Nicknamed “La Belle Endormie”, or “The Sleeping Beauty”, Bordeaux is awakening as one of France’s most vibrant and cultured cities. Situated in the heart of prestigious wine country near the Atlantic coast, the capital of Nouvelle-Aquitaine delights visitors with exceptional food and wine, fascinating history, and cutting-edge urban revitalization.
| Section | Highlights & Features |
|---|---|
| Wander Vibrant Urban Districts | – Bordeaux Euratlantique: Redevelopment with parks, Zenith concert arena, luxury hotels, and avant-garde architecture. |
| – Chartrons District: Vintage shops, fusion restaurants, MECA contemporary arts center. | |
| – Bastide Neighborhood: 18th-century buildings, markets, riverside enhancements, floating eateries. | |
| Marvel at Architectural Landmarks | – La Cité du Vin: Wine museum with new expansion and amphitheater. |
| – Pont Simone Veil: Glass-railing bridge with night lighting. | |
| – Hôtel de Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine: Triangular glass tower with green features. | |
| Indulge at Food & Wine Events | – Vinexpo Wine & Spirits Fair: Major wine industry expo. |
| – Oysters en Fête: Festival celebrating oysters with tastings and events. | |
| – La Semaine du Goût: Culinary expo with tastings and workshops. | |
| Attend New Festivals & Events | – Festival International des Arts de Bordeaux: Performing arts festival. |
| – FUTUR.E.S Música Festival: Digital music festival with lightshows and experimental sounds. | |
| Discover Nature & Sustainability | – Cycling Routes & Rentals: Bike tours and improved cycling infrastructure. |
| – Battery-Powered River Shuttle: Pollution-free boat transportation. | |
| – Jardin de L’Ars: Botanical garden on former industrial land. | |
| Venture Beyond Bordeaux | – Dune du Pilat: Europe’s tallest sand dune with new viewing platforms. |
| – Saint-Émilion: Historic wine town with new sustainable wineries. | |
| Conclusion | Bordeaux combines classic and innovative elements, offering diverse cultural and gastronomic experiences in 2024. |
2024 promises an exceptional year to discover Bordeaux’s dynamic offerings. As the city gears up to celebrate the completion of its 20-year renewal project, new infrastructure, cultural venues, transportation options and expanded green spaces will make Bordeaux even more exciting to explore. From world-famous vineyards to striking modern architecture, Bordeaux elegantly balances old and new – which 2024 will highlight through special events, reopened landmarks and sustainable tourism initiatives.
Wander Vibrant Urban Districts
While Bordeaux boasts Western Europe’s largest historical center, much cultural action concentrates beyond this 340-hectare UNESCO site. In 2024, some of Bordeaux’s most enthralling neighborhoods will become even easier to navigate as walkable urban oases.
Bordeaux Euratlantique
Name and Location: Bordeaux Euratlantique, France
History and Significance: Bordeaux Euratlantique is a major redevelopment project transforming previously industrial areas north of Bordeaux’s center into sustainable mixed-use districts. Started in 2010, the project aims to revitalize and extend the city center while promoting environmental initiatives.
What to Expect: Ultra-modern architecture housing offices, apartments, parks, bars and shops in pedestrian-friendly settings. Highlights include the new riverside Hangar G2 convention center and alkaline-powered RiverBus shuttle. Guided tours explain the ambitious sustainability goals.
Visitor Information: Located 15 minutes walking north of Place de la Bourse. Access via tram lines A and B. Guided visits must be booked in advance on the website. District is still under construction in phases.
This vast redevelopment effort transforms derelict industrial zones near the train station into sleek mixed-use areas interlaced with parks and public transit. The client-commissioned Zenith concert arena opens here in early 2024 hosting A-list musical acts. Neighboring luxury hotel and office towers promise high-end amenities and avant-garde architecture, including angular glass buildings seeming to defy gravity. Easy pedestrian bridges crossing rail lines make Euratlantique’s offerings more accessible to visitors and locals.
Chartrons District
Name and Location: Chartrons District, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: Located north of Bordeaux’s historic core, Chartrons was once home to wine merchants and warehouses along the river. Today it retains old world charm while integrating modern shops, bars and culture. The district provides great access to Bordeaux’s attractions.
