Bordeaux

Located 2 hours by train from Paris, Bordeaux has experienced an extraordinary rise in recent years. Elected first city to visit in 2017 by the famous Lonely Planet guide, it is today an attractive but above all active city. Its heritage mixing modern and 18th century architecture, makes it the muse of many artists. True gateway to the Bordeaux vineyards, its position on the river invites you to memorable river escapades.

Not to be missed

• Knowing how to reinvent itself and evolve without interfering with the monuments of the past is what the city of Bordeaux has achieved over the past two centuries. A recognition of the value and the heritage unity of an exemplary city by the harmony of its classical and neoclassical architecture which was rewarded in 2017 by its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• The water mirror
  This original work, due to the landscaper Michel Corajoud, alternates extraordinary effects of mirror and fog. Located opposite the Place de la Bourse, it is the most photographed place in Bordeaux. Between the Garonne and the XNUMXth century facade, the Water Mirror fits perfectly into the contemporary World Heritage of the city.

• Darwin ecosystem
  On the right bank of the Garonne, this former military barracks stands out today as THE alternative place par excellence in Bordeaux. It brings together an urban farm, skate parks, an open-air gallery for graffiti artists from all over the world, an organic grocery store, the largest organic restaurant in France The General Store, co-working spaces and even a bike polo field! 
  It is, with nearly a million annual visitors, one of the most visited sites in Bordeaux. From guided tours are organized to understand the issues of the ecosystem.

• La Cité du Vin
  This sumptuous glass tower offers a journey to discover the cultures and civilizations of wine from all over the world. More than 3m000 of free trail, nearly twenty interactive thematic spaces invite you to a unique experience in time and space to meet wine. The tour includes a free digital tour companion, available in 8 languages, and access to the Cité du Vin belvedere. 

• The green spaces of the metropolis
  True lungs of the Bordeaux metropolis, these green spaces can be discovered or rediscovered without ever getting tired. We can notably mention the magnificent Majolan Park in Blanquefort with its 4-hectare lake, its artificial caves, a rocky bridge, small winding paths in the middle of rare and exotic species. But also the Vallée de l'eau Bourde in Gradignan which flows from the Garonne and crosses a dozen parks over 6 km.

Don't leave without tasting...

• Bacchus berries 
  A cluster-shaped chocolate shell, filled with an alcohol-free ganache with flavors borrowed from the aromatic palette of grape varieties from Bordeaux and elsewhere. Presented in a box of 8 chocolate-varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, etc.
  On sale at the Cité du Vin shop – Bordeaux

• Canelés
  We no longer need to present these little cakes with a soft and tender dough, flavored with rum and vanilla, and covered with a fine caramelized crust, in the shape of a small cylinder, a true specialty of Bordeaux.
  On sale at Baillardran or La Toque Cuivrée.

• Hasnaâ Chocolates
  Chocolate lovers, it's at Hasnaâ that we give you an appointment! Awarded in 2016 the Chocolate Maker of the Year Award by the Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat. This Bordeaux chocolate factory born from the devouring passion of a young couple for cocoa, welcomes you to discover its tasting boxes, its exquisite chocolate mousse and since 2019, Les Accords Parfaits© (a chocolate bar that goes perfectly with your wine).

The shopping moment 

• L'Echoppe de la Lune
  This delicatessen is the ideal place to bring back delicacies made in Gironde. There are many products exclusively from the region and above all we tell you their story. Syrups and juices, liqueurs, preserves, teas, canelés, wine-flavoured salts… You won't be able to resist!

• The Mollat ​​bookshop
  Book lovers, this is your paradise! A real institution in Bordeaux, this independent bookstore, the largest in France; offers on 2700 m², a multitude of books divided into 15 thematic spaces. More than 50 specialists, also passionate about reading, provide advice to help you in your research. Even the least adept will not be insensitive to this place known to all Bordeaux residents.

• The tourist office shop
  What better place to bring back a souvenir from the city than the shop of theBordeaux-Métropole Tourist and Convention Bureau ? A fine selection of local products and objects are on sale and highlight the region. From the simple card, to candies in the form of canelés or even the bicycle bell with the effigy of the webzine An air of Bordeaux, there is something for all tastes and all budgets! 

On the way ...

… of the Bordeaux metropolis. By bike, boat, sidecar, mini-train, bus or simply on foot, here are our favorites: 

• masonic Bordeaux
  Cradle of Freemasonry during the Age of Enlightenment, Bordeaux still bears many symbols of this heritage today. Ready for a guided tour of Masonic Bordeaux?

• historical heart 
  Departure of the guided tour from the famous Place de la Bourse, then on the program the essential places of the city such as the recently renovated quays on the banks of the Garonne, then the old Bordeaux. Thanks to your guide, you will hear fascinating anecdotes and discover places little known to the inhabitants themselves, such as Square Vinet and its vertical green wall, in the heart of the Saint-Pierre district. A walking tour of Bordeaux generally ends with the immense Place des Quinconces, and its Monument to the Girondins.

• Tasting cruise – Cité du Vin
  Accompanied by a professional, you will taste two wines representative of the Bordeaux vineyards. During this river walk, the guide will tell you the history of Bordeaux and the essential role of the river since the creation of the city. Under his benevolent gaze, you will discover the Port of the Moon, admiring the city and its sumptuous XNUMXth century facades, its wide quays inviting you to stroll, its famous Water Mirror...

• Miam food tour
  Discover the local gastronomy while learning the history and architecture of the city, here is the challenge that the MIAM company has set itself. World capital of wine, the Bordeaux region has also become over the years, a gastronomic destination of reference in France. Accompanied by an ambassador, we learn the secrets and culinary habits of the region as the visit progresses. Several formulas are proposed for the greatest pleasure of our eyes and our taste buds!
  You can find all of his visits and more on www.visiter-bordeaux.com

The crush ❤ of the editorial team 

Did you know that the city of Bordeaux will soon be home to the largest digital center in Europe? Indeed, this new center called “The Bassins des Lumières”, will open its doors for the summer of 2020 in a unique place of majestic dimensions: the Bordeaux Submarine Base. This remnant of the Second World War in reinforced concrete, 245 meters long and 162 meters wide, will host in 4 huge pools, custom-designed digital exhibitions that will marry the monumental architecture of the place. An immersive experience in art and music in an emblematic place in Bordeaux.

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