What to see and do on a day visit to Bordeaux and where to stay in Aquitaine

Bordeaux is one of the most popular and visited cities of France after Paris, Lyon and Nice, here is what you can expect to see and do on a day visit.

Given its status as the wine capital of France it is no surprise that the local Bordelaise folk have a refined pallet for their food and drink. Consequently there are a large number of gastronomic restaurants in Bordeaux, so it is well worth eating out whilst you are there as you can experience some of the best food and wine France has to offer. There are literally thousands of restaurants to choose from and personal taste and budget will inevitably play a part in your choice.

The top five attractions in Bordeaux

The Place de la Bourse (also known as the Place Royale) is the main landmark in the centre of the city. The beautiful architecture of the surrounding old buildings and the "miroir d'eau" which reflects the palace along with the fountains offers a pretty, vast, photogenic square which is especially attractive when lit up at night. You will often encounter buskers playing and there is a delightful atmosphere which can be savoured just hanging around. Children love this place in the summer, the nearby garden is delightful and you can walk along the river Garonne.

The Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas was inaugurated by the French President Francois Holland along with the mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Juppé in 2013. It has since become a major attraction for visitors as it the longest vertical-lift bridge in the whole of Europe. Quite a spectacle when lit at night and you can find out when it will lift up from the local tourist office if you want to see it open/lift.

The Chateau Pape Clement, one of the most famous establishments in the Medoc is on the outskirts of Bordeaux, just inside the A630 ring road. Here you can enjoy a one hour tour (guide speaks good English) around the pretty chateau and the immaculate grounds. Also the wine cellar where the vintage wines are stored. During the visit you can taste one to three of the excellent wines (you have the option depending on what you choose to pay) and you also have the opportunity to purchase some to take back to your holiday dwelling or home for around 10€ per bottle. Maybe you will agree with Benjamin Franklin who famously said “The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars.”

The Opera National de Bordeaux Grand Theatre is at the cultural heart of Bordeaux. It is a very beautiful building in itself and there are some really nice restaurants and cafes which you can also enjoy nearby. You can take a guided tour (French only spoken, need to book, see and hear explained exhibits such as smoke and fire producing machines for special effects) around the Grand theatre which is very photogenic or even better book to see an opera, such as La Boheme which was on recently. There is always something of a buzz about the place on the steps and around the entrance and square. Many argue that this is the grandest building in the city.

A UNESCO world heritage site since 2007 the Port of the Moon has become a popular area of the city to visit. Here you can gain an appreciation of the cities history as a wine trading port (Bordeaux has a rich heritage with as many as 347 listed buildings) as well as appreciate lovely views of the river. There are riverside cafes and restaurants and the tram slips past on rails lined in parts with grass. Since 1996 this whole area has been revitalised and is now appreciated by many from the water on a river trip or just strolling along the bank which is especially agreeable in the evening. It is also an area where the Bordeaux wine festival is held in June.

We hope you enjoy visiting Bordeaux, a superb French city which has gained a new lease of life. If you would like to reserve one of our Aquitaine villas as a base from where you can visit Bordeaux and the many other attractions of south west France please contact us.

The villa Lege Cap Feret is ideal, it sleeps 7, has a private pool, you can walk to shops and restaurants, it is only 5km from a beautiful beach and 49 km from Bordeaux centre. Prices range from 1875€ to 3125€ per week for the villa (that is 268€ to 446€ per person if filled).

You can trust us to provide impartial, sound advice on travel or where best to stay and rely on the fact that our company is longstanding and the accommodation offered is visited, tried and tested.

See our full range of villas in Aquitaine along with more regional information on our website.

Peter H.