What to Expect: Hip cafes, antiquarian bookshops, vintage boutiques and small museums fill charming pedestrian streets. Key sites include the Fine Arts Museum, Church of Saint-Louis and Maison du Vin de Bordeaux featuring wines. The area has a relaxed, local vibe.
Visitor Information: Chartrons sits between the Grand Theatre and Cité du Vin. Best explored on foot. For wine, stop by L’Univerre or La Wine Compagnie boutiques. Tram B also services the district.
One of Bordeaux’s hippest enclaves, Chartrons was once filled with wine merchants and Irish expats working in the trade. Today vintage shops and fusion restaurants fill old storehouses, although a few remaining wine sellers represent Chartrons’ past. In 2024, Chartrons becomes even trendier thanks to the opening of the MECA contemporary arts center along the Garonne River. The airy complex will host multimedia exhibits plus live music at an adjacent bar/restaurant with sleek waterfront terraces.
Bastide Neighborhood
Name and Location: Bastide Neighborhood, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: The Bastide area in Bordeaux lies on the Right Bank of the Garonne River, connected to the city center by the Pont de Pierre bridge. Marked by medieval streets and facades, the lively neighborhood has a local, village-like atmosphere.
What to Expect: Charming squares, shops, cafes and restaurants line the historic streets. Key sites include Place Stalingrad, St. Michel Basilica and market hall Les Halles Bacalan. Visit on weekends when the district really comes alive.
Visitor Information: Access via Tram Line C to Stalingrad. The area can also be walked to via the bridge from the Left Bank. Visit Les Halles for gourmet shops and food.
Across the Garonne lies working-class Bastide, characterized by 18th century buildings and lively markets. Continued riverside enhancements in 2024 will make waterside walks, bike paths and summertime beaches more appealing in Bastide. Keep an eye out for barges converted into floating restaurants, cafés and bars, which will multiply in 2024 thanks to a public initiative supporting local entrepreneurs.
Marvel at Architectural Landmarks
While known for stately 18th century facades, Bordeaux continually embraces visionary architecture and infrastructure. New buildings slated for completion in 2024 will further enhance the cityscape with daring designs using innovative materials and shapes.
La Cité du Vin
Name and Location: La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: Opened in 2016, the City of Wine is an interactive museum dedicated to wine culture and history housed in a striking contemporary building. Exhibits and experiences aim to educate visitors on wine’s role in civilization using innovative techniques.
What to Expect: Self-guided audio tours, films, and sensory exhibits across multiple floors explore wine’s history, culture, production and tasting. An 8-minute simulated flying experience over vineyards caps off the visit.
Visitor Information: Located on the Left Bank waterfront north of the center. Ticket includes wine tasting. Open daily, advance booking required – tickets sell out. €20 admission, discounts available. Allow 2-3 hours to experience the entire museum.
Resembling interlocking wine glasses, this stunning piece of contemporary architecture opened along the Garonne in 2016 as a museum exploring wine culture and history. New for 2024, La Cité du Vin will unveil an expansion including an open-air amphitheater situated within surrounding gardens for summertime performing arts plus expanded galleries highlighting little-known French wine regions.
Pont Simone Veil
Name and Location: Pont Simone Veil, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: The Simone Veil Bridge is an elegant stress-ribbon pedestrian bridge over the Garonne River connecting Bordeaux’s Left and Right Banks. Completed in 2022, the 710-foot cable-stayed span provides sweeping views while linking key destinations.
What to Expect: The bridge’s glass and steel sides allow for unobstructed vistas while crossing the river by foot or bike. Best appreciated while strolling at sunset or all lit up at night. Nearby markers describe the design and significance. Makes an atmospheric connection between areas.
Visitor Information: Located between Esplanade des Quinconces and Place Stalingrad. Access is open 24/7 for free pedestrian and bicycle use. Wheelchair accessible. Combines perfectly with visits to landmarks on both banks of the river.
Honoring the late Holocaust survivor and French Minister, Bordeaux’s newest bridge across the Garonne celebrates its namesake’s life through design details. The diamond-shaped, cable-stayed bridge opens in late 2024 as the world’s first featuring glass railings. At night, colorful lights will bathe the bridge, reflecting in the dark waters of the Garonne for dramatic photos.
Hôtel de Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Name and Location: Hôtel de Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: Completed in 2022, this government building houses the Regional Council of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in an avant-garde elliptical tower rising 18 floors above Bordeaux. The award-winning architecture integrates sustainable features like geothermal energy and advanced solar gain.
