Shannon & Wayne
Things To Do
Saint-Émilion
Saint-Emilion is both a beautiful medieval village and a famous appellation of red Bordeaux wine. This village is known as the most beautiful town in the Bordeaux region. The vineyards date back to 2000 years ago when the Roman’s ruled this area.
Bordeaux Métropole City Pass
The first thing that you must do on your trip to Bordeaux is pick up a city pass. You can pick up one easily at Bordeaux tourist office (next to Hotel des 4 Soeurs) or order it online. The Bordeaux city pass will help you make the most out of your time in the city. You will have unlimited access to trams, buses and river shuttles and also free entry into over twenty museums and monuments. You will also get one free guided tour of your choice.
La Cité du Vin
La Cité du Vin is a must for wine enthusiasts. France’s premier wine museum is an interactive experience engaging all of your senses, ending with a wine tasting on the top floor and a panoramic view over Bordeaux. You can learn all about the history of wine and see how wine is made in the world’s most renowned vineyards all around the world in an immersive exhibition at the Cité du Vin. You can take the tram line C or walk along the river (this will take about 1 hour) to reach the museum, and if you arrive before 12pm you will have free entry with your city pass, otherwise there is an additional charge. Open daily from 9:30am – 7pm
Les Bassins des Lumières
Centre for digital art opened in a former submarine base, Les Bassins de Lumières is continuing to combine art and technology. An unforgettable experience!
Musée d'Aquitaine
This attraction does the difficult job of crystallising the many centuries of history in the Aquitaine region, and is one of the largest museums of its kind outside of Paris. The galleries are huge, and if you only have time for a flying visit there are a few pieces that you can’t leave without seeing. One that will set you reeling is the Laussal Venus, a lifelike stone carving of a woman that is 27,000 years old! There’s also a Gallic treasure unearthed in Tayac, with a solid gold torc and hundreds of gold coins and ingots, the most recent of which is from the first century BC. Clearly we’re at the tip of the iceberg, and history buffs will be keen to dive in for hours to see what they can find. Open daily 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. except on Mondays
Bordeaux’s Best Boulangeries (Bakeries) Tour
Join the host as you eat your way across Bordeaux's best bakeries, all of which are recipients of French culinary awards. “Each bakery is in a different, vibrant neighbourhood of Bordeaux and along the way I'll share with you its history and my own personal experiences of the neighbourhood. I'll teach you how to order in French (if required) and suggest pastries at each boulangerie while educating you on specialities of the South-West. Come hungry!!!” @bordeauxbestboulangeries €26 a person
Bordeaux Tour by electric train
Open seven days a week. Departure every half hour from 10:15am to 6:15pm . Prices- adult : €10 children from 4 to 12 yo : €5 children under 4 yo : free Tikcets are sold on board and at Touristic Office. From the Allées de Tourny, between the merry-go-go-round and the Tourist Office, board our tourist train to the latest environmental standards for a 45 minute trip. You will discover the history of the Gironde capital and its unmissable UNESCO World Heritage monuments through a scripted audio commentary available in 8 languages.
Tuk City Tour
The bilingual driver (French / English) will make you enjoy a fun and personalized visit, during which you will discover Bordeaux and its old neighborhoods from a new angle. Your trip can be punctuated with various stops allowing you to fully enjoy your discovery and famous monuments. Duration: 55 minutes €45 for 1-3 people €70 for 4-6 people
Bordeaux City Tour by Open Air Bus
Thanks to the panoramic view, look up at the historic city. Travel through time, from the Gallo-Roman era to the present day and stroll around to discover its emblematic monuments. €8 per person
Place de la Bourse
Bordeaux broke free of its old town walls when this majestic square on the left bank of the Garonne was built in the 1720s. Louis XV’s favourite architect, Jacques Gabriel, designed it, and the square didn’t take long to become a symbol for the city. Go up for a closer look to see the mascarons (sculpted faces) beneath the arches of the buildings.
Saint-Pierre district
Adjacent to the Place de la Bourse, Saint-Pierre District is as lively by night as it is by day. You’ll find plenty of restaurants and bars to make your evening.
Porte Cailhau
Porte Cailhau was built in 1494 as an arc of triumph dedicated to King Charles VIII. The gate serves as a small museum that tells the story of Bordeaux in the Middle Ages. Porte Cailhau is open daily from 10am – 1pm and 2pm – 6pm. Entry is €3 and children under 12 are free.
Place des Quinconces
Place des Quinconces is the largest city square in France and one of the largest in Europe.
Rue Sainte-Catherine
Rue Saint Catherine is the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe. It runs from the Grand Théâtre on Place de la Comédie to the Thermier Column on Place de la Victorie. It’s been an entirely pedestrian-only street since 1984, though a shopping street also ran along this same stretch when Bordeaux was called Burdigala in Roman times. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, this won’t be for you: The street thrums with activity at all hours, and if you’re here for a mammoth shopping trip you can rest those legs at a cafe and watch the multitudes in amazement.
