Special report - Bordeaux: a high-speed renaissance

Bleisure in Bordeaux

From the Cité du Vin to the Arcachon Basin, our bleisure tips for relaxing, shopping and discovering Bordeaux.
By Florian Guillemin -
The Cité du Vin, like a decanter.
The Cité du Vin, like a decanter.

Report and photos by Florian Guillemin.

If you have an hour...

The most energetic business travellers will be able to discover the city at a leisurely pace, for the time of a jogging on the banks of the GaronneThe loop between the Pont de Pierre and the Chaban Delmas bridge is a pleasant 7km. Sports enthusiasts can even do a few lengths in the Judaïque swimming poolwhose Art Deco building has been wisely renovated. For the rest of you, the pianissimo version will involve strolling along the renovated quays, then dipping your feet in the water. the water mirror admiring the place de la Bourse. And you'll be drawn irresistibly into old Bordeaux, wandering along the path between the XVIIIth and the XVIIIth centuries.e and XXIe centuries.

  • The Place de la Bourse, a masterpiece of the 18th century.
  • The water mirror, opposite the famous stone bridge.
  • Quays redeveloped and made accessible to the public.

... or an afternoon

For an afternoon, if the sun is shining, it's tempting to join in the fun. the Arcachon basinto contemplate the Dune du Pilatthen push on to the Cap FerretIn short, to take to the open seas. But there are other options for strolling around the city centre, such as these Ateliers de Bacchus that promise a "Bordeaux Wine Tour through the city, punctuated by wine tasting "stops" under the expert guidance of a wine expert. For a more in-depth look at the subject, a visit to the Cité du Vin is a must, both for its architectural success and for its fun workshops. It's all about the bottle and getting drunk. The tour ends with a tasting glass on the top floor, with a panoramic view of the city and its river. Last option: a tasting in situ, in all the châteaux that have made the region's reputation.

  • The Pilat Dune, at the entrance to the Arcachon Basin.
  • A worldwide reputation based on the vine.

Shopping

The Promenade Sainte-Catherine.
The Promenade Sainte-Catherine.

The metamorphosis of Bordeaux has not forgotten the sacrosanct shopping: in October 2015, Alain Juppé cut the ribbon on the Promenade Sainte-Catherinea new shopping area featuring around forty brands. For their part, the most luxurious brands remain concentrated on the outskirts of Place de la Comédie and on Rue Sainte-Catherine, decidedly the patron saint of shopping. Despite its size, which makes it one of the longest shopping streets in Europe, the density of onlookers still reaches a critical threshold... For culture, head for the Mollat bookshopat 15 rue Vital Carles, a Bordeaux institution for 121 years.

 

 

Special report - Bordeaux: a high-speed renaissance

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