Sightseeing in Bordeaux - what to see. Complete travel guide

Bordeaux is a wonderful place and the fifth biggest city of France. It’s worth mentioning that Bordeaux is located nearby the capital of the country and it takes around one hour by plane to reach this city from Paris, or you can get a ticket to one of high-speed trains that will bring you to the point of destinations within 3 hours. Bordeaux is known for its moderate climate. The temperature here fluctuates between 10 and 25 degrees by Celsius in summer and winter. Such mild climate is a perfect condition for many plants that grow here. Actually, the nature of this place will definitely conquer you and make you want to return to Bordeaux again and again.

Bordeaux is a port city. In the 3rd century it was so important that was even called “Little Rome”. In true, the city was a smaller copy of the Roman Empire capital. However, in the 18th century architects managed to change the look if the city and called it “Little Paris”.

The majority of buildings in Bordeaux are protected by UNESCO as valuable objects of great cultural and historical importance.

The museums of the city are truly amazing and full of luxury and originality. Here you will be able to touch the long history of this place. In Bordeaux there is a large number of historical values and places of interest. Moreover, Bordeaux is a large tourist center for a long time and the city is annually visited by thousands of tourists. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The starting point for many excursions is the Exchange Square, next to it are concentrated several gorgeous baroque buildings that were built in the 18th century. The main decoration of the square is the building of the Exchange Palace, furthermore there is the Customs Museum. Recently, the main monument of the historic square is the Mirrors fountain. This unusual fountain is a large flat surface which has been filled with water. Through special nozzles water is sprayed out of the fountain, so the square is always hovered in a slight haze. 

Fans of theatre art will be able to visit the Grand Theatre; it is the main theatre scene of the city since the 18th century. This theatre occupies an incredibly beautiful building with columns; fragments of an ancient Roman temple were discovered during the construction in its place. 

Among the outstanding religious sites in Bordeaux, of particular interest is Cathédrale Sen Andre. The first temple in its place was built in the 9th century, and the Cathedral, which visitors can see today, was built in the 11th century. Despite the fact that during hundreds of years of existence of the cathedral was reconstructed several times, it has retained its unique Gothic features. Inside the cathedral are preserved many of the old elements of the building, and its visitors will have the opportunity to admire the artful stained glass windows and stucco on the walls. 

Attention should be paid to the Baroque church of Notre-Dame too, which was built in the early 18th century. It may take a while to admire the façade of the church, it is decorated with elegant bas-reliefs and sculptures. This ancient church also managed to preserve its old finish, inside it is decorated with artful mural of 18th – 19th centuries. 

Each year the number of amazing sights in Bordeaux increases, 2016 the original museum called "Wine City" was opened. It occupies an incredibly beautiful modern building; this museum is dedicated to the history of wine-making region. During the tour, visitors will be able to find out what type of wine is produced in local factories, and the museum often holds tastings and interesting thematic events. The museum has a shop where you can buy interesting national wines. The unique building of the museum is now one of the most photographed sites in the city.