Stroll through Bordeaux

Today, on a trip to Bordeaux, I'm taking you in my backpack to visit the must-see places in the Gironde capital in order to show you the important stops , on foot or by tram.

How to get to Bordeaux?

Several possibilities:

• By train arriving at Saint-Jean station ;
• By bus which stops not far from the station.
• For my part, I come to Bordeaux by car . It is possible to park in the city center thanks to the underground parking lots. Personally, I prefer to park in the "outskirts", towards Talence, and take the tram to the city center. You just need to buy a ticket at the terminals located at the various stops if you do not have an annual subscription or on the mobile application.

Leaving Talence, from the Roustaing stop, I arrive in ten minutes at the town hall stop (tram B). This is where my journey begins. Between these two stations, I passed the Place de la Victoire and the Musée d'Aquitaine.

The Bordeaux City Hall district

So I get off at the "Hôtel de ville" stop where I find myself in front of the imposing and impressive Saint-André Cathedral and its flamboyant Gothic style. This cathedral, dating from the 14th and 16th centuries, is one of the major monuments of Bordeaux. It is sublime, with its sculpted capitals and tympanums, its organ, its stained-glass windows, its ambulatory and its chapels with careful and refined decoration. It is a magnificent cathedral where you absolutely must stop! Free guided tours are offered by members of an association!

Outside, the large square where passers-by come and go as they please, tourists wander and look everywhere under the watchful eye of Jacques Chaban-Delmas whose statue watches us! The Town Hall has this typical Bordeaux architecture, inspired by the times of Antiquity with its peristyle, its columns as well as its allegorical statues. Bordeaux is a very beautiful city, its monuments are an excellent example!

I also discovered, near the cathedral, the Pey-Berland tower. This is the cathedral's bell tower, separated from the latter to avoid the vibrations of the bells. Tours are organized every day, the times vary depending on the period.

Heading to the heart of Bordeaux

Sainte-Catherine Street

I continue my journey through the city of Bordeaux by going to the famous and renowned rue Sainte-Catherine. You can get there by tram, by taking line B and stopping at the "Grand Théâtre" station. But from the cathedral, you just need to take Rue du Loup located behind the bell tower and the tram station. In 5 minutes, you are in the heart of the pedestrian street. This avoids wasting a trip on public transport!

I walk up the longest pedestrian street in Europe towards the Grand Théâtre. I see lots of little side streets leading to various places in Bordeaux like the Promenade Sainte-Catherine. One of the streets that I consider important is Rue Saint-Rémi. You already have the galleries that look like old train stations from the 1900s with some very nice brasseries ! In the street, other very good restaurants popular with many Bordeaux residents! It's a bit like the street of delights that will tickle all taste buds!!

Place de la comédie

I finally arrive at the Place de la Comédie. I discover the Grand Théâtre with its peristyle, its nine muses and its representations of the goddesses Juno, Minerva and Venus. It is a very beautiful place, full of history and with architecture as astonishing as splendid. Opposite, the famous Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux which has welcomed illustrious figures! The Place de la Comédie is a bit like the chic district of Bordeaux. There is the carousel on the Place Tourny, beautiful clocks, gilding etc… There are also very good restaurants like Philippe Etchebest's "Le Quatrième Mur" as well as Gordon Ramsay's "Le Pressoir d'Argent". On this square, you also have a model of the monuments of Bordeaux. It allows you to crisscross the city as if you were seeing it from above.

The Place des Quinconces

Still on foot, I head towards the Place des Quinconces, also accessible by tram where you can change for line C. On the Place des Quinconces, there is the famous Monument des Girondins with its two tanks representing the Republic and Concorde. There is nothing to say, it is superb! I spent a moment looking at all the details and sculptures of this fountain. Climb the steps and admire the Bordeaux boulevards from behind the sculptures. This square is also a place of festivities with circuses, funfairs and the Ferris wheel which offers a 360° view of the Gironde capital.

From the Quinconces, you can:

• Go to the quays and reach the Place de la Bourse and its famous water mirror.
• Head towards the hangars with several brand name shops and restaurants. It is also from the quays that you can take the boat that takes you to the other side of the river, to Stalingrad.

Place de la Bourse and the water mirror of Bordeaux

I finally arrive at the Place de la Bourse and its water mirror. Everyone puts down their shoes and goes to cool off. Young and old alike have fun and laugh while seeing their reflections in the water (except in winter when the mirrors are turned off). In summer, the water mirror operates between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., with a 5-minute break between the water and the 5 minutes of misting. At nightfall , you can see the reflection of the lights of the Place de la Bourse... A unique spectacle not to be missed every evening!

From there, I can reach Sainte-Catherine Street ! I made a beautiful loop, on foot, of the must-see places of Bordeaux in the historic heart. Bordeaux is a very large city, there are many things to do and see. It is possible to take bicycles, buses and the different tram lines to reach several gardens and parks.

The route outlined in this article is ideal for discovering Bordeaux's exceptional heritage while avoiding public transport. Important stops include the Town Hall, the Grand Théâtre, the Quinconces (line B), and the Place de la Bourse (line C).

Bordeaux is a pleasant, dynamic and attractive city, with an inimitable historical and architectural heritage. It is a pleasure to stroll through the streets and discover the beautiful surprises that the city offers us!

Enjoy your trip to Bordeaux!