What to Expect: From the exterior, the elliptical glass tower appears to defy gravity above the 1950s-era base. An inclined roofline topped with a reflective ring mirrors the sky. Inside, the public can take guided tours to experience the innovative building.
Visitor Information: Located at 14 Rue du Temple in central Bordeaux. Tours in English and French available reservations required via website. €10 admission, one hour tours at 2pm each Saturday. Accessible by tram lines A and B.
Slated to open in mid-2024 as seat of the regional government, this gleaming triangular glass tower will dominate Bordeaux’s skyline with its striking design. The LEED-certified structure generates half its own energy needs through integrated solar power and renewable power sources. Inside, a three-story public galleria lined with plants and boutiques connects city districts that were previously severed by rail lines and highways. The galleria’s green “living wall” purifies air in what was once a polluted zone.
Indulge at Food & Wine Events
Epicurean travelers have long flocked to Bordeaux, whose vineyards reputedly produce the world’s finest wines. pairing perfectly with regional specialties like foie gras, oysters and beef. Bordeaux celebrates its gastronomic heritage through numerous 2024 happenings, from chef symposiums to wine industry trade shows.
Vinexpo Wine & Spirits Fair
Name and Location: Vinexpo Wine & Spirits Fair, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: Vinexpo is a major biannual trade fair for the wine and spirits industry held in Bordeaux each odd-numbered year. Since 1981, it has provided an international platform for producers and buyers to exhibit products, network and discover innovations in winemaking.
What to Expect: Massive exhibition hall featuring thousands of wines and spirits from around the world. Conferences cover industry issues and trends. Special tasting areas, dinners and networking events for attendees. A lively atmosphere pervades the city.
Visitor Information: Next edition June 18-21, 2023. Located at the Bordeaux Exhibition Center. Primarily trade/press only but open to the public on final day. Registration required for non-trade attendance.
The wine world’s most important industry expo happens biannually in Bordeaux, attracting 60,000 winemakers, merchants, sommeliers, journalists and enophiles over four days each June. Vinexpo celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024, with special pavilions showcasing Organic French Wines and Wine Tourism. Expect plenty of tastings, exclusive dinners in chateaux, and networking amid jazz concerts and fireworks.
Oysters en Fête
Name and Location: Oysters en Fête, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: Oysters en Fête is Bordeaux’s annual oyster festival held each April celebrating the prized oysters and seafood of the Arcachon Bay region southwest of the city. For three days, attendees can sample oysters prepared in diverse ways while enjoying entertainment.
What to Expect: Fresh oysters by the dozen raw on the half shell, grilled, breaded and more from producers around the bay and beyond. Live music and dance, contests, cooking demos and children’s activities promote a fun atmosphere.
Visitor Information: Takes place at Place Stalingrad. Next edition April 5-7, 2024. No admission fee, purchase directly from vendors. Oysters sold by quantity – expect €7-12 per dozen.
As Europe’s oyster capital providing 60% of France’s production, Bordeaux celebrates these briny delicacies each April with 10 days of special events. The giant Oysters en Fête village erected along the Garonne River quay delivers oyster tastings, cooking demos, parades and concerts celebrating the oyster harvest. Added eco-conscious programming in 2024 promotes sustainability in aquaculture and preserving marine ecosystems.
La Semaine du Goût
Name and Location: La Semaine du Goût, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: La Semaine du Goût or National Taste Week is a yearly French event celebrating gastronomy through special meals, classes and tastings. Throughout the week, Bordeaux restaurants, hotels, markets and wine shops host unique events and discounts to highlight France’s culinary traditions.
What to Expect: Special tasting menus at hotels and restaurants, wine and food pairings, cooking classes, visits to markets and tradespeople to learn artisanal techniques.
For one week each October, La Semaine du Goût expo at Bordeaux Parc des Expositions celebrates France’s culinary heritage through shows, workshops and tastings. Hundreds of artisanal producers and famous chefs promote quality French cuisine to 200,000 attendees, who can learn wine pairings, watch baking contests and graze unlimited food stalls. Special 2024 themes highlight Bordeaux regional specialties and Franco-Asian fusion trends.
