Part cosmopolitan seaside resort, part laid-back surf town, Biarritz has been one of Europe’s top summertime destinations for centuries. With pristine sandy beaches, luxurious villas, a trendy French-Basque food scene, and some of the best surf in Europe, Biarritz is a true gem on the Atlantic Coast.
Also known as the Palais Rohan, the Bordeaux Hôtel de Ville (Bordeaux City Hall was built in 1771 in the elegant Louis XIV neoclassical style. It was here that celebrated painter Eugène Delacroix, fascinated by the Pompeii-style trompe l’oeil fresco in the dining room, discovered his calling in the 1780s.
The pilgrimage route called Camino di Santiago (sometimes translated as Way of St. James) stretches across Europe into northern Spain and down to Santiago di Compostela. This sacred path has been followed since medieval times by faithful Christians who seek to worship at the tomb of St. James, as well as other hikers who are inspired by the spiritual “way.”
Bordeaux’s main shopping street stretches 1.2 km (0.7 miles through the city center and is one of the longest pedestrianized shopping streets in Europe. Rue Sainte-Catherine is book-ended by the Place de la Comédie in the north, which is home to the city’s Neo-Classical Grand Theater, and the Place de la Victoire to the south.
Way back in the 3rd century, the Palais Gallien was used for gladiatorial bouts and could hold some 20,000 spectators. Although only the ruined walls remain, this atmospheric location will take you right back to centuries past. It’s one of the few remaining remnants of Roman life in Bordeaux.
All of Bordeaux’s high streets lead to Place de la Comédie, making the lively square an inevitable stop on any itinerary. Dating back to Gallo-Roman times, the pedestrianized square is home to one of Bordeaux’s most impressive architectural landmarks, the Grand Theatre, and it leads the way to the Golden Triangle luxury shopping district.
Bordeaux’s world-famous wines take the spotlight at the Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum, where tours of the 18th-century vaulted cellars lead through the history of France’s largest winemaking region. Along with seeing permanent exhibitions related to Bordeaux’s wine production, visitors can also take part in wine-tasting workshops.
Located in the former University of Bordeaux Faculty of Arts and Sciences building, the Museum of Aquitaine (Musée d'Aquitaine) showcases the history of Bordeaux and its surroundings. From ancient artworks made of bone to a life-sized replica of a 21st-century grocery store, the museum's artifacts span prehistoric times to the present day, offering an in-depth look at life in this part of Southwest France.
Flowing down from the Spanish Pyrenees all the way to France’s Atlantic coast, the Garonne is the most important river of southwestern France. Passing through two major cities—Toulouse and Bordeaux—the Garonne also runs into the Gironde estuary, the largest of its kind in Europe.
A historical monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site, Saint-Seurin Basilica (Basilique Saint-Seurin) is Bordeaux’s oldest church, dating back to the birth of Christendom in the sixth century. The popular Bordeaux attraction was rebuilt in the 12th century and a key stop in the French section of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route.
Bordeaux’s ode to Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, the Porte de Bourgogne, sits on the southern cusp of the UNESCO-listed historic center, a short stroll from the Garonne riverfront. Built in 1750, the monumental arch marks the eastern entrance to Cours Victor Hugo, which was once the main road from Bordeaux to Paris.
Stretching north and west of Bordeaux along the Garonne River, the Médoc region produces some of the area’s best wines. Renowned for its idyllic vineyards, historic chateaux, and cabernet sauvignon wines, Médoc should be at the top of the list for wine lovers visiting Bordeaux.
Located in the center of medieval Bordeaux, the Bordeaux Museum of Fine Arts is home to one of France’s largest collections of art outside Paris. The museum was established in 1801 on order by Napoleon to bring art back to the people after works were confiscated during the French Revolution. The museum houses an impressive collection of Italian, Flemish, and French art.
A city park with a small botanic garden, the Bordeaux Public Garden (Jardin Public) is a peaceful escape within a bustling city. Locals head here to walk or jog, bring kids to the playground, or picnic beneath the park’s tall trees. The central pond, where swans and ducks glide by, is a scenic place for a stroll, while the charming Guignol Guérin theater draws families to its long-running puppet show.
Château Mouton Rothschild wine needs little introduction. This esteemed and expensive Bordeaux tops the list of the world’s most coveted reds, so an outing to this Rothschild estate is similarly exclusive. Appointment-only visits showcase the château, vat room, and cellars, along with the on-site Museum of Wine in Art, where some of the Rothschild’s private art collection awaits.
