Bordeaux, France is synonymous with amazing wine. But that’s far from the only incredible
aspect of this vibrant city. It has impressive architecture, loads of history, delectable food,
and so much more. It’s a place you can easily navigate, whether you’re walking around
the pedestrian-only parts of the city and its charming squares, or you’re heading to a castle
in the morning, and beach for the afternoon. In this video, we’re taking a look at the best
things to do there, from seeing the sights, to learning about the history of the area to… yes,
drinking wine! So join us, as Viewcation presents: Best Things to Do in Bordeaux, France.
Port Cailhau If you’ve seen a photograph
of Bordeaux, chances are it either depicted a gorgeous vineyard or the amazing Port Cailhau.
It was historically the main entrance to the city, and it still stands today, looking almost
exactly the same as it did in 1494. As such, it’s become one of the most Instagram-worthy
spots in the city, if not the country. The gate was originally erected to honor the victory of
King Charles VIII at Fornovo, Italy. There’s a statue of Charles along the outside the gate.
There are also statues of the Archbishop of Bordeaux as well as St. John there. But what’s
also great is that it’s not simply a photo-worthy spot. Once you go inside the gate there’s a museum
where you can spend some time learning about how the gate was constructed, as well as the history
of the many Renaissance and medieval buildings that line the town. So for any architecture
fans out there, you’ll immediately fall in love with the city from your first steps in!
Place de Quincones You might think that once you’ve seen a few city
squares, you’ve seen them all. This is definitely not the case when it comes to Place de Quincones.
That’s because it’s the largest city square in France. It comes in at a huge 31 acres. So, it’s
not some quaint little square. It’s a massive area where they hold festivals, concerts, and more.
There’s also a bi-yearly flea market that spans the entire square and is quite something to see
if you happen to be in Bordeaux as it’s happening. Place de Quincones was originally mapped out in
1820, after replacing a castle that was there. And while it is a festive and joyous place now, it was
certainly not that when it was conceived. It was a military defensive spot, though probably not the
kind you’re thinking of. It wasn’t to protect the city from attack from the outside. Rather,
it was where the town nobles tried to ensure there was no rebellious types causing trouble in town.
So their guns weren’t so much pointed out towards potential enemies but towards the city center.
But nowadays you don’t need to worry about being mistaken for a rebel and accidentally shot,
because it’s turned into a lovely area full of shops, restaurants and more. It’s also a hub for
transport in the city. If you’re in the square, be sure to check out the Girondins Monument,
which consists of a fountain with bronze statues of soldiers and
horses. It’s a tribute to the Girondists who were killed during the French Revolution.
Before we tell you more about the best things to do in Bordeaux, be sure to
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Bike it up around Bordeaux Some cities are too big or tough to
navigate by bike. But for any city where it makes sense, we highly recommend taking a bike tour.
It’s a perfect way to see a new city and take in its sights and its vibe. You move around quicker
than speeding by in a car or public transport, but you can cover far more ground than if you’re just
walking. And fortunately, Bordeaux is a city that’s ideally set up for a bike tour! As a matter
of fact, they’ve actually been ranked as the 4th best city to bike in the world, boasting 200
kilometers of bike paths paved around the city. We recommend the Bordeaux Highlight bike tour,
which will take you to a plethora of Bordeaux’s best and most gorgeous sites. You’ll see some
of ‘old’ Bordeaux, like the Grosse Cloche, the Bordeaux Tribunal, and one of the oldest belfries
in the country. You’ll also see the picturesque view from the Place de la Bourse. It’s a fantastic
way to spend an afternoon seeing the city, and you’ll burn some calories off and feel good
about eating even more rich French food! The tour is 29 Euros a person and lasts around 3 hours.
Ice Karting Here’s an activity you probably never
thought you’d do in Bordeaux, let alone anywhere. It’s called ice karting, and as you might expect,
it’s like being in go-karts, but on ice. From September to May, the Patinoire Mérideck ice
rink converts into an ice karting race track every Wednesday night. Usually, the rink is a normal one
for public skating, and it also serves as home ice for the local hockey team, the Bordeaux Boxers.
But not Wednesday nights! You and your travel companions will strap into your trusty ice kart,
and race around the track, trying not to make too many Mario Kart references along the way.
The karts have studded tires to give you some traction as you zip around the ice.
The races are 7 minutes at a time, giving you a chance to get your bearings a little,
then start zipping around the course. You’ll need to book your ice kart ride
at least 24 hours in advance, and it’ll set you back about 17 euros per person.
Tour a whisky distillery We told you there was more to Bordeaux than just
wine, didn’t we? And that includes the city’s one whisky distillery. Moon Harbour is the first
distillery to ever produce whisky strictly from Bordeaux. They age their spirit in giant barrels
that sit inside a U-boat bunker from World War II. Of course, since it was a bunker, it was extremely
fortified with walls of concrete 30 feet thick. But they have since cut out a doorway in the
bunker, so you can walk right in and check out the aging barrels. It’s a pretty cool sight, even if
you’re not a whisky enthusiast. And of course, if you do like whisky, it’s a true delight. After you
tour the distillery itself and the bunker/barrel room, you get to do a tasting of their delicious
whisky. They also produce gin, if that’s more to your taste. It’s a good idea to book tours
in advance because it’s a popular destination. For 10 euros, you get to tour and taste for an hour.
The World’s Largest Reflecting Pool The Miroir d’Eau was opened in 2006 in Bordeaux,
as a public art installation, and was actually inspired by a time that St. Mark’s square in
Venice was flooded. It sits now as the largest reflecting pool in the world. It’s across from
the Place de la Bourse, which is yet another famous spot in the city, and once featured a
statue of Napolean. The pool isn’t merely a site where you can take a photo and move on. It’s an
active swimming spot, and locals and tourists all often opt to jump in to cool off on hotter days.
It’s quite the romantic setting as well, and you’ll see scores of loving couples enjoying
the site. It’s especially loved by children, who can be seen splashing around it quite often.
The water actually goes through a programmed sequence every 16 minutes. It goes from fog for
three minutes, to a mirrored pool for 3 minutes, to a regular pool for 10 minutes. This unique
aspect helped make it a UNESCO World Heritage site. And of course, it’s also what makes it
so potentially crowded. So you might want to come early in the day if you want to avoid the crowds.
Visit Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion While Bordeaux is certainly known for
its wine, most of the vineyards are a little removed from the city itself. But fortunately,
there is one place you can visit that’s only a 30 minutes tram ride from the center of the city.
The Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion opened in 1855 and is a great place to visit, both for its
stunning views and its impressive wine tasting. The architecture of the chateau is wonderful, and
it also features a lovely garden where you can sip some excellent wines. And of course, you can buy
some bottles to bring back into town with you to enjoy over the course of the rest of your visit.
Before now, you might have only associated Bordeaux with wine. But as you can see,
the city is teeming with culture, sights, and things to do. It has a mix of old-world charm,
with history and buildings dating back to medieval times, with modern amenities and fun activities.
It’s an excellent choice for a stop on any French vacation! Now it’s time to hear from
you. Did we miss any of your favorite things to do in Bordeaux? Let us know in the comments
section below. And before you go, make sure to give this video a like, and subscribe to
Viewcation if you haven’t already. Click the bell icon to stay updated on all our latest content.