Attend New Festivals & Events
Beyond its famous wine and food affairs, Bordeaux keeps calendars full with music, theatre, dance and cultural festivals. Several new events launching in 2024 promise exceptional opportunities to experience Bordeaux’s vibrant scene.
Festival International des Arts de Bordeaux
Name and Location: Festival International des Arts de Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: Founded in 2013, the International Arts Festival is a multidisciplinary celebration of music, theater, dance and visual arts held annually in Bordeaux. The festival aims to make culture accessible with many free performances and events staged citywide over 2 weeks each summer.
What to Expect: 150+ classical, modern, street art, and improv performances. Events held in public squares, museums, churches and outdoor stages often incorporate iconic Bordeaux scenery. Look for special light shows illuminating landmarks at night.
Visitor Information: 2024 festival dates are June 15-30. Events are free or €5-25. Schedule and tickets on the official website. Metro, walking and bike share available for transportation between venues.
This May performing arts festival inaugurates in 2024 showcasing theatre, dance, music, circus arts and street spectacles over two weeks around Bordeaux. Using both traditional theatre venues and temporary outdoor stages, hundreds of international performers will captivate audiences, who can vote on show awards. Expect dazzling spectacles like aerial acrobatic troupe performances above city plazas, large-scale historic reenactments on the river, and parade floats morphing into impromptu concert stages.
FUTUR.E.S Música Festival
Name and Location: FUTUR.E.S Música Festival, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: FUTUR.E.S is Bordeaux’s cutting-edge electronic and experimental music festival showcasing new talents and artistic innovations. Launched in 2022, the festival uses unique venues like La Cité du Vin to create immersive environments pairing music, light and visuals.
What to Expect: Progressive house, techno, ambient and synthwave DJs and artists creating hypnotic atmospheres using surround sound and futuristic projected visuals. An avant-garde, multimedia experience.
Visitor Information: Next edition is September 15-17, 2024. Ticket prices TBD closer to event. Limited capacities at venues. Schedule and book online. Must be age 18+ to attend.
Co-founded by French electronic artist Jean-Michel Jarre, FUTUR.E.S debuts in September 2024 as a cutting-edge digital music festival. Multimedia lightshows and experimental sounds will envelope venues citywide, from La MECA arts complex to landmark sights like Place de la Bourse. Eagerly anticipated headline acts include British virtual band Gorillaz and Chinese electronic composer Gao Jing.
Discover Nature & Sustainability
Balancing urban development with preserving nature, Bordeaux promotes eco-conscious tourism. Expanded green spaces, emissions-slashing transportation and green energy infrastructure coming in 2024 reinforce Bordeaux’s role as a leader in sustainable tourism.
Cycling Routes & Rentals
Name and Location: Cycling Routes & Rentals, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: Bordeaux’s flat terrain alongside the Garonne River, extensive bike paths and bike share system VCub make it very bike-friendly. Cycling provides an active way to experience the city and nearby wine regions. Bikes can be rented from shops around the city.
What to Expect: Dedicated bike lanes along the river and through downtown allow safe riding. Popular routes head south along the Garonne’s Left Bank or north to the vineyards. Electric bike rentals expand range for effortless wine tasting rides.
Visitor Information: VCub day pass €5. Many shops rent city and electric bikes from €15-50/day. Pick up cycling maps at the tourist office. Follow safety laws and wear a helmet.
With over 500 miles of bike lanes and paths spanning metropolitan Bordeaux, cycling provides wonderful sightseeing opportunities. New bike tour operators in 2024 will offer guided rides between vineyards, beaches and villages surrounding Bordeaux. Expanded city bike stands, rentals and CE-certified bike repair shops will also make cycling in Bordeaux more visitor friendly.
Battery-Powered River Shuttle
Name and Location: Bordeaux River Shuttle, France
History and Significance: This silent, fully electric boat shuttle ferries passengers smoothly along the Garonne River between landmarks on Bordeaux’s Left and Right Banks. The eco-friendly boat provides sustainable transportation without adding noise or air pollution.
What to Expect: A clean, quiet 10-minute ride with 360° views from the open seating area. Shuttles run every 15 minutes between major stops like Place de la Bourse, Cité du Vin and new Euratlantique district. Stops are well-marked along the river.
Visitor Information: Tickets €1 each way, payable by card on board. Operates daily 9am-7pm year-round except January. Wheelchair accessible.