Bone-crafted artifacts and stone tools abound at the National Prehistoric Museum in Les Eyzies, offering Dordogne visitors a voyage into the past. Located near the Vézère Valley—a region known as the capital of prehistory—the museum showcases some 18,000 artifacts, all curated to retrace millennia of human life in the region and beyond.
Founded in the 12th century, but abandoned from the 17th century until after World War II, Commarque Castle (Château de Commarque) is a ruined medieval chateau. Visit to see the ruins and a cave with prehistoric art, as well as caves once used as homes. Participate in games, workshops, and treasure hunts held on school vacations.
The Citadel of Blaye is a 17th-century fortress in the town of Blaye north of Bordeaux, France. The walled city was built around a parade ground, a monastery dedicated to the Minims order, and several army barracks. King Louis XIV ordered the Marquis de Vauban to build the fortress in order to protect Bordeaux from attack.
Located on the French Basque coast south of Biarritz, Saint-Jean-De-Luz is a former fishing village turned destination resort town. The site of King Louis XIV's marriage to Marie-Thérèse of Austria in 1660, Saint-Jean-De-Luz is today home to a bustling harbor, a golden, sandy beach, and pedestrianized shopping and dining streets.
With 47 miles (76 kilometers) of seafront and lakeside beaches, idyllic resort towns fringed with pine forests and marshlands, and Europe’s tallest sand dune, Arcachon Bay (Bassin d'Arcachon) is the retreat of choice for nature lovers heading to France’s Atlantic Coast.
Located on the Left Bank of the Garonne River, the Graves wine region is known for turning out some of Bordeaux’s finest red, white, and sweet wines. Confusingly, the Graves appellation is only one part of the greater Graves region, which also encompasses top appellations like Sauternes and Pessac-Léognan.
Bordeaux’s original port is known as the Port of the Moon because it sat on a semi-circular part of the Garonne River. Historically the left bank of the port has been the center of commerce and culture and though it saw some decline after the invention of the automobile, today it’s a fun, trendy place to soak in local culture.
Spread out over a steep, wooded hillside, the Réserve Zoologique de Calviac houses a number of species, many from tropical areas. The reserve is home to roughly 200 animals from 30 species, ranging from squirrel monkeys to fossas, and boasts many species that aren’t often found in zoos.
From gravity-defying waterslides to palm-lined swimming pools and a relaxing spa pool, Atlantic Park has everything you would expect from one of the region’s top water parks. Less than an hour from Biarritz, the park has something for all ages, from adults and thrill-seeking teens to babies and toddlers.
The largest water park on the southern coast of the Aquitaine, Aquatic Landes—located in Labenne, just a quick trip from Bayonne and Biarritz—offers thrills and refreshment for visitors of all ages. Home to pools, waterslides, play areas, and lawns perfect for sunbathing, this park is an ideal place to relax and beat the heat.
The largest and oldest cemetery in Bordeaux, Chartreuse Cemetery (Cimetiere de la Chartreuse) has graves dating back to the 18th century. With its mixture of grand tombs and simple graves, the cemetery offers a slice of Bordeaux history as well as quiet contemplation. You won't find as many notable graves in this cemetery as you would in larger cemeteries across France, but it's a peaceful place to stroll.
This family-owned vineyard in the heart of Bordeaux wine country has produced high-quality cru bourgeois wines since 1932. Boasting the same gravel-and-limestone clay soils as big-name neighbors Château Margaux and Château Rauzan-Ségla, the estate is known for blended red wines using cabernet, merlot, and petit verdot grapes.
Bourg—also known as Bourg-sur-Gironde—is considered one of the most scenic historic villages in southwestern France’s Gironde department. Poised on a rocky promontory overlooking the confluence of the Dordogne and Garonne rivers, the village was founded by the Romans in the 2nd century, and is also celebrated for its wine.
Frolic and unwind year-round at a vast indoor water park that includes numerous pools, spa and beauty areas, and a botanical garden. Les Antilles de Jonzac, located just a short distance north of Bordeaux, is the largest such facility of its kind in France, and boasts all kinds of aquatic and pampering options under one roof.
Between Place de la Bourse and Place des Quinconces, Quai Louis XVIII forms a picturesque stretch of Bordeaux’s riverfront quays. Flanked by elegant neoclassical facades and historic buildings to the west, and the Garonne river to the east, it’s one of the city’s most notable boulevards and a scenic spot to walk, cycle, or drive.
