- Page 1 - City Orientation Walk Bordeaux, the port city on the Garonne River in the Southwest of France, is world-known primarily for its high-quality wines. Also, for the splendor of its Gothic cathedrals and 18th century mansions, Bordeaux is often referred to as the City of Art and History. The following orientation walk takes you to some of the most popular sights of Bordeaux. Guide Location: France» Bordeaux # of Attractions: 13 Tour Duration: 3 hour(s) Travel Distance: 5.4 km Please note: This walk is also featured in the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" downloadable on itunes App Store and Google Play. The app provides turn-by-turn GPS navigation to guide you from one tour sight to the next, so you will never be lost. The apps offer additional walking tours in Bordeaux. Check them out! GPSmyCity offers self-guided walking tours in over 1,000 city around the world. Please visit https://www.gpsmycity.com for more walking tour offers. List of attractions included in this self-guided walking tour: A) Basilica of Saint-Michel B) Pont de Pierre C) Porte Cailhau D) The Great Bell E) Museum of Aquitaine F) Saint Andre Cathedral G) Musee des Beaux Arts H) Basilique Saint-Seurin I) Allee de Tourny J) Grand Theatre de Bordeaux K) Place du Parlement L) Place de la Bourse M) The Miroir d'eau - Page 1 -
- Page 2 - - Page 2 -
- Page 3 - - Page 3 -
- Page 4 - - Page 4 -
- Page 5 - - Page 5 -
- Page 6 - A) Basilica of Saint-Michel (must see) Saint-Michel Basilica, or the Basilica of Saint-Michel, is a Catholic church located on place Canteloup, a historic square close to the Pont de Pierre bridge. Built in the Gothic Flamboyant style, it was built at the turn of the 15th century. A highly unusual design, it features a cruciform church building, and a separate bell tower. The tower, which tapers to form an elegant, ornately decorated spire, is 114 meters tall, and was built after the church building, some time in the 15th century. It makes the Basilica of Saint-Michel the city s tallest building, and the second tallest church in all of France. The dizzying height of the tower makes it visible across much of Bordeaux, a flat city with relatively few tall buildings. It is worthwhile heading towards this landmark wherever you are in the city, as the church itself houses a number of interesting artifacts. The church pulpit depicts Saint Michael slaying a dragon, whilst the central stained glass window was designed by Couturat. Beneath the church lies a cemetery and catacombs from the city s Roman era, which lay undiscovered until 1881. Address: Place de Canteloup, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Olivier Aumage. Sight description based on Wikipedia. B) Pont de Pierre (must see) Pont de Pierre is a road and tram bridge across the River Garonne, in the center of Bordeaux. It connects Cours Victor Hugo, on the left bank, with Avenue Thiers on the right side of the river. Pont de Pierre translates to stone bridge in English. It was planned and designed under orders from Napoleon Bonaparte, the former Emperor of France. It was not constructed until 1819, four years after Napoleon s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, as the Bourbon monarchy were returned to power in France. One of the city s most recognizable structures, it featured on a French postage stamp in 2004. Designed by Claude Andreotto, the stamp shows the Pont de Pierre with one of the city s distinctive trams crossing over it. The bridge is half a kilometer long, and has seventeen arches allegedly one for each letter in Napoleon s full name. Each column on either side of the bridge is capped with a white medallion, in honour of the Emperor, who died in exile during the bridge s construction. - Page 6 -
- Page 7 - The construction of the Pont de Pierre, the first bridge in the city to span across the Garonne, proved a challenge for the era s engineers. The width and strong current of the river meant a diving bell had to be used to repeatedly stabilize the bridge. Opened in 1822, it was the only bridge connecting the two sides of the city until 1965. Address: Pont de Pierre, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Maarten Sepp. Sight description based on Wikipedia. C) Porte Cailhau (must see) The Cailhau Gate was built in 1494 and was one of the main entries to the city of Bordeaux at the time. It has a very interesting and rich history that you would definitely love to learn about. And as you go to the the top of Porte Cailhau you will be amazed at the gorgeous view over the city and the Garonne River. There are tours available here for up to 19 people. Address: Place du Palais, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Luidger. Sight description based on Wikipedia. D) The Great Bell (must see) La Grosse Cloche, or the Great Bell in English, is the name given to a 7800kg iron bell which is housed in a medieval belfry. It stands on the St. Eloi passage, with an archway in the bell tower allowing pedestrian access through the monument. This was once the Porte St. Eloi, a gate into the city centre in the Middle Ages. It was passed through regularly by pilgrims heading to the tomb of St. Jacques, interred at a church in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The belfry once belonged to the town hall, and is an important civic monument, featuring in the city s coat of arms. The distinctive round towers either side of the bell itself were built as long ago as the 12th century. There were initially supposed to be four towers, looking out in all directions from the city walls, but the final two towers were never constructed. The Grosse Cloche itself was installed in the 15th century, and was used throughout the Middle Ages to warn les Bordelais (as citizens of Bordeaux are known) of impending emergencies, including fires and storms. The - Page 7 -
- Page 8 - belfry has an ornate clock face in its centre, and is adjoined by the 17th century neo-gothic St. Eloi church, one of the city s most historic places of worship. Address: Rue Saint-James, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Bryan Kelly E) Museum of Aquitaine The Museum of Aquitaine is housed in an elegant Neoclassical building on Cours Pasteur, close to rue Victor Hugo. Starting out as a gemstone museum in the 18th century, it now houses an impressively large collection of historical and archaeological exhibits relating to the region. Bordeaux is the capital of Aquitaine, a region stretching along the Atlantic coast that has been part of both the Roman and British Empires through its history. The museum has four levels, offering 5000 square meters of space for permanent collections, as well as extra room for temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibits chart the region s history, from the prehistoric era to the modern day, via the Gallo-Roman era and the Middle Ages. There are also a number of interesting finds from around the world, particularly former French colonies in Africa and the South Pacific. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions at least once a year recent subjects have included wine and African art. The Museum of Aquitