Bordeaux attractions

Standing more than 360 feet (110 meters) above sea level in Bordeaux, France, Pyla Dune (Dune du Pilat) is the tallest sand dune in Europe. In the summer months, a staircase is constructed to allow visitors to climb the dune—an activity that draws over one million visitors every year.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Now a household name, selling more than 150,000 bottles around the world, Château Plaisance started life as a small, family-run business in the late 19th century. Winner of numerous awards, the château recently transitioned to fully organic wine production and produces 10 varieties of wines (five reds, four rosés, and a white).

The city of Bordeaux is 60 miles (97 kilometers) inland from the Bay of Biscay and is the gateway to France’s most famous wine region. Smaller ships can travel up the Garonne River and dock in the city center at the Port de la Lune, but larger ships must dock in Verdon at the Gironde estuary, about two hours' drive from the city.