Perhaps the best way to immerse oneself in its sophistication, is to start with a tour of the panoramic views. Then explore the central districts from the Quartier des Chartrons to the Esplanade des Quinquonces. Walk down the alleyways of Tourny, visit the church of Notre-Dame and the Cloister of the Dominican convent.

Appreciate the architectural and urban qualities of the 18th century city (the Place Royale - now Place de la Bourse), Grand Theatre, Allées de Tourny. All the quarters of the city are witnesses to its history: St Pierre situated on the very spot of the Gallo-Roman port of Burdigala, St Michel and its Gothic spire, Saint-Eloi with its picturesque cobbled streets, the City Hall quarter with its Cathedral and the Palais Rohan.

In addition to the wine, the river and the arts, Bordeaux also possesses numerous museums and cultural sites in which the pleasures of the eye combine with those of the spirit: Musée d'Aquitaine, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Decorative Arts, Museum of Modern Art and the Musée des Chartrons (wine).

The city also offers numerous parks, a gentle climate, gastronomic pleasures and great nightlife. In close proximity, are the beautiful seaside is (Bassin d'Arcachon) and the forests of the Landes and the Pyrenees.

Our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture and customs. Below are some of our recommended highlights. Some tours and packages can be organized when booking your program, please see the program price page for more information.

city tour
Perhaps the best way to immerse oneself in its sophistication is to start with a tour of the panoramic views. Then explore the central districts from the Quartier des Chartrons to the Esplanade des Quinquonces. Go down the alleyways of Tourny, and turn off towards the Quartier des Grands Hommes. Admire the church of Notre-Dame and the Cloister of the Dominican convent. Through Passage Sarget, enter the ancient courtyard of Fossès de l'Intendance, the triumphal route of princes, kings and heads of state and head towards Place de la Comèdie. Admire the Grand Thèâtre and enjoy a quiet walk to the river via the Cours du Chapeau Rouge, the residential quarter of the city in the XVII and XVIII centuries. Down rue des Piliers-de-Tutelle join the romantic covered passage of Galeries Bordelaises. There is so many places to see in this beautiful city.

old salt fish merchant district
The quartier de la Rousselle, and visit the family house of Montaigne who was twice Mayor of Bordeaux. The quartier Saint-Eloi where the Grosse Cloche, the symbol of the city, stands against Saint-Eloi church. Cross Cours Victor Hugo towards the quartier du Mirail, filled with privately owned mansions and continue to Place Camille-Pelletan and quartier Saint-Michel. See the Saint-André cathedral and the Palais Rohan, the former archbishop's palace and now the City Hall.

quarter of saint-michel
The quarter of Saint-Michel, built around the flamboyant gothic style Basilica, dedicated to the Archangel is by far the most lively and colourful quarter in the city. There is a market under the beautiful spire every Monday and Saturday morning, and the shops around the square make for a lively and authentic atmosphere that the Bordelais poets such as Meste Verdié and Ulysse Despaux have always appreciated.

river cruise
Cruises go upstream or downriver every day: departure at 9:30 am, return at 6 pm. There is a restaurant on board which offers a various choice of menus. Shorter cruises are 3 hours long. Watch the flat-bottomed river boats loaded with wood from Quercy, Rouergue and Gascogne moored beneath Saint-Michel, unloading the wood that was sent to the carpenters' workshops in rue Carpenteyre, and the coopers in rue de la Fusterie.

region vineyards
Some of Bordeaux's main attractions are the vineyards that surround the city. Take a tour of the varied landscapes of the Médoc, Sauternes, the Côtes, Entre-Deux-Mers, St-Èmilion, Pomerol and discover the grand châteaux of Bordeaux in Visiting the Vineyards.

museum
Don't forget the love match between Bordeaux and art and visit its 15 museums - Museum of Aquitaine, Fine Arts Museum, Decorative Arts Museum, the Customs Museum and the Chartrons Museum which houses an astonishing collection of wine in its cellars, and Maison des Métiers de l'imprimerie (the Printing Trade museum). To complete your tour, go to the Modern Art museum which displays some monumental works beneath the golden vaults of the old Entrepôts Lainé. Musée des Arts Décoratifs, is a small museum housed in the historic Lalande mansion with collections of decorative art from the 18th and 19th century with period rooms showing the opulence of the Bordeaux lifestyle. This museum houses collections of furniture, ceramics, glassware, silver plate, and ironwork.

excursions
Less than one hour away lies the Atlantic Ocean and its endless beaches of white sand (dominated by the Pyla Dune, the highest in Europe, which marks the entrance to the Bassin d'Arcachon). These give way to the immensity of the Landes forest, the largest forest in Europe and a haven of peace that offers endless opportunities for walkers and hikers.

If you are interested in history, it's well worth making a detour through the Périgord. The region is outstanding for its prehistoric sites (like the Grottes de Lascaux) and its many mediaeval villages and castles. Allow yourself to be tempted by a tasting session - cognac in Charente or Armagnac in d'Artagnan Country. By following this route, you come naturally to the gateway to Spain, where you will hesitate between the particular charm of the Basque Country and the attractions of Béarn, stronghold of Henri IV, and the unspoiled open spaces of the Pyrenees.