bordeaux.

Parc Majolan in Blanquefort

If I had to make a list of my top three parks in Bordeaux this one would definitely be on it! Parc Majolan in Blanquefort is a great example of a beautiful landscape design. When you follow the paths in the park you feel like you walk through a forest but then suddenly discover ruins of an old gate, beautiful flowers, and finally a stunning lake. The best part of it all is the artificial caves created in the 19th century. This park is so rich that it will take you hours to explore all of it!

How to get there: The entrance to the park is from Avenue du Général de Gaulle 33290 BLANQUEFORT. If you’re coming by bus, take bus number 29 and get off at Parc de Majolan station.

Parc Bouran in Merignac

Parc Bouran is the main park of Merignac and is easily accessible by tram A from the city center. While it’s a proper park with a lake, a beautiful chateau and playgrounds, some parts of it feel rawer and woody, which I find very nice. The park has been built around the Deveze, a stream that runs into the Garone river next to the Saint Pierre neighborhood (the original location of the old port of Bordeaux). In the city center, the stream now goes underground but here in the park, it’s in the open-air, giving it yet another special feature. This park is perfect for families and seems to be very popular with joggers as well 🙂

Parc Floral

I feel like this amazing park doesn’t get enough credit. The 20 hectares flower park of Bordeaux side by side with the Bois de Bordeaux (the forest of Bordeaux) in the Barails natural reserve, which I have written about in my Hiking in Bordeaux article. This is one of the most beautiful places in Bordeaux for walking, running, bicycle riding or a picnic.

The colorful Parc floral has a beautiful rose garden with more than 500 varieties of roses. And that’s not all, among the park’s greenery you can find magnolias, many irises, every possible type of rhododendrons and many types of vines (mind you they are there to feed the birds). Throughout the park you will see plenty of statues and structures that look like they have been taken from other parts of the world. These were donated to Bordeaux from different places like Japan, Spain, and Morocco (don’t miss the stunning Moorish mosaics.) Spring is the best time to visit the park. Everything is still blossoming and after two months of confinement, it’s a good reminder that the world is still beautiful and alive 🙂

Parc Floral is located in the Bordeaux Lac neighborhood and to get there straight without passing the forest first you will need to enter through entree roseraie (next to the Golf de Bordeaux Lac). Before heading there check out the information about the different entrances and parking spots on the official site of Bordeaux.

Le Bois du Bouscat

Le Bois du Bouscat is a 5 hectares park stretched along the big Hippodrome in the Le Bouscat neighborhood. It’s a relatively new park, opened only in 2013 and labeled “entre nature et culture” it strives to connect nature, art, and culture. While it’s not a huge park, its cultural aspect is particularly attractive and it can take you a few hours to see everything if you really pay attention to all the details. Plenty of sculptures are spread throughout the park, unusual benches, each designed by a different wood sculpturer, beautiful metallic animals representing the animals of the forest, and other art installations all related to nature. If you’re in for a culture hike, this is your place.

Parc Peixotto

Parc Peixotto in the center of Talence is not one of the big parks in Bordeaux metropole, but one of my favorites for sure. Well, I’m not objective here, I live just next door to it and it has been my savior every time my kids go bananas at home. What can you find here? A pond with plenty of geese and ducks, a beautiful chateau, and tons of hidden spots for romantic picnics 🙂 In the summer there are usually some nice events taking place in the park as well.

It’s easily accessible by tram B from the city center – the Forum and Parc Peixotto stations are both very close to the park.

Ecosite du Bourgailh in Pessac

The Ecosite of Bourgailh is not just a park, it’s a universe of plants put together in great landscape design. The area of the Foret du Bourgailh includes a 2.6 km walking trail, the largest tropical greenhouse in the region, sports facilities, a skate park, an amphitheater, a zoo and one of the most beautiful playgrounds you have ever seen, which for me is the highlight of this park. There are plenty of nice ecological and educational events taking place there throughout the year, such as mushroom hunting, a pumpkin festival, planting workshops and more.

There are currently some issues with the parking there so you might have to stop further away and walk a bit. Click here to see where to park and how to get there by public transport or biking.

Parc du Moulineau Gradignan

Parc du Moulineau happens to be one of the biggest parks in the green suburb of Gradignan and it’s a real gem for kids. Not only can they enjoy a big playground but it’s also home to the Maison de la Nature that inhabits nearly 50 different animal species from rabbits to the black and white goat of the Pyrénées. The animal park is still closed so I recommend waiting until it opens up before going there. You can see all the details about the opening hours of the animal park here.

Parc Sourreil in Villenave d’ornon

This little park is well hidden behind its chateau and is easy to miss when passing by its main entrance in Villenave d’Ornon. However, if you go beyond the chateau you’ll find a cute forest-y park with a nice area for kids and some walking paths around the woods. I wouldn’t necessarily make a long trip to see this park but if you’re not far from here, it’s worth a visit!

Parks on Rive droite

Parc de L’ermitage in Lormont

The Parc of Lormont, or by its official name Parc de l’Ermitage Sainte-Catherine, is one of the favorite parks of rive droite inhabitants, or those who love traveling around the metropole. This beautiful hilly park is located on the east bank of the Garonne river and is part of the enormous 400 hectares green space called Parc des Coteaux, which goes through several other towns on rive droite.

If you climb on the upper side of the park you can enjoy a stunning view of the Aquitaine bridge covering the Garonne river. However, If you’re coming with strollers or generally with little kids, beware that it’s not a very easy climb to the top of the park. In that case, I would advise you to spend your time near the lake at the bottom of the park and then reenter the park again through Haut Lormont (the higher part of Lormont) to visit the hilly part.

I previously mentioned this park in my article about things to do with kids in Bordeaux. Just next to the park you will find the ferme d’Iris, an animal farm for kids with rabbits, donkeys, goats, and more. For more info about the farm click here.

Parc aux Angéliques in Bastide

Parc aux Angéliques on Quai des Queyries isn’t a park per se, but rather a vast green area close to the city center, perfect for hiking, biking, or a picnic with friends. I felt that I should include it in the list for those looking for a nice picnic spot in the more tranquil part of Bordeaux. The park is spread along the Garonne river from its east side which provides a beautiful view of the buildings and monuments on the opposite side of the river such as the beautiful Place de la Bourse. There’s a very familial and tranquil vibe to it even during the more touristy months of the year. You will see groups of friends picnicking, families playing badminton, and a lot of bikers and runners (well, these are apparently everywhere in Bordeaux). If you’ve made it all the way there you can enjoy places like Darwin and Jardin Botanic, both located just in front of the park. You can read more about these two places in my ultimate guide to a weekend in Bordeaux. If you’re coming with kids, don’t panic if you don’t find a playground in the park. There’s actually a large playground just next to Jardin Botanique at Place des Droits de L’Enfant.

You can get there by tram A (Stalingrad station), by boat from the other side of the river, or with many buses that go through the Bastide neighborhood, You can use the site of the public transport in Bordeaux to find the best route. My favorite way to get there is on a city bike, you can read more about that in my article about cycling in Bordeaux.

In this list, I included only the parks that I had a chance to visit, which is quite a lot but if you think that I should include other parks feel free to write it in the comments below.

If you want to get more information about traveling in Bordeaux and the Southwest of France you should join my Travel in the Southwest of France Facebook group or simply join my Facebook/Instagram pages where I share almost all my travel and experiences in the region on a daily basis. If you want to get exclusive tips on traveling in the region, subscribe to my newsletter here.

Hope you enjoyed reading!

In Around Bordeaux

Hiking around Bordeaux – discover the wonders of the region by foot

Last updated on February 9, 2023 No Comments

I started writing this article mostly for myself about a week before the end of confinement. I wanted to come up with a long enough list of places I could go to with my kids or even alone (if that’s ever possible) where we can enjoy the wonders of the region but still keep social distancing. (If you’re reading this in 2050, we were all locked in our houses for two months, just google COVID-19).

Gironde is one of the most beautiful departments in France with an impressive number of hiking options. You can discover the parks and lakes around Bordeaux metropole or combine your trips with some heritage in Entre Deux Mers, or the vineyards of Saint Emilion.