Jardin Public
The Jardin Public combines the famous honey-coloured stone of stately 18th century buildings with a relaxed setting in which a pond is surrounded by centuries-old trees. Framed by lovely townhouses, and including a Natural History Museum, a small botanical garden, and a bar-restaurant (L’Orangerie), the Jardin Public has been classified a Jardin Remarquable de France. It is a gorgeous place for those wanting to relax and step away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Basilique Saint-Seurin
There are two parts of the crypt which can be visited. One is the archaeological site, which has a small fee to enter. The second part of the crypt can be accessed from a stairway down in to it from the center of the Basilica and is free to enter, along with the Basilica itself. Saint Seurin Archaeological Site is open 1pm – 6pm daily. Entry is €5 The crypt dates from the fourth century and was discovered on accident during excavations. One of the really interesting things about Saint-Seurin Basilica is that you can visit the ancient crypt to see the Merovingian marble sarcophagi. The crypt gives us a look into the earliest French Christians, or the very cradle of Christianity here in Bordeaux.
Arcachon Bay
The Bassin d’Arcachon or the Arcachon Bay has become one of the most popular destinations in France. It is located a 1 hour drive, by car, from Bordeaux. Arcachon Bay is dotted with seaside towns all ripe for exploring and sampling Arcachon Bay’s famous oysters. There are plenty of activities to do on a day trip here, such as bird watching, cycling along bike paths, and renting a kayak.
The Dune Du Pilat
If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can visit one of the “50 Best Beaches in the World”. It’s called Dune du Pilat and it’s the highest sand dune in Europe, towering 328 feet above the Atlantic. This natural heritage site is 40 miles from Bordeaux and easily accessible by car. You can climb the dune by stairs that are installed, or climb straight up the dandy slopes. Once you reach the top, a stunning panoramic view will be revealed with the Cap Ferret peninsula on one side, a huge pine forest on the other and the magnificent Banc d’Arguin nature reserve just in front. The Dune du Pilat is free to access and open all year.
Cap Ferret
Cap Ferret is a little town located on the Western part of Bassin d’Arcachon and has been traditionally known as a summer getaway for the French upper class. Cap Ferret has a long string of beautiful sandy beaches on the Atlantic ocean and a view of the eastern side of the Bassin. Apart from its dreamy beaches it’s also known for its ostréiculture industry, which produces some of the best oysters in France. You can also bike along the beaches and through the pine forest that covers a large part of the Cap Ferret peninsula. There are plenty of bike rentals in the area!
Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas
Visible if you look downriver from the quays on the left bank of the Garonne is this vertical lift bridge, inaugurated in 2013. Spanning almost 600 metres and reaching 77 metres in height, it’s the tallest vertical lift bridge in Europe and has quickly become a treasured landmark for the city. Despite being brand new it manages to complement the historic cityscape, becoming both a technical and visual accomplishment. The city runs ferries as part of its public transport network, and it’s exciting to see the bridge from the water. Or come to the quayside at night when there are captivating light displays on the bridge’s four sky-scraping columns.
Presbytère de l'église Notre-Dame
Take the first right just after the InterContinental Bordeaux le Grand Hôtel and you will stumble upon the picturesque spot of Église Notre-Dame de Bordeaux. It is the perfect photo opportunity. Notre Dame is the most baroque and Romanesque-style church in Bordeaux. The church and Cour Mably (Mably Courtyard) are the only vestiges of a Dominican monastery going back to the 13th century. The chapels feature numerous trompe-l’œil decors as well as a series of 10 religious paintings by Brother André (1662-1735). Dating from the 19th century, the beautiful stained glass windows are attributed to the master Bordeaux glassmakers Villiet and Hutrel.
Bordeaux Farmers Market “Marché des Capucins”
Open: Tuesday–Thursday 6 am to 2 pm Marché des Capucins is the largest food and flower market in Bordeaux. This huge covered market is often referred to as “the belly of Bordeaux", where the local population come to meet market gardeners, poultry farmers, butchers, oyster farmers and local wine merchants. Affectionately known as the "Capu" by the people of Bordeaux, this place has a life of its own, where you can fill your basket with good local produce, have a coffee or taste some oysters. Located on the Place des Capucins, between the Place de la Victoire and the Sainte-Croix church.
Forbes Spotlight on Bordeaux
Click on “View” to read an article that Forbes wrote about Bordeaux.
Article about Bordeaux
Click ‘View’ to read more about Bordeaux!
Château de Seguin
Explore our Château! Château de Seguin is a family wine estate stretching over 427 acres, it’s one of the largest vineyards in Bordeaux. Grape varieties planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The history of Chateau de Seguin starts in 780 when the first château was built by the Count of Seguin, Administrator of the Emperor Charlemagne. The present buildings were constructed on the foundation of the old château in the 1780’s.
Château Pape Clément
Chateau Pape Clement has a long and interesting history in Bordeaux. The first recorded grape harvest took place in 1252. With records showing it was also one of the first places to plant vines in neat rows to allow tilling of the soils. The chateau is named after the property’s most famous owner, Pope Clement V. On a visit to Pape Clément you'll see the recreated chapel below the château, complete with crypt, marble sarcophagus and piped organ music. While you're there, look out for the 1500-year-old olive trees in the garden. Also rare for top châteaux in Bordeaux, you can actually buy the wines here or, better still, spend the afternoon in the Cave de Decouverte, blending with the cellar master, creating your own wine then designing a label for your personalized bottle. The wine is also amazing, in 2009 the Grand Cru Classé received a 100/100 score from Robert Parker. They have been in the high 90’s every year since.