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Dr Charlotte Russell, Clinical Psychologist & Founder
In the South-West of France, Bordeaux is a port city at the estuary of two rivers; the Garonne and Dordogne. It is in a region surrounded by vineyards producing high quality wine. Given its easy access to the Atlantic Ocean, Bordeaux was once an important port, supplying wine across the world. Bordeaux is perfect if:
- You like wine!
- You are interested in culture and history
- You enjoy fine dining
- You want a small city that you can explore at your leisure
Before diving into my recommendations, just a quick note on alcohol and mental health given that this is a psychology blog. For most people, alcohol enjoyed responsibly and in line with health service guidelines is safe, and is often enjoyed with family and friends and as a way to celebrate. However, we know that drinking alcohol in excess and habitually can have a negative impact on our mood and level of anxiety. For more on this check out this helpful article about alcohol and mental health.
Things to do in Bordeaux
Without further ado, here are my favourite things to do in the city:
1. Visit the Cite du Vin
One of two wine museums in the city, Cite du Vin is the most modern and interactive. Information about the history of wine, wine production and the impact on culture is presented in engaging ways. The displays really keep your attention and it would be very easy to spend 2-3 hours here. My tip would be to eat before you go as there is no cafe on the floor of the permanent exhibition, so it is not possible to have a ‘pit stop’ during your visit as is the case in many museums.
Entry includes a glass of wine of your choice at the viewing point on the 8th floor. Here you can soak up the panoramic views of the city and enjoy the wine after all your learning.
2. Eat at Halles de Bacalan
Across from the Cite Du Vin you will find Halles de Bacalan a food market with a wide variety of cuisines, making it a perfect stop for lunch. As is the case in many food markets across Europe, the food is reasonably priced with smaller portions which can be shared. We tried a couple of local specialties here; fresh oysters and local canalé pastries.
3. Visit the Musee de Vin et du Negoce
The second wine museum is much smaller and older but definitely worth a visit. It is situated in an old cellar in the part of the city where many of the wine merchants once lived. It has some interesting historical artefacts and provides a more authentic experience, with more of a focus on the business and commerce aspects of the wine trade. Your ticket includes a short wine tasting at the end, which was fun.
4. Take a trip to the vineyards
No trip to Bordeaux would be complete without a visit to local chateaus and wineries. This provides yet more information about the making of wine but also the opportunity to see the beautiful and tranquil countryside and of course visit the chateaus.
We did this full day tour which included visits to three chateaus and a stop at Saint Emilion where we spent around two hours (see the next section). I would thoroughly recommend this trip just because transport and guidance were included which is important if you want to try the wine. It just so happened that myself and my husband were the only ones on the trip that day, which was lucky. However even if you are not alone they only take small groups which is nice as it allows more time to ask questions and feels less crowded.
5. Visit Saint Emilion
The village of Saint Emilion has been at the forefront of wine production for centuries. In 1884, Saint-Émilion’s winegrowers established France’s first Winegrowers’ Union, leading to the first cooperative in Bordeaux in 1931. It is around 45 minutes drive from the centre of Bordeaux, so within easy reach for a day trip.
Strolling around the village is a treat in itself. It is very quaint with beautiful buildings surrounding the church. As you might expect it is a busy tourist area with boutiques and wine shops aplenty. This doesn’t take away from the beauty of the village though.
Within the village there are wine caves you can visit free of charge. The caves themselves are carved into the limestone cliffs and are very impressive. We visited on a very hot July day and the cool temperatures of the cellars were very welcome.
6. Visit the Musee D’Aquitaine
Back to Bordeaux city for my next recommendation. I was unexpectedly surprised by how good Musée d’Aquitaine was! The permanent exhibition covers around 60,000 years of the local history…That’s a lot of history! In all seriousness it really was huge and very impressive. Particular highlights include the Roman era which was quite extensive and the more modern periods which include the cultural and commercial history of the local region.
During our visit there was a temporary exhibition covering ancient Egypt which was also very interesting.
7. Have a picnic in Le Jardín Public
Nothing is more French than a picnic including cheese, bread and of course wine. It requires a bit of pre-planning to ensure you have a blanket and a cool bag with you, but it’s totally worth it. When we visited in July there were lots of people doing the same and enjoying the tranquillity of the park.
The Jardin Public provides a beautiful setting and includes a lake and botanical garden to stroll around.
There are several supermarkets located in the centre of Bordeaux including an Aldi where you can get very reasonably priced food to enjoy.
8. Take in the spectacular Monument du Girondins
The Monument aux Girondins is a grandiose tribute to the Girondists, who were political figures during the French Revolution. Erected between 1894 and 1902, it’s impressive column stands at 54 metres high.
It is located near the Place des Quinconces metro stop in the centre of the city.
The monument itself is huge and very impressive. In my opinion it could actually rival the Trevi fountain in Rome in terms of grandeur, although there were nowhere near as many tourists. As it was so quiet, it was possible to take lovely photos and to spend some time admiring the monument.
9. Enjoy a meal out
There were so many amazing places to eat out in Bordeaux. Here are a few of my favourites:
KARL was my first choice for breakfast. Situated on parliament square it was a great place to watch the world go by. Their signature breakfast (shown in the picture below) is very good value and will keep you going until dinner time.
Restaurant Mélodie served French cuisine with a modern twist. This place is very busy and for good reason, and so it is necessary to book in advance. Their set menu was superb and great value.
Loulou is a more high-end French restaurant. This is a pretty place to eat with outside seating next to a church. Their food is also spectacular although a little on the pricey side.
Le Chien de Pavlov As a psychologist, I couldn’t not try the food here! It is a unique place with interesting decor. The local food was great.
Last but not least
If you are feeling hedonistic – try one of the local canalé pastries at Baillardran with many outlets across the city. These are small pastries flavoured with rum and vanilla. They have a soft custard-like centre and a thick caramelised crust.
If you want a sense of accomplishment – buy some stylish clothing at one of Bordeaux’s fantastic shopping streets.
Reasons to be optimistic – the French people are very proud of their language and culture and have legislation in place to ensure these persist despite increasing globalisation across the world. It is lovely to understand this and appreciate their values and traditions.
Please note that our destination guides provide personal recommendations and not professional advice.