There are long hiking trails for fit walkers and shorter ones for families with kids. I had so many ideas that I just had to come here and share them with you. I included hiking trails from every part of Gironde to give a big landscape variety.

I also publish quite a lot of my daily trips on social media so you are of course invited to follow me on Facebook/Instagram. Now let’s start!

Hiking in Bordeaux Metropole

Let’s start with destinations closer to Bordeaux and its suburbs. There are dozens of big and small parks in the metropole that can be perfect for a nice and easy hike, so you don’t even need a car to be able to enjoy the green areas of Bordeaux.

The ones I particularly love are Parc de l’Ermitage in Lormont, Parc Majolan in Blanquefort, and Parc Bordelais in Bordeaux. There are of course many more green and lush places in the city and I’m working on an article with the full list which will be published soon. But for now, I wanted to introduce you to a few great hiking trails in Bordeaux Metropole through which you can discover the towns and forests surrounding the city.

Au fil de l’eau bourde – From Talence to Gradignan

I live in Talence so the first one on the list is close to my home, a 5km trail through some of the green areas of Talence and Gradigan. It’s important to mention though that while most of your hike is going to be accompanied by green scenery, this is not a classic nature trail, meaning that you will have to walk through some urban areas to get from one location to another. Having said that, it’s a beautiful path and you will be surprised by some of the parks and monuments located in the footsteps of Bordeaux.

The starting point is Bois de Thouars, a forest located on the border of Talence and Gradignan (it’s recommended to enter the forest from Avenue de Thouars in Talence). Don’t be in a rush here, take your time strolling around the lake, it feels more unspoiled here than many of the other lakes in the area.

From this point, you can follow the markup of GR® métropolitain throughout the entire route. But just to make sure you’re in the right direction, here are a few interesting points you should check on the way.

From the forest cross the bridge of the rocade (highway) to get to Gradignan (you should reach rue de Bénédigues in Gradignan). After a few more minutes walk, you’ll be on rue Saint-François-Xavier and will enter a green area that follows the Eau Bourde, a little stream of the Garonne river.

Your second destination on the trail is Parc de Pelissey in Gradignan. From there continue along the Eau Bourde to enter one of the biggest parks in this town – le Parc du Moulineau. This park is a gem for kids. Not only can they enjoy a big playground but it’s also home to the Maison de la Nature that inhabits nearly 50 different animal species from rabbits to the black and white goat of the Pyrénées. The animal park is unfortunately still closed due to Covid 19, but that should not bother you to enjoy the vast green Parc du Moulineau (or Le parc René Canivenc by its other name).

When you leave le Parc du Moulineau continue along the stream to get to Parc Mandavit. From here you will continue to the last destination of this trail – le Parc de Cayac, a historic monument on the Saint-Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage road. From here you can take bus line number 10 to get back to the Thouars forest.
There’s also an option to continue to another 9 km hike through Gradignan. You can find more info about this and other hiking trails in the Metropole here.

Réserve écologique des Barails

If you prefer to forget that cars exist for a couple of hours, this next trail is for you! I’m happy to introduce you to the Réserve écologique des Barails, a beautiful natural reserve spreading over 156 hectares which also includes the beautiful Parc Floral of Bordeaux.

Located in the North of Bordeaux (the Bordeaux Lac district), it’s actually the biggest green space in Bordeaux. The reserve consists of different parts each with their own characteristics: the forest, the park, the meadows, the wetlands, and the ecological corridors. It’s so rich in nature that most visitors don’t cover it in one visit.

There are three entries to the park. If you enter through Entree bois you’ll have the pleasure to discover more than 6km of hiking trails in the beautiful green forest. Enter the entree roseraie (next to the Golf de Lac) and you can enjoy a beautiful flower park with more than 500 varieties of roses.

The reserve is also perfect for an easy stroll with kids and in fact, it was the first place I took mine after the deconfinement. Before heading there check out the information about the different entrances and parking on the official site of Bordeaux.

Floirac – fil vert – the green path

Le Fil vert on the right side of the river has more than 25 km of hiking to offer, passing through Parc des coteaux, the green space that encompasses most of the parks of Floirac, Cenon, Lormont, and Bassens. There are numerous hiking trails you can do here, depending on what part of “rive droite” you want to discover. You can see some of the trails here.

In this article, I’ll focus on hiking in Floirac and Boulac, a trail called Boucle de Floirac – Bouliac, which starts at Parc Castel in Floirac. The park itself is very cute with an impressive chateau, which is the starting point of your walk.

Before you start the green path you can climb to the heights of the park to see the “belvédère” for a nice view. Then go down again to find the green loop path (boucle vert) in the le Chemin de Montagne.

After about 500m take a left on the main street (Chemin des plateaux) that you will have to follow to reach le Domaine de la Burthe, the biggest park of Floirac. Enter the park through Chemin de Beaufeu and follow the red and white markup in the park, this will lead you to Ruisseau de Jacotte (a little stream of water). You will then have to go down under the highway to cross to the next town – Bouliac. Continue following the markup until it leads you to the next destination – le Bois de Loc Boué in Bouliac.

The final destination on this route is the 12th-century church of Saint-Siméon. From here you can start your way back to Floirac. To avoid repeating the same path, you can take a different route through rue de Bourg.

Before leaving rive droite you can also take a walk on Quai Deschamps and enjoy the beautiful view on the Garonne river.

The Saint Emilion region

Discover the lamprey capital of Gironde – Sainte Terre – 6.4 km

I’m sure that many of you are familiar with the beautiful Saint Emilion region. Even if you haven’t had the chance to do any hiking there, most of you living here had the chance to drive through the stunning vineyards of the famous wine region.

This trail, however, is different from the usual view you see from Saint Emilion as it goes along the Dordogne river. This is a good opportunity to learn about another product the Saint Emilion region is famous for, the lamproie (lamprey in English).
The little village of Sainte Terre is the capital of Lamprey. Start your tour from Église Saint-Alexis, the church of Sainte Terre and walk on Rue du Parlement until you reach the river. Take a nice long stroll along the river until you reach the prohibited area sign, then turn left with the path. Follow the path until you reach the town again and then turn left on Rue du Parlement to reach the town center.

On normal days you can also visit the Lamprey’s garden, a small park and the museum of lamprey, however, I believe that it’s still closed for visits. You can see the map of the trails with the points of interest here.

The chateaux and restaurants are still closed, but once they’ll re-open I really recommend combining this hike with a visit to a winery or a nice meal in one of the villages around Saint Emilion. If you want more information on what to do in Saint Emilion, check out my article with everything you need to know about visiting this beautiful village.

Entre Deux Mers

Boucle de Rions – heritage and hillsides

Entre Deux Mers is one of the most beautiful parts of Gironde. An abundance of medieval villages scattered along the Gironde river, centuries-old historic monuments, wineries and a lot of nature makes it a perfect place for day trips from Bordeaux. And above all, it’s also a great region for hiking with several paths mixing heritage and nature. Today I want to focus on hiking around one of my favorite towns in the region – Rions.

Rions is a small medieval town on the hills on the banks of the Garonne river that played an important role in the Hundred Years War and was occupied by England during the 13th century. Even if you come here specifically for hiking, don’t be in a rush and take some time to admire the beautiful houses with old shatters and the colorful flower pots decorating the narrow streets of the village. After you got inspired by the beautiful architecture we can start the hike. Leave the city center following rue Lavidon, through Porte Lavidon, and enjoy a pleasant 4.5 km path with a stunning view of the Garonne hillsides and vineyards. You will enter back through the most impressive gate in Rions, Porte du l’Hyan, the only gate that was kept fully preserved to this day. Before you leave, visit the old ramparts of the city, built in the 14th century and restored in the 18th century. You can find the map and all the details here

The South of Gironde

Hostens

Hostens 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 (50 km from Bordeaux) and offers some of the best hiking trails you can find near Bordeaux. The Domain consists of five different lakes with plenty of water activities as well as hiking trails, mountain bike trails, and more. If you’re after a good hike, head to the second lake, Lac du Bousquey. On the way you can see horses, butterflies and other wonders of nature. There are three trails in the Domain of Hostens: 8, 11 et 16 km long so there is something for both fit walkers and people who just want to enjoy a relatively short walk in nature.

