Roller ride: The two bridges of Bordeaux

Line B and C tram stations and bus stops at the Quinconces interchange hub in Bordeaux. Cross the square under the plane trees between the avenues of Orléans and Münich in the direction of the river. Cross the platforms and tram tracks at the traffic lights and approach the water. The path is laid out between the railings and squares of plantations, like the gardens of the simple of the Middle Ages. In all seasons, the city's gardeners cultivate local plants and flowers there, for the pleasure of all. You pass in front of the Place de la Bourse and the water mirror. Continue on the quay. On your left, there are pontoons arranged to accommodate cruise liners. Bordeaux is one of the last city center stopovers still accessible for large ships, so it is very popular with cruise passengers, with around fifty stopovers scheduled each year. Some prestigious sailboats also dock there occasionally, such as the Hermione or the Belem. Go around the eco-citizen house on the left, leave the alley on your left which leads under the first arch of the Pont de Pierre and take the sidewalk which goes up towards the bridge. Turn left to pass over it. You then have a beautiful view of the right bank and the left bank, taking advantage of the curve described by the river which has earned Bordeaux the nickname of "port of the moon". You can recognize the pointed roofs of the Cailhau gate, the spiers of the Saint Michel and Saint André cathedrals and if the weather is fine, the sparkling statue of the Virgin Mary, at the top of the Pey Berland tower. At the end of the bridge, cross the quay and head towards the Stalingrad tram station.

From the tram station, head towards Quai de Queyries, without crossing it, and walk down the sidewalk on the city side to Allée Serr. Cross the quay at the traffic light intersection, then Rue Sem. You pass in front of the old Orléans station and access a platform from where you will have a beautiful view of the Pierre bridge and the pontoons for medium-sized boats, river cruises, the batcub, and others. pleasure boats. Return to the shared pedestrian/bicycle lane at the edge of the quay and continue under the large plane trees. In places, you can read a few plaques with poetic texts by famous authors. On your right, the entrance to the botanical garden invites you to visit it. Opened in 2001, it presents a gallery of environments where the different landscapes of Aquitaine are reconstructed. Arrived at the entrance to the Parc aux Angéliques, join the greenway and leave the sports facilities on your left. A little further on, on the right, the Espace Darwin is also worth a detour. Housed in the former Niel barracks, it is an alternative place where a brasserie, organic grocery store, co-working space, skate park, tagged walls, old mobile homes and ecological garden mingle... all in a friendly atmosphere of recycling. and solidarity economy. Further, prefer the asphalt track on the right rather than the paved road. You then walk along the facilities of ship repair companies, recalling the initial vocation of the place: all activities related to maritime and river transport. Arrived in sight of the bridge, turn right and completely left to access the lane reserved for pedestrians and bicycles. Crossing the bridge, you can enjoy the view of the quays on both banks and of the majestic river. Among other things, the futuristic silhouette of the city of wine stands out on your right. Arrived at the end of the bridge, cross the roadway at the traffic light intersection, then cross the quay to reach the Cité du Vin tramway station.

From the tram station, cross the quay and the causeway of the bridge at the traffic light intersection and walk along the Cap Sciences shed towards the river. You are on the Quai de Bacalan, nicknamed Quai des Marques. You walk along the water and on your right there are a succession of shops and café-restaurant terraces. They are fitted out in the old rehabilitated hangars of the port of Bordeaux. Indeed under the second empire and until the 1920s, the port developed on the north side, because to the south, the stone bridge now prevented the circulation of ships. Vertical quays are built for the docking of boats and a whole series of sheds for the storage of goods, all protected by high grids. Today, the facilities of the commercial port have gone even further north, from Bassens to Ambarès, thus freeing up all these spaces for urban activities. The last hangar is hangar 14, it is a well-known exhibition and event venue. You then arrive at Quai des Chartrons. Then you pass the skate park and then a children's play park and the place of the Sunday morning market. On your left, you will no doubt have the opportunity to see a few river cruise ships moored at the quay. For a meal, a day or a week, they offer you a tour of the Garonne, the Gironde estuary or the Dordogne. To the right of Cours Xavier Arnozan stands the maritime stock exchange, a classic XNUMXth century facade decorated with rostrums in the shape of a boat. You arrive at Quai Louis XVIII. The large plane trees signal the arrival at Place des Quinconces, then cross the quay and the tramway tracks at the traffic light intersection. At the end of the square stand two columns, in the neo-classical style, they symbolize trade and navigation. Cross the square under the plane trees and reach the public transport stations.