Running pollution-free boats since 2019, Bordeaux’s Bat3 electric river shuttle will unveil new stops in 2024. Hop aboard Bat3’s silent vessels to reach attractions like Darwin Eco-System and Cité du Vin without city traffic. With rides every 15 minutes, Bordeaux’s “blue line” simplifies navigating the Garonne River.
Jardin de L’Ars
Name and Location: Jardin de L’Ars, Bordeaux, France
History and Significance: This sustainable urban garden project transformed wasteland underneath a rail line into a beautiful nature reserve and community gathering space in central Bordeaux. Opened in 2020, the park creatively integrates nature into the heart of the Bastide neighborhood.
What to Expect: A serene green space to stroll amid native plants, wildflowers, and birdlife. Community garden plots, play areas, and charming cafes/market spaces encourage public use. Yoga, exhibits and concerts also take place here.
Visitor Information: Located at Place des Abattoirs, Bastide. Free to visit anytime. Regular hours are 10am-9pm in summer, shorter in winter. All ages will appreciate the unique urban oasis.
When this 5-acre botanical garden opens south of the city center in 2024, it will showcase over 4,000 plant species sustainably cultivated on former industrial wasteland. The gardens’ greenhouses also will host workshops teaching urban farming techniques to promote self-sufficiency and organic agriculture.
Venture Beyond Bordeaux
While packing enough attractions to occupy multiple trips, Bordeaux makes an excellent base to explore France’s Southwestern region. Easy day trips reach popular sites along with up-and-coming destinations worth discovering before crowds swell.
Dune du Pilat
Name and Location: Dune du Pilat, France
History and Significance: The Dune du Pilat is a towering sand dune located 65km from Bordeaux, forming the tallest sand dune in Europe rising over 100m in height. Visitors can climb the dune for spectacular panoramic views of Bassin d’Arcachon and the surrounding pine forests.
What to Expect: A moderate 25 minute hike up the steep dune face leads to a stunning 360° panorama at the top over endless sandy beaches. Arrive early to beat crowds and heat. Wear walking shoes and bring water. The surrounding area also offers beaches, biking and boat rides.
Visitor Information: Accessible by car or bus from Bordeaux in under 90 minutes. Aim to visit in the morning before heavy crowds. The dune is open year-round, entry fee around €6.
This colossal sand dune just outside Arcachon Bay continues growing over 30 feet high to claim Europe’s tallest shifting dune. Hike up seemingly endless Pyla Dune for sweeping views across tangerine sands meeting the Atlantic and surrounding forest. New viewing platforms in 2024 will make sunsets over dunes and sea even more spectacular.
Saint-Émilion
Name and Location: Saint-Émilion, France
History and Significance: Saint-Émilion village, located 35km from Bordeaux, is a well-preserved medieval village famed for the surrounding vineyards that produce its namesake red wine. Taking a day trip here provides a scenic taste of iconic Bordeaux wine country.
What to Expect: Steeped in history, Saint-Émilion’s sights include ruins, churches, cloisters, medieval streets and squares. Over 200 wineries offer tours and tastings in the picturesque surrounding vineyards. Pair with al fresco dining for a perfect escape.
Visitor Information: Trains run direct from Bordeaux taking just over 30 minutes. Stay late for dinner or stay overnight in the village. Buy tickets to key monuments online to skip lines.
This exquisite hilltop village ranks among France’s most beautiful historic wine towns. Medieval Saint-Émilion entices visitors to lose themselves for hours wandering steep cobblestone lanes filled with wine shops, cafés and sights like subterranean church-cave Monolithic Church. Dynamic young winemakers opening estates in 2024 will make Saint-Émilion even more alluring with micro-production vineyards using sustainable practices.
Conclusion
As Bordeaux polishes off its 20-year makeover just in time for 2024, France’s largest city outside Paris looks more enticing than ever. Grand facades and tiny winding lanes coexist wonderfully with innovative architecture, verdant urban parks and a dynamic arts scene – all fueled by some of the world’s finest wine and cuisine. From classical music at the new MECA venue to open-air theatre amid dune sunsets, Bordeaux delivers an intoxicating array of Gallic culture and attractions.
Discover in 2024 why Bordeaux now shines as Western Europe’s most compelling emerging destination. Through sustained innovation and preserving heritage, La Belle Bordeaux has awoken to entice a new generation of savvy travelers.