In Hostens you will also find one of the best beaches in Gironde, this one located on the shores of another lake, the lake of Lamothe. So if the weather is good this would be the best way to end your hike.

Lac Vert and Lac Bleu

I really love hiking around lakes! I think that water in combination with the greenery around it gives it a very meditational vibe 🙂 Luckily there are a few beautiful lakes around the area where you can have a lovely walk and admire the colors of the water. The first one is Lac Vert (the green lake) in Canejan and the second one is Lac Bleu (the blue lake) in Leognan, both located about 15/20 minutes’ drive from Bordeaux. Their names derive from the color of the water and they are both stunning.

Saint Symphorian

Did you know that the largest man-made forest in Europe is located just an hour’s drive from Bordeaux? The huge Landes forest has a few hiking trails, one of them starting in Saint Symphorien, a village located about 50 km south of Bordeaux. The route starts from the center of Saint Symphorien, which by itself is not very interesting. But it’s nice to dedicate a few minutes to see the town hall, the gothic Saint Symphorien church, and the cute little Maison Cammunale, which was built during the great depression. To start the walk, leave the city center and walk about 5 minutes on Cours de Verdun until you reach Le Chalet Mauriac. In this house the famous novelist, Francois Mauriac used to spend his vacations as a child. The chateau itself is probably closed right now, but the nice park around it might be open.

Your next destination is Moulin de Marian, an old windmill standing close to the Hure river. This is a nice walk that should take you about 30 minutes. From here continue on the path until you reach the department route number D220. Don’t turn to D220, instead continue straight on D115 until you reach Landes de Lassus, turn left here. Then continue north until you get to l’Atelier des Chemins de fer économiques de la Gironde. The building, built in the 19th century is a testimony of what was one of the main economic activities of this village. The site was closed in 1978 but you can still see some of the machines they used back then. You are now almost back to the center of Saint Symphorien, where our tour ends.

Arcachon

Lanton

One of my favorite hiking places in the region is Lanton on the Arcachon bay. There are of course many other great places for a promenade around the Bassin but I love the fact that you rarely see any people in Lanton and that the drive is not very long. You can start your walk from Plage de Suzette, which is a little port with a few restaurants on it, from there just follow the trail surrounding the little port. If you’ve ever been to the Bassin d’Arcachon you know that the view changes a lot depending on the tide. This trail goes along the bay and that’s why, depending on the time you arrive, it may feel like walking along the beach or in an apocalyptic desert. The scenery and tranquility are just magical and it’s less than an hour from Bordeaux!
To discover more places in Bassin d’Arcachon go to my article about the best day trips to Arcachon Bay.

Ville d’Hiver in Arcachon

Here’s an idea for those who like urban trails. The touristy city of Arcachon currently feels very different from its usual lively vibes. Tourists are yet to flood the region and the restaurants will stay closed until at least June. Why not use this opportunity to discover the beautiful architecture of ville d’Hiver in Arcachon city. The winter city of Arcachon was mainly built in the 19th century and among its 300 villas, you can find some architectural treasures. Here are a few villas you don’t want to miss: Teresa, Toledo, Brémontier, Trocadero, Alexandre Dumas, Bayard, and Athena. Before you go, don’t miss the beautiful Parc Mauresque which separates the winter city from the summer city. If you can read some French, here’s a site with a short history of the most famous villas in the winter city. For more info on what to do in Arcachon city check out my article about Arcachon.

There are of course many more hiking routes in the region. We are surrounded by forests, lakes, parks, old villages, and a lot of heritage, so there’s an endless amount of ideas for a walk. But I wanted to release this article as soon as possible so you can start enjoying the weather and the deconfinement. I will add more ideas for walks in this article in the next few weeks, so I invite you all to return to this page. If you enjoyed reading the article, you can always share it with friends and make them go on a hike instead of the crowded city center 🙂

Before I go, I just wanted to let you know about all the other places you can get my information about traveling in Bordeaux and the Southwest of France.

My Travel in the Southwest of France Facebook group – where people from all over the Southwest of France share their favorite places to visit in the region.
My Facebook/Instagram pages where I share almost all my travels and experiences in the region on a daily basis.
Newsletter – I decided to go on a little break with my emails during the confinement being that most of the content there is about villages, restaurants, museums, and heritage sites, which is not content anyone currently needs. But I’m coming back with my weekly emails soon so you are all welcomed to join me there – subscribe here.

In Weekend plans

What to do this weekend in Bordeaux (September 13-15)

Last updated on September 16, 2019 No Comments

A week ago I published an article about the harvest season in the region and this weekend we can finally see the first harvest related events in Bordeaux. Also, there are a few nice family-friendly events such as the big scooter race and the Talençaises. And we are definitely still in summer mode with the Bordeaux air festival! If you want to see what other events are taking place this month in Bordeaux check out my post about the best things to do in September in Bordeaux. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (September 13-15).

Bordeaux fête ses vendanges

Bordeaux will host the big “Bordeaux fête ses vendanges” event on the weekend of September 12-15. On September 13-14 the bars and restaurants of Bordeaux will open their terraces and will help you discover the different wines of Bordeaux. For more info about “Bordeaux fête ses vendanges” click here.

When: September 12-15 / Where: the center of Bordeaux

Vign’ en Ville

This is the 4th edition of Vign’ en Ville, an event dedicated to the know-how of winemaking. On September 14-15, winemakers from the Bienvenue à la ferme network will teach you all about wine production through a series of workshops and activities. The event will take place in Jardin Public and is free. For more info check out the facebook page of the event.

When: September 14-15 / Where: Jardin Public

Fête Des Vendanges at La Sauve-majeure

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.

When: September 14 / Where: la Sauve Majeure

Vélotour Bordeaux

Did you ever ride a bike in a museum or a hotel? Discover Bordeaux by bike through places where usually bicycles are not allowed: museums, sports centers, cultural and historic places and more. More than ten places have opened their doors for this unusual experience. The tour will take place this Saturday (September 15) and will start at the Maison Écocitoyenne Bordeaux. For tickets click here and for more info about the event click here.

When: September 15 / Where: Quai Richelieu, 33000 Bordeaux

Bordeaux Open Air

Bordeaux Open Air is a series of free summer electronic music events, all set in different locations and with a great city vibe to them. Every event is dedicated to a different country and hosts its DJ’s for sets of electronic music. The next Open Air event will take place this Sunday (September 15) at Square Dom Bedos. For more details click here.

When: September 15, starting 15:00 / Where: Square Dom Bedos, Bordeaux

Les Talençaises

This weekend (Sep 13-14), Peixotto park in Talence is getting festive for the annual event of Les Talençaises. In the program: DJ sets, concerts, interactive dance, a lot of food and a beautiful park to spend a fun afternoon with friends and family. The event is free, for more info click here.

When: September 13-14 / Where: Parc de Peixotto, 33400 Talence

Festival des Coteaux Bordelais

Festival des Coteaux Bordelais is the annual music festival of Fargues Saint-Hilaire (a small town located just a few minutes by car from Bordeaux). The festival will take place this Saturday (Sept 14) at la Plaine de Fargues Saint-Hilaire. Check out the lineup of the performing artists here.

When: September 14 at 18:00 / Where: Plaine de Fargues Saint-Hilaire (behind the salle du Carré des Forges)

Summer Rock in Bouliac

This Saturday (September 14) a fun event will take place in Bouliac called “Bouliac on the Rock”. The program includes an American cars exhibition, a rock concert, a raffle, vinyl discs, and food stands. The festival is free, see more info here.

When: September 14, starting 11:00 / Where: Parking du stade, Bouliac

24 Heures D’Inauguration de la Fabrique Pola

La Fabrique Pola is an artistic hub that brings together associations related to the visual arts. Last summer it moved to a new and very cool structure in the Bastide neighborhood (a few minutes walk from Darwin). This weekend (September 13-15) Fabrique Pola is celebrating its official opening with original performances by the resident artists, concerts and exhibitions. For the full program click here.

