Classic Bordeaux: A Walking Tour Through France’s Most Elegant City

(78 reviews)

Bordeaux audio tour: Classic Bordeaux: A Walking Tour Through France’s Most Elegant City

This is a 1.3mi walking tour

It takes an average of 90 mins to complete.

Bordeaux

France

$11.99

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About the Tour

Once dubbed ‘the Sleeping Beauty,’ Bordeaux has undergone a remarkable transformation into a vibrant, modern metropolis while preserving its classical charm. Best known for its wine and grand architecture, it’s an elegant city that’s rich in history.

On this walking tour, you’ll journey through the different epochs that shaped Bordeaux into the stunning city it is today.

The tour begins at the riverfront, where you can admire its ribbon of uniform neoclassical houses, before moving to Place de la Bourse (Stock Exchange Square), a symbol of Bordeaux’s prosperity and grandeur. From there, you’ll head into the historic Saint-Pierre district, the heart of medieval Bordeaux.

I’ll tell you about Bordeaux’s transformation in the 1700s, starting with the iconic Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, a masterpiece that epitomizes the city’s golden age. In the Triangle d’Or district, you’ll see its renowned elegant neoclassical architecture and luxury boutiques. The tour ends near Porte Dijeaux, an ancient city gate that historically marked the entrance to Bordeaux, which was replaced with monumental stone entrances as part of the plan to modernize the city.

Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:

Learn about Bordeaux’s significance as a major port city
Splash in the Miroir d’Eau, Bordeaux’s stunning mirror-like reflective pool
Hear tales of the influential figures who shaped Bordeaux’s history and architecture
Taste traditional canelés pastries in La Toque Cuivrée, one of the best places to sample this famous Bordeaux treat
Understand the impact of the city’s wine industry on its culture and economy, and visit Bordeaux’s “wine library”
Visit the city’s oldest chocolate shop, Cadiot-Badie Bordeaux
Hear recommendations for the best food stores along Rue des Remparts, conveniently located near our endpoint

By the end of this journey through Bordeaux’s rich history and architectural splendor, you’ll have a profound appreciation for this elegant city.

Equipped with insights into its medieval origins, its renaissance, and its modern vibrancy, you’ll be ready to further explore Bordeaux’s charming alleys, indulge in its culinary delights, and immerse yourself in its cultural treasures at your own pace.

Please note that entry fees to attractions are not included in the tour price.

Tour Producer

Ira Szmuk

3 tours

Bonjour, I’m Ira, the founder and writer of the Lost in Bordeaux blog, the leading English-language website for traveling in the Southwest of France. After living in Paris for many years, I moved to Bordeaux with my family in 2017 and unexpectedly fell in love with the city. I created this blog to share Bordeaux and its surroundings, introducing people to the region’s hidden gems, delicious food, exquisite wine, and fascinating history and culture. Let’s start our walk so you too can fall in love with Bordeaux!

Preview Location

Location 7

Mascarons - the faces of Bordeaux

Look up, do you see the faces looking at you from the ground floor arches? These are the mascarons! They are among the square’s most emblematic features.

The name mascaron comes from Maschera, an Italian word for a mask. In Italy, a maschera referred to a grotesque figure,... Look up, do you see the faces looking at you from the ground floor arches? These are the mascarons! They are among the square’s most emblematic features.

The name mascaron comes from Maschera, an Italian word for a mask. In Italy, a maschera referred to a grotesque figure, a sculpture that is supposed to ridicule the face and give the artist plenty of room for their imagination to run wild.

However, the theorists of French classicism in the 17th century preferred a more refined version. In France, they would often portray gods from Greek mythology or animals, as we often see in Bordeaux.

Financial constraints prompted the initial use of mascarons to embellish the new buildings in the 18th century. They were very affordable in comparison to other types of ornamentation used at the time. The use of Mascarons in architecture was however considerably limited after the French Revolution and reappeared again during the extensive construction of the city in the middle of the 19th century.

Today, the mascarons are regarded as one of the symbols of Bordeaux’s architecture. There are in fact more than 3,000 mascarons decorating the buildings and fountains of the city. But who are all those faces? Who are they supposed to represent?

The truth is that, for the most part, we don’t know. Many of the masks were chosen by wealthy property owners and could represent family members or simply be trademarks of the designers of the mascaron themselves. Others, however, embodied various gods from Greek mythology, symbolizing important aspects of Bordeaux.

In several places in Bordeaux, for example, we can find Neptune the god of the sea symbolizing the importance of sea trade to Bordeaux, or Bacchus the god of wine, who’s easily recognizable by the grapes next to his head.

Now continue walking slowly alongside the building on your left, so you can admire the impressive mascarons on every arch on this square. I’ll meet you at the next corner, on rue Fernand Philippart, between the building of Hôtel des Douanes and the Gabriel restaurant. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Miroir d'eau
Place de la Bourse
Musée National des Douanes
Place du Parlement
Église Saint-Rémi
Galerie Bordelaise
Place de la Comédie
National Opera of Bordeaux
L'Intendant Grands Vins de Bordeaux
Church of Our Lady of Bordeaux
Cour Mably - Salle Capitulaire
La Galerie des Grands Hommes
CINÉMA CGR Bordeaux Le Français
The Alchemist Coffee Shop
Porte Dijeaux

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Getting There

Route Overview

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Start location
44.8421478, -0.56885028
Total distance

2km
Final location
90 Rue de la Prte Dijeaux, 33000 Bordeaux, France
Distance back to start location

865.91m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour starts next to the Miroir d'eau, Bordeaux's reflecting pool, located on the riverfront of Bordeaux. Be sure to be standing just next to the railing barrier of the riverfront

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

The tour will take you to the water mirror, Place de la Bourse, Place du Parlement, The Sainte Catherine shopping street, The Opera of Bordeaux, the Triangle d’Or district, The Notre Dame church, and le Porte Dijeaux.

If you want to start the tour with a glass of wine and a stunning view, stop by the Terrace of Gabriel at Place de la Bourse. If you're in the mood for a not-too-sophisticated sit-down meal, I recommend Bistro Chez Lolotte (2 Rue Louis Combes) or La Villa Tourney ( 20 All. de Tourny). For a more gourmet lunch, head to Amicis at 19 Rue Mably (it’s best to book a table online). This restaurant is pretty close to where our tour ends.

Best time of day

You can do the tour any time of the day. I recommend quite a few shops on the way that are usually open between 10 am to 7 pm but you can always go back there later. Personally, I think that it's best to do the tour in the first half of the day when it's less hot and crowded.

Precautions

Be sure to bring an extra battery pack so you don’t run out of juice during the tour! Also, it can get very hot in Bordeaux during the summer, so make sure to have a bottle of water and sunscreen with you.

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“Great app. walk around at your own pace, stop where you want, move on or speed up when you want. Read the script before you go or during the commentary, speed it up or replay it. Repeat the tour whenever you like.”