When: September 13-14 / Where: 10 quai de Brazza, 33100 Bordeaux

Festival Love Tattoo Urban Street

The Love Tattoo Urban Street festival will take place on September 14-15 at the Parc des Expositions in Bassin d’Arcachon. In the program tattoos, creative market, concerts, fashion, workshops for kids and more. For more info click here.

When: September 14-15 / Where: 940 Avenue de l’Europe, 33260 La Teste-de-Buch

The big scooter race

The Nire Laguna Thomas association organized a wonderful event to help raise funds for research on pediatric cancer. A kids scooter race will take place on September 14 on the Quai of Bordeaux, starting from la Maison Eco-citoyenne. More than 300 kids, ages 5 to 10 will take place in the event. If you want your kids to participate in the race, register here.

When: September 14 10:30 to 16:30 / Where: la Maison Eco-citoyenne , 33000 Bordeaux

Grand Marché BIO du Bourgailh

A big organic market will take place this Sunday (September 15) in the Bourgailh park in Pessac. This is a great park with one of the most beautiful playgrounds in Bordeaux so this can be a fun event for kids as well. For more info click here.

When: September 15 / Where: 179 Avenue de Beutre , 33600 Pessac

Les Noctambules de Septembre

Every Friday during the month of September you have a chance to discover one of the most beautiful castles in Gironde. However these are not just regular visits, but rather special night tours accompanied by a short wine tasting in the end 🙂 This Friday (September 13) it’s time to discover Chateau Hamel in Castets-en-Dorthe. For more info and reservation details click here.

When: September 13 / Where: Château du Hamel à Castets-en-Dorthe

Fête de la navigation

This weekend (September 14-15) is the annual navigation celebration in Lacanau and this year the theme is navigating into the future. The program includes navigation-related workshops, guided tours, workshops for kids and more. For more info click here.

When: September 14-15 / Where: Voile Lacanau Guyenne, 24 Allée du Club de Voile, 33680 Lacanau

That’s it for this busy weekend!

Don’t miss my post about the best things to do in Bordeaux if you have only one day.
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.

In Weekend plans

This Weekend in Bordeaux (May 24-26)

Last updated on May 29, 2019 No Comments

This weekend the events are really varied so everyone can easily find something they like. We have a dance and circus festival, a climate change mega concert, a comics festival, a rosé party and more. If you’re heading to Arcachon this weekend, check out my latest post about things to do and eat in Arcachon. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (May 24-26).

Festival Echappée Belle in Blanquefort

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

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

WISFEST – Climate change festival

Wisfest is a climate change event that will take place this weekend (May 24-25) in the center of Bordeaux. The event includes plenty of debates on the most burning topics related to environmental and climate change. The climax of the event is the mega concert that will take place Friday night (May 24) at Place des Quinconces, with an incredible lineup of artists such as Mika, Tom Walker and more. You can see more details here and purchase tickets here.

When: May 24-25 / Where: Place des Quinconces, 33000 Bordeaux

Grand Crus Weekend

One of the most anticipated events in Bordeaux’s wine world is the Grand Crus Weekend that will take place on May 24-26. This event, organized by the Union des Grands Crus (the regional wine classification), aims to create an international meeting of wine lovers. The highlights of this weekend will include tasting wines from over 110 Grand Crus and meeting different chateaux owners as part of pre-organized dinners in the châteaux. Read more about the event and the full program here.

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

Le Mai talençais

A super fun and free event for kids will take place this weekend (May 25-26) in park Peixotto in Talence. The program includes concerts, a creators market, activities for kids and fireworks on Saturday night. For more details click here.

When: May 25-26 / Where: Parc de Peixotto, 33400 Talence

Festival de la BD in La Teste de Buch

Festival de la BD, a comics fair, will take place this weekend (May 25-26) in La Teste de Buch at the Bassin d’Arcachon. The event will host about 40 professionals from the illustration world. Among them cartoonists, writers and colorists. For more details click here.

When: May 25-26 / Where: 18 Rue du 14 Juillet, 33260 La Teste-de-Buch

Sous les pavés la vigne

Sous les pavés la vigne is a natural wine fair taking place this weekend (May 25-26) at Le Garage Moderne. More than 50 producers of wine, beer and other spirits will present their organic products during the two-day event. For the full program of the event click here.

When: May 25-26 / Where: 1 rue des Etrangers, 33300 Bordeaux

Les Cogitations

Les Cogitations is a mocking art festival taking place in the L’entrepot in Lehaillan on May 22-25. Check out the full list of the performers here.

When: May 22-25 / Where: 13 rue Georges Clémenceau – Le Haillan

Le grand Apérosé

This Saturday (May 25), Les Vivres de l’Art will host a fun Apérosé event. Rosé and music in one of the coolest places in Bordeaux, what more do you need on a weekend? For more details click here.

Les Vivres de l'Art Bordeaux — Les Vivres de l’Art by Lost in Bordeaux

When: May 25, from 12:00 to 20:00 / Where: 4 rue Achard, 33300 Bordeaux, France

Festival Escape Game et Imaginaire

An escape game festival will take place this weekend (May 25-26) in the charming village of Saint Macaire. Tens of different activities such as escape games, workshops and parties will take place in the first edition of the festival. For more info click here.

When: May 25 – 26 / Where: the center of Saint Macaire

Marché de créateurs et producteurs

Especially for the French mothers’ day, a creators market will take place this Saturday (May 25) in Parc du Castel in Floriac. For more details click here.

When: May 25 / Where: Parc du Castel 33270 Floirac

Caravansérail

Caravansérail is a design event that brings together creators and craftsmen from all over the world. Among the stands, you’ll find home decoration, candles, bags, jewelry and more. The sale takes place on May 22-26 at Chineurs du monde, the brocante shop in the Saint Michel neighborhood. For more details click here.

When: May 22-26 / Where: Boutique Chineurs du Monde, 75 Rue Camille Sauvageau, Bordeaux

Foire de Printemps in Noaillan

A fair of gastronomy and crafts will take place this Sunday (May 26) in Noaillan. The event will also include a big vide grenier. For more details click here.

When: May 26 / Where: Lieu-dit Antonion, 33730 Noaillan

PIK NIK ZIK – free concerts

Pik Nik Zik is a series of free concerts organized by the Les P’tits Gratteurs association, that will take place every last Sunday of the Month from April to August. This week the event will take place on Sunday (May 26) at the Quai des sports Saint-Michel. For more details click here.

When: May 26, starting 17:00 / Where: Quai des sports Saint-Michel, Bordeaux

Quatre Tendances – Dance show

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

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

Jazz concert

The Thelonious Jazz bar in Chartrons will host two Jazz nights this Friday and Saturday (May 24-25). Check out their program here.

When: May 24-25 / Where: 18 rue Bourbon, Bordeaux

Le M.U.R de Bordeaux Performance

A-MO is the Bordelaise artist whose work will decorate the M.U.R de Bordeaux. You can meet him and see him perform his art on the wall this Friday (May 24). For more info check out the facebook page of the event.

When: May 24, at 18:00 / Where: place Paul et Jean-Paul Avisseau 33300 Bordeaux

Noche Del Pintxo

Noche del Pintxo is a fun event taking place in Halles de Talence once a month. As the name indicates, this event is all about Pintxos, with ingredients coming solely from the market. The event will take place this Friday (May 24). For more info check out the facebook page of the event.

When: May 24 18:30- 22:30 / Where: Place Alcala de Henares, 33400 Talence

Mama’s Brunch

Another fun event this Sunday is Mama’s Brunch. Mama Shelter invites you to its big buffet brunch which is a bit pricey (39 euros per person) but it includes almost four hours of activities and artistic workshops for kids, so it’s like brunch with a babysitter :). For more details and the menu click here.

When: May 26 / Where: 19, rue Poquelin Moliere, 33000 Bordeaux

Swing on the streets

Swing In Kiosque is a series of improvised dance events that are taking place in Jardin Public once a month. This weekend the event will take place on May 26. Take a look at the full program of events on their facebook page.

When: May 26 at 15:00 / Where: Jardin Public

Journées Portes & Bouteilles Ouvertes

An open doors event will take place this weekend (May 25-26) at Château de Bel located on the board of the Dordogne river. For more details click here.

When: May 25-26 / Where: Château De Bel, 1 Malbâtit, 33500 Arveyres

The Big Plants Sale

A big plants sale will take place this weekend (May 24-26) on Quai des Marques Bordeaux. The prices are guaranteed to be quite low (from 2€ to 10€) so it’s a good opportunity to fill your house with summer plants. For more details follow the facebook page of the event.

When: May 24-24 / Where: Hangar 15 à 19 – Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux

That’s all for this weekend! If you want to leave Bordeaux for the weekend check out my posts about the best day trips from Bordeaux and the best chateaux to visit in Saint Emilion. If you want to have a super foodie experience, check out the Lost in Bordeaux food tours 🙂

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

If you want to know what other events are taking place next month in the city, check out my post about the best things to do in June in Bordeaux.

Have a great weekend!

In Weekend plans

This weekend in Bordeaux (March 8-10)

Last updated on March 14, 2019 No Comments

This weekend, when not busy discovering boutique wines, you can enjoy a vintage fair or go see a great exhibition. If you didn’t make it to last week’s carnival you still have some little ones around the city. Here’s the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (March 8-10).

La compagnie Panik

La compagnie Panik is a circus incorporating horses as well as dance, body theater and mime techniques as integral parts of the show. The theater will install their blue tent at the Quai de Queyries on March 8- 31 and will perform two different shows: “Cabaret de Côté” and “Cirque Bleu”. For more details and tickets click here.

When: March 8-31 / Where: Quai de Queyries 33000 Bordeaux

Salon des vins des Vignerons Indépendants de Bordeaux

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

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

Salon du Vintage

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

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

Festival La Fourchette

La Fourchette is a site that allows you to enjoy discounts in restaurants all over France. This year they organized their first food festival. For the next month and a half (from March 5 to April 21), you can enjoy up to 50% discounts in many restaurants in France, 25 of them are located in Bordeaux. You can see the full list of participating restaurants here.

When: March 5 – April 21/ Where: different restaurants in Bordeaux

Elles font bouger le vin

While wine is still a male-dominated world there are more and more women who are taking the front seat at the game. This Friday (March 8), la Cité du Vin invites you to celebrate the international women’s day at the “Elles font bouger le vin” event. This comes to celebrate the successful women in the wine industry with a conference, a documentary screening and a networking cocktail. For more info and tickets click here.

When: March 8 at 17:00 / Where: 1, esplanade de Pontac, 33300 Bordeaux

Belle Brocante Antiquités

L’association des Brocanteurs du Carrousel invites you this weekend (March 9-10) to the 4th edition of “Belle Brocante Antiquités”. The Brocante will take place at Caserne Lamarque in Libourne. For more info click here.

When: March 9-10 / Where: 15 place Joffre, 33500 Libourne

Voir & Avoir – handmade fair

This is the third edition of Voir & Avoir, a handmade fair in Talence. The event will take place this weekend (March 9-10) in château de Thouars. For more details click here.

When: March 9-10 / Where: avenue de Thouars, 33400 Bordeaux

Carnaval des Halles de Bacalan / Boom des Kids

Les Halles de Bacalan invites you to their own carnival this weekend (March 9-10). The program includes a baking workshop with the La P’tite Boulangerie de Bacalan, a makeup session, music and activities for kids. For more details click here.

When: March 9 -10 / Where: 10 esplanade de pontac, 33300 Bordeaux

Carnaval La Teste de Buch

Another carnival will take place in La teste de Buch this Saturday (March 9). A parade will leave Hotel de Ville at 15:00 and arrive at the Place du Marché at 16:00. For more details click here.

When: March 9 at 15:00 / Where: 1 Rue Edmond Doré, 33260 La Teste-de-Buch

Carnaval Lumineux de Pessac

The last carnival for this weekend is the one in Pessac. Carnaval lumineux will take place this Saturday (March 9). The parade will leave from château Bellegrave at 18:30 and will arrive at place de la Ve République at 19:30. This year the theme of the festival is the sea and all families are encouraged to come disguised. For more details click here.

When: March 9 at 18:30 / Where: avenue du Colonel Jacqui, Pessac

Foire aux Plaisirs

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

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

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

In the D’un soleil à l’autre exhibition artists present their poetic journey in space. Aspects like elastic distances, weightlessness, dazzling, infinitely large landscapes and incandescent materials are beautifully translated into contemporary and digital art. La Base sous marine is known for the phenomenal use of their unique space for art, so don’t miss this one. The exhibition will be presented at the museum from March 9 to May 19. For more info click here.

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

Festins – new exhibition

Institut Bernard Magrez will be presenting its new exhibition in a few days (March 7) and it looks awesome. Festins is an exhibition by two artists, Gérard RANCINAN and Caroline GAUDRIAULT, that have been working together in the last 20 years and have now agreed to present their works at the museum. For more details click here and here. The exhibition will be presented at the institute until June 9. On March 8, in honor of the international women’s day the entry for women is free. This place never disappoints!

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

Discover the Bacalan district

It’s time to go out of your comfort zone in the historic center of Bordeaux and discover one of the liveliest districts in Bordeaux, Bacalan. It’s charactarizes by a unique infrastructure that is brilliantly transformed into places of emerging art, music and food. If you want to get to know the “cool” Bordeaux, check out my post about the best things to do in the Bacalan district.

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

In Weekend plans

This weekend in Bordeaux (December 29-30)

Last updated on January 3, 2019 No Comments

This weekend I’ve decided to post a shorter version of my regular weekend list. I guess many of you left Bordeaux to visit your families or to travel during winter break. While I myself am currently on vacation, I didn’t want to leave those staying in Bordeaux without any weekend plans. So I gathered all the Christmas markets you can still visit in Bordeaux area (and some a bit further) and a few other interesting events. This is the (short) list of things to do this weekend in and around Bordeaux.

Marché de Noël de Bordeaux

The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will stay open until December 30. This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the region with 150 pavilions selling all the traditional Christmas merchandise such as clothes, decorations, jewelry, toys and local products. Even if you don’t plan to buy any gifts at the market you can still enjoy the Christmas spirit with some hot wine and roasted chestnuts. For more info click here.

When: November 30 – December 30 from 10:30 to 21:30
Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux

Drôle de Noël

The city of Talence invites you to their big Christmas celebration taking place on December 14-30 in Park Peixotto. This weekend (December 29-30) plenty of activities for kids will take place in a covered pavilion that was created especially for Christmas. For more info click here.

When: December 29-30
Where: Peixoto, 33400 Talence

Christmas celebrations in Mérignac!

The city of Mérignac is hosting a Christmas market and a variety of Christmas related activities on December 21-30. In the program: meeting Santa, a gospel concert, tastings of buches de Noël (a traditional Christmas dessert), fireworks and a Christmas market of course. The events will take place at the center of Mérignac. See more details here.

When: December 21-30
Where: Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 33700 Mérignac

Arcachon Christmas market

The Christmas market of Arcachon officially started two weeks ago and will continue until January 6. Besides the traditional market stuff, this one includes an open ice skating rink on place Thiers. For more info click here.

When: December 15- January 6
Where: center of Arcachon

Marché de Noël à Sarlat

If you’re in the mood to travel a bit this weekend, why not go to one of the most impressive Christmas markets in the South of France, the Sarlat Christmas market. Sarlat is a magical place that is worth a visit any time of the year, but this market makes it even more worthwhile. The village includes 70 chalets selling local products, clothes, decorations, hot wine and more. For more info click here.

When: December 5-31
Where: Place de la Grande Rigaudie , 24200 Sarlat-la-canéda,

A traditional marionette theater

Guignol Guérin is the oldest family-run marionettes theater in France. While their well-known show runs in the summer, the theater’s winter edition is only two years old and plays at the center of Bordeaux. Their traditional spectacle takes place in Théâtre l’Inox between December 15 and January 5. This year, this Bordelaise institution celebrates its 165 anniversary with an exhibition of some of the marionettes that have been a part of this family since 1853. For more details click here.

When: December 15 to January 5
Where: 13 Rue Fernand Philippart, 33000 Bordeaux

GamingFX Exhibition

Throughout the winter vacation (December 22- January 6) Musée Replay together with Cap Sciences will host an exhibition that follows the evolution of digital technologies and the use of special effects in video games. Entry is 4€, for more details click here.

When: December 22 to January 5 (14:00 – 19:00)
Where: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux

I want to use this opportunity to wish you all a happy new year! I hope you’re starting the new year with plenty of energy to discover new places, because plenty of great articles are on their way 🙂 For those of you who still haven’t subscribed to my email list, what are you waiting for? Subscribe here and discover all the secrets of Bordeaux. Have a great weekend!

In Weekend plans

Weekend Plans in Bordeaux (December 14-16)

Last updated on December 20, 2018 No Comments

Just like in the last two weeks, most events on this list are related to Christmas. As we get closer to December 25, more and more Christmas markets are popping up in and around Bordeaux. I covered some of them in my article about Christmas markets in Bordeaux. If you still haven’t finished (or started) you Christmas shopping, take a look on my post about where to shop for Christmas in Bordeaux. However, if you’re fed up with Christmas I have few other suggestions such as the Bordeaux wine tasting festival, the kids theater festival, a special effect exhibition and more.

This is the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (December 14-16):

Taste the best French wines

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

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

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

Drôle de Noël

For the 9th time the city of Talence invites you to their big Christmas celebrations taking place on December 14-30 in Park Peixotto. For two weekends in a row (December 14-16, December 21-23) a Christmas market will take place in the park and on December 24-30 (except December 25) the park will host plenty of activities for kids. For more info click here.

When: December 14-30
Where: Parc Peixoto, 33400 Talence

Les lumières de la ville 2018

Les lumières de la ville is a great chance to discover how Bordeaux’s monuments look at night. It’s an hour and a half biking tour that will start at Place Pey-Berland and will finish at the Garage moderne for Christmas drinks. On the way you will get to see the most important monuments and all the beautifully decorated little streets of Bordeaux. The event will take place this Friday (December 14) at 19:00, it’s free and open to all. For more details click here.

When: December 14, at 19:00
Where: Place Pey-Berland, 33000 Bordeaux

Christmas Concert

A special Christmas concert will take place this Friday (December 14) at the Notre Dame church in Bordeaux. The girls choir of Bordeaux will take the stage accompanied by soprano Romie Estèves and Jérémie Genet on a cello. The event is free. For more details click here.

When: December 14, at 20:30
Where: 1 Rue Mably, 33000 Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux

Take your kids to Cirque Pardi!

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

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

Xmas Market – Darwin

This market is gradually gaining a status as one of the main Christmas markets in Bordeaux. Like Darwin itself, the Xmas market is an alternative event with craftsmen and regional creators. The market will include stands of clothes, jewelry, accessories, art objects, books, sport accessories and bio products. To make it more entertaining many activities will take place during these three days, among theme workshops for kids, tasting of bio products, concerts and other surprises. The market will take place on December 14-16, for more info click here.

When: December 14-16
Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Marché & Cuisine De Rue

This is the other market Darwin will host this weekend (December 15-16) to accompany the Christmas market. The “market and street cooking” event will hosts local producers of organic food that will allow you to taste and learn about eco-responsible cooking. The event will take place at the Caserne de Noël just in front of the Christmas market. For more info click here.

When: December 15-16
Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Le Marché de Noël des Halles

Les Halles de Bacalan are holding their Christmas market this week (December 14-16). Tens of creators will participate in the market, selling products like soaps, jewelry, accessories, kids clothes and more. The rich program of the event includes activities like kids room with creative workshops, pizza making, pony tours, Raclette de Noël and more. For more details click here.

When: December 14-16
Where: 10 esplanade de pontac, 33300 Bordeaux

Festival « Sur Un Petit Nuage » de Pessac

The city of Pessac invites you to a fantastic kids festival with plenty of live shows. This is the 17th edition of the festival and this time the program includes circus, dance, music concerts, theater and a puppet show as well as artistic workshops for kids. The festival Sur un Petit Nuage, will take place on December 16-22 in different locations in Pessac. See the full program here.

When: December 16-22
Where: different places in Pessac (check out the program)

Christmas Swing Party

Arbre de Noël is a Christmas swing party with a live band that will take place this Sunday (December 16) at La Salle Des Fêtes Bordeaux Grand-Parc. To get into the Christmas spirit, there is a dress code (white and red colors) and even a secret Santa game. if you want to take part in the Santa game be sure to bring a little gift (maximum 5€). Entry is 10€, for more info click here.

When: December 16 at 15:30
Where: 39 Cours de Luze, 33300 Bordeaux

Noël 2018 à Bergerac

If you want to travel a bit this weekend, visit the Bergerac Christmas market. Bergerac is one of the best markets in the south-west region with tens of stands, beautiful decorations and activities. The market takes place at place Louis de la Bardonnie on December 8-24. For more details check out the website of the market.

When: December 8-24
Where: place Louis de la Bardonnie, 24100 Bergerac

Marché de Noël de Bordeaux

The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will open its gates between November 30 and December 30. This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the region with 150 pavilions selling all the traditional Christmas merchandise such as clothes, decorations, jewelry, toys and local products. Even if you don’t intend to buy any gifts at the market you can still enjoy the Christmas spirit with some hot wine and roasted chestnuts. For more info click here.

When: November 30 – December 30 from 10:30 to 21:30
Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux

Le Marché de Noël Solidaire

The Solidarity Christmas market is part of the Social Economy and Solidarity month. This is a unique market, organized by the city hall and the local social development fund aiming to support young local creators who founded their company thanks to microcredits. The market will take place at Place Pey Berland on December 7-24. See more details here.

When: Until December 23
Where: Place Pey Berland

Arcachon Christmas market

The official Christmas market of Arcachon will start this weekend (December 15) and will continue until January 6. Besides the traditional market this one includes an open ice skating rink on place Thiers. For more info click here.

When: December 15- January 6
Where: center of Arcachon

L’Arche de Noël – creators market

L’Arche de Noël is a creators market taking place in the Chartrons neighborhood every weekend until Christmas (December 22-23 is the last event). Each weekend a group of local talented craftsmen and artists will present their original creations. See more details here.

When: Until December 23
Where: 23 Rue Minvielle, 33000 Bordeaux

Interactive special effects exhibition

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

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

I hope this weekend will be more cheerful than the last one! And if you’re afraid to go to the city center I hope I gave you enough ideas for events outside the center of Bordeaux.

If you want more tips on things to do and places to visit, be sure to subscribe here to my newsletter.

Have a great weekend!

Just like in the last two weeks, most events on this list are related to Christmas. As we get closer to December 25, more and more Christmas markets are popping out in and around Bordeaux. I covered some of them in my article about Christmas market in Bordeaux. If you are still haven’t finished (or started) you Christmas shopping, take a look on my post about where to shop for Christmas in Bordeaux. However if you’re fed up with Christmas I have few other suggestions such as Bordeaux wine tasting festival, kids theater festival, a special effect exhibition and more.

This is the list of things to do this weekend in Bordeaux (December 14-16):

Taste the best French wines

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

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

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

Drôle de Noël

For the 9th time the city of Talence invites you to their big Christmas celebration taking place on December 14-30 in Park Peixotto. For two weekends in a row (December 14-16, December 21-23) a Christmas market will take place in the park and on December 24-30 (except December 25) the park will host plenty of activities for kids. For more info click here.

When: December 14-30
Where: Peixoto, 33400 Talence

Les lumières de la ville 2018

Les lumières de la ville is a great chance to discover how Bordeaux’s monuments look at night. It’s an hour and a half biking tour that will start at Place Pey-Berland and will finish at the Garage moderne for Christmas drinks. On the way you will get to see the most important monuments and all the beautifully decorated little streets of Bordeaux. The event will take place this Friday (December 14) at 19:00, it’s free and open to all. For more details click here.

When: December 14, at 19:00
Where: Place Pey-Berland, 33000 Bordeaux

Christmas Concert

A special Christmas concert will take place this Friday (December 14) at the Notre Dame church in Bordeaux. The girls choir of Bordeaux will take the stage accompanied by soprano Romie Estèves and Jérémie Genet on a cello. The event is free. For more details click here.

When: December 14, at 20:30
Where: 1 Rue Mably, 33000 Bordeaux, 33000 Bordeaux

Take your kids to Cirque Pardi!

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

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

Xmas Market – Darwin

This market is gradually gaining a status as one of the main Christmas markets in Bordeaux. Like Darwin itself, the Xmas market is an alternative event with craftsmen and regional creators. The market will include stands of clothes, jewelry, accessories, art objects, books, sport accessories and bio products. To make it more entertaining many activities will take place during these three days, among theme workshops for kids, tasting of bio products, concerts and other surprises. The market will take place on December 14-16, for more info click here.

When: December 14-16
Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Marché & Cuisine De Rue

This is the other market Darwin will host this weekend (December 15-16) to accompany the Christmas market. The “market and street cooking” event will hosts local producers of organic food that will allow you to taste and learn about eco-responsible cooking. The event will take place at the Caserne de Noël just in front of the Christmas market. For more info click here.

When: December 15-16
Where: 87 quai des Queyries, 33100 Bordeaux

Le Marché de Noël des Halles

Les Halles de Bacalan are holding their Christmas market this week (December 14-16). Tens of creators will participate in the market, selling products like soaps, jewelry, accessories, kids clothes and more. The rich program of the event includes activities like kids room with creative workshops, pizza making, pony tours, Raclette de Noël and more. For more details click here.

When: December 14-16
Where: 10 esplanade de pontac, 33300 Bordeaux

Festival « Sur Un Petit Nuage » de Pessac

The city of Pessac invites you to a fantastic kids festival with plenty of live shows. This is the 17th edition of the festival and this time the program includes circus, dance, music concerts, theater and a puppet show as well as artistic workshops for kids. The festival Sur un Petit Nuage, will take place on December 16-22 in different locations in Pessac. See the full program here.

When: December 16-22
Where: different places in Pessac (check out the program)

Christmas Swing Party

Arbre de Noël is a Christmas swing party with a live band that will take place this Sunday (December 16) at La Salle Des Fêtes Bordeaux Grand-Parc. To make get into the Christmas spirit, there is a dress code (white and red colors) and even a secret Santa game. if you want to take part in the Santa game be sure to bring a little gift (maximum 5€). Entry is 10€, for more info click here.

When: December 16 at 15:30
Where: 39 Cours de Luze, 33300 Bordeaux

Noël 2018 à Bergerac

If you want to travel a bit this weekend, visit the Bergerac Christmas market. Bergerac is one of the best markets in the south-west region with tens of stands, beautiful decorations and activities. The market takes place at place Louis de la Bardonnie on December 8-24. For more details check out the website of the market.

When: December 8-24
Where: place Louis de la Bardonnie, 24100 Bergerac

Marché de Noël de Bordeaux

The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will open its gates between November 30 and December 30. This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the region with 150 pavilions selling all the traditional Christmas merchandise such as clothes, decorations, jewelry, toys and local products. Even if you don’t intend to buy any gifts at the market you can still enjoy the Christmas spirit with some hot wine and roasted chestnuts. For more info click here.

When: November 30 – December 30 from 10:30 to 21:30
Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux

Le Marché de Noël Solidaire

The Solidarity Christmas market is part of the Social Economy and Solidarity month. This is a unique market, organized by the city hall and the local social development fund aiming to support young local creators who founded their company thanks to microcredits. The market will take place at Place Pey Berland on December 7-24. See more details here.

When: Until December 23
Where: Place Pey Berland

Arcachon Christmas markets

The official Christmas market of Arcachon will start this weekend (December 15) and will continue until January 6. Besides the traditional market this one includes an open ice skating rink on place Thiers. For more info click here.

When: December 15- January 6
Where: center of Arcachon

L’Arche de Noël – creators market

L’Arche de Noël is a creators market taking place in the Chartrons neighborhood every weekend until Christmas (December 22-23 is the last event). Each weekend a group of local talented craftsmen and artists will present their original creations. See more details here.

When: Until December 23
Where: 23 Rue Minvielle, 33000 Bordeaux

Interactive special effects exhibition

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

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

I hope this weekend will be more cheerful than the last one! And if you’re afraid to go to city center I hope I gave you enough ideas for events outside the center of Bordeaux.

If you want more tips on things to do and places to visit, be sure to subscribe here to my newsletter.

Have a great weekend!

In Weekend plans

Weekend Plans in Bordeaux (December 7-9)

Last updated on December 9, 2018 No Comments

This time my weekend list includes plenty of local creator markets, so if you want to discover local talent and support young creators this is a good opportunity. For those of you who are fed up with markets I have other suggestions such as an animation festival, an opening of a new covered market, a street art festival and more.

This is the list of things to do in and around Bordeaux this weekend (December 7-9):

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

The opening of les Halles de Talence

The new covered market in Talence is about to open its doors this Friday (December 7) with a three days inauguration party. During the weekend you’ll meet the new merchants, listen to music and vote for the last stand that remains to be occupied. You can see more details and the list of stands to chose from here.

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

International Animation Films Festival

Les Nuits Magiques is an annual international festival of animation movies taking place at “Le Festival” cinema in Begles from November 28 to December 9. This is the 28th edition of the festival, which over the years gained a reputation in the animation and special effects world. The rich program includes plenty of events and activities for both kids and adults: premiers of new movies, workshops, meetings with film creators and more. Check out the full program here and all other details here.

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

Palmer Street’Art

This is a super cool art event where you can learn to create art in different styles from the artists themselves. The street art festival will take place this Saturday (December 8) at Rocher de Palmer in Cenon. The program includes eight artists from different genres proposing workshops such as graffiti, dj, video art, design and more. The event is free and open for all, see all the details here. For the full programs click here.

When: December 8, 14:00 to 19:00
Where: 1 rue Aristide Briand, 33150 Cenon

Bordeaux en livres

For its third edition, Bordeaux en Livres invites young and old bookworms, aspiring cartoonists and writers to discover the mysterious world of literature and comics. The program includes conferences with writers, comedy shows, photography exhibition, a drawing contest and more. There will be a big space dedicated to young story lovers with storytelling sessions for the little ones and a history workshop for older kids. The event will take place this Saturday (December 8) at the Grand-Théâtre de Bordeaux. The event is free, see the full program here and all the practical info here.

When: December 8 . 14:30 – 20:00
Where: Place de la Comédie33000 Bordeaux

The International dance en film festival

The international Danse en film festival is a meeting point of two artistic expressions, cinema and dance, which together create a very magical experience. The festival is taking place this week (until December 8) at the Utopia Cinema and some other venues in the center of Bordeaux. See the full program and all the details on the site of the festival.

When: December 3-8
Where: Center of Bordeaux, see the program for a specific event.

Cirque Pardi! is Coming Back

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

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

Last chance to buy antiques at the Brocante des Quinconces

This is the last weekend of the brocante of Bordeaux taking place at place des Quinconces. The big brocante includes more than 200 antique dealers, horticulturists, restaurants and craftsmen. For more info and the list of exhibitors check out the website of the event.

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

Buy clothes at the Grande Braderie

Le Relais Gironde will hold a clearance sale this Saturday (December 8) where you can buy clothes, shoes, bags and more. This event is quite big and you can find many interesting and useful items for cheap. For more details click here.

When: December 8 from 10:00 to 17:00
Where:517 boulevard Alfred Daney, Bordeaux

FOR KIDS

Make you Christmas decorations in a FabLab

Want your kids to make their own Christmas decorations? Cap Sciences invites your family to a DIY workshop, where you can make your decoration using the equipment in their Fablab. The workshop is open to kids older than 12 years old and requires pre-registration – book your visit here. The event, taking place this Saturday (December 8) will also include a tour in Cap Sciences. Entry is 5€, for more details click here.

When: December 8, at 14:30
Where: Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux

Opening of a temporary ice skating rink in Bègles

Centre Commercial Rives d’Arcins in Bègles will open this weekend a temporary ice skating rink for the Christmas season. To celebrate the opening they invite you to skate with the players of Les Boxers de Bordeaux (Bordeaux’s ice hockey team). The event will take place Saturday (December 8) at 15:00. For more details click here.

When: December 8, from 15:00 t0 18:00
Where: CCR Rives d’Arcins, 33130 Bègles

IBOAT – Le mini club de Noël

This Saturday (December 8) the Iboat will turn into a big party for kids (2 to 12 years old). The program includes skating, a dance floor for kids, candies and more. The entry is free, for more details click here.

When: December 8, at 15:00 to 18:30
Where: Quai Armand Lalande, 33300 Bordeaux

CHRISTMAS AND CREATORS MARKETS

Festival Made in Bordeaux

The idea behind Festival Made in Bordeaux is to promote local artists and creators. The event will take place this weekend (December 7-9) in Château des Tours in Le Bouscat. To see all the 43 exhibitors participating at the event click here. Entry is 2€ for 3 days and free for kids under 12 years old. For more details see here.

When: December 7-9
Where: 246 Avenue de la Libération Charles de Gaulle, 33110 Le Bouscat

Pop-up de Noël des Polichineuses

After two very successful events of “Les Rendez-vous des Polichineuses” in les Halles de Bacalan, that took place this year, they are coming back with a special Christmas pop-up market. The idea is to reduce consumption and to favor second hand and vintage items. The organizers of the event did a great job in choosing stylish accessories, furniture and home decor so you are guaranteed to find a lot of chic Christmas gifts. There’ll be also a dedicated place for kids so it’s really a family friendly event. The market will take place in Halles de Bacalan on December 6-9. For more info about the event and all the exhibitors click here.

When: December 6-9
Where: 10 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux

Marché de Noël de Bordeaux

The traditional Christmas market of Bordeaux will open its gates between November 30 and December 30. This is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the region with 150 pavilions selling all the traditional Christmas merchandise such as clothes, decorations, jewelry, toys and local products. Even if you don’t intend to buy any gifts at the market you can still enjoy the Christmas spirit with some hot wine and roasted chestnuts. For more info click here.

When: November 30 – December 30 from 10:30 to 21:30
Where: Allées de Tourny, 33000 Bordeaux

Marché des Créateurs Récycleurs

This event is both creative an environmentally friendly. The market of recycling creators gather 22 craftsmen that make their products from used materials. You will find stands of furniture, jewelry, sculptures, accessories and more. The event will take place this weekend (December 8-9) in ATELIER d’éco SOLIDAIRE. The entry is free, for more details click here.

When: December 8-9
Where: 7 rue de la Motte Picquet, 33300 Bordeaux

Etsy Made in France Bordeaux

This market is organized by the Etsy Made in France team with the goal to promote local independent creators. Come to experience a more cozy market of young passionate creators and hear their stories and inspiration for their work. The event will take place this weekend (December 8-9) in Garage Moderne. For more info click here.

When: December 8-9
Where: Garage Moderne – 1 Rue des Etrangers – 33300 Bordeaux

Le Marché de Noël Solidaire

The Solidarity Christmas market is part of the Social Economy and Solidarity month. This is a unique market, organized by the city hall and the local social development fund aiming to support young local creators who founded their company thanks to microcredits. The market will take place at Place Pey Berland on December 7-24. See more details here.

When: Until December 23
Where: Place Pey Berland

L’Arche de Noël – creators market

L’Arche de Noël is a creators market taking place in the Chartrons neighborhood every weekend until Christmas (December 22-23 is the last event). Each week a group of local talented craftsmen and artists will present their original creations.

See more details here.

When: December 8-9
Where: 23 Rue Minvielle, 33000 Bordeaux

Marché de Noël à Sarlat

If you’re in the mood to travel a bit this weekend, why not go to one of the best Christmas markets in South of France, the Sarlat Christmas martket. Sarlat is a magical places that is worth a visit any time of the year, but this market makes it even more worthwhile. The Christmas village opened its doors on December 5 and will continue until the end of December. The village includes 70 chalets selling local products, clothes, decorations, hot wine and more. For more info click here.

When: December 5-31
Where: Place de la Grande Rigaudie , 24200 Sarlat-la-canéda,

Yeah I know, it’s quite a heavy list this time. That’s why I divided it into three sections to help you see if this group of events is something that could interest you. As always, be kind and share the post on facebook, tweeter or pinterest

If you want more tips about Bordeaux, something beyond the weekly events, you should definitely subscribe to my mailing list, there’s plenty of surprises there! Subscribe here

Have a great weekend!

talence

La guinguette chez Alriq – the best tavern in town

Les Chantiers de la Garonne

Mama Shelter – classic Bordeaux rooftop

Plage de L’IBOAT

Le Bar de la Marine

Les Planches Éphémères

Effet Mer

Gina

Les Halles de Talence

Canopee Café in Merignac

Eklo’s Guinguette

Le Café Utopia

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

Parc des Berges de la Garonne in Bègles

Bois de Thouars in Talence

Parc de Montgaillard in Gradignan

Bois des Sources du Peugue in Pessac

Parc de la Bruthe in Floirac

Bois d’Arboudeau in Parempuyre

Lac Bleu and Lac Vert

Forêt de Migelane in Martillac

Facebook |Instagram |Email | Facebook group

The best parks in Bordeaux – Rive Gauche

Jardin Public in Bordeaux center

Parc Bordelais in Cauderan

Parc Majolan in Blanquefort

Parc Bouran in Merignac

Parc Floral

Le Bois du Bouscat

Parc Peixotto

Ecosite du Bourgailh in Pessac

Parc du Moulineau Gradignan

Parc Sourreil in Villenave d’ornon

Parks on Rive droite

Parc de L’ermitage in Lormont

Parc aux Angéliques in Bastide

Hiking in Bordeaux Metropole

Au fil de l’eau bourde – From Talence to Gradignan

Réserve écologique des Barails

Floirac – fil vert – the green path

The Saint Emilion region

Discover the lamprey capital of Gironde – Sainte Terre – 6.4 km

Entre Deux Mers

Boucle de Rions – heritage and hillsides

The South of Gironde

Hostens

Lac Vert and Lac Bleu

Saint Symphorian

Arcachon

Lanton

Ville d’Hiver in Arcachon

Bordeaux fête ses vendanges

When: September 12-15 / Where: the center of Bordeaux

Vign’ en Ville

When: September 14-15 / Where: Jardin Public

Fête Des Vendanges at La Sauve-majeure

When: September 14 / Where: la Sauve Majeure

Vélotour Bordeaux

When: September 15 / Where: Quai Richelieu, 33000 Bordeaux

Bordeaux Open Air

When: September 15, starting 15:00 / Where: Square Dom Bedos, Bordeaux

Les Talençaises

When: September 13-14 / Where: Parc de Peixotto, 33400 Talence

Festival des Coteaux Bordelais

When: September 14 at 18:00 / Where: Plaine de Fargues Saint-Hilaire (behind the salle du Carré des Forges)

Summer Rock in Bouliac

When: September 14, starting 11:00 / Where: Parking du stade, Bouliac

24 Heures D’Inauguration de la Fabrique Pola

When: September 13-14 / Where: 10 quai de Brazza, 33100 Bordeaux

Festival Love Tattoo Urban Street

When: September 14-15 / Where: 940 Avenue de l’Europe, 33260 La Teste-de-Buch

The big scooter race

When: September 14 10:30 to 16:30 / Where: la Maison Eco-citoyenne , 33000 Bordeaux

Grand Marché BIO du Bourgailh

When: September 15 / Where: 179 Avenue de Beutre , 33600 Pessac

Les Noctambules de Septembre

When: September 13 / Where: Château du Hamel à Castets-en-Dorthe

Fête de la navigation

When: September 14-15 / Where: Voile Lacanau Guyenne, 24 Allée du Club de Voile, 33680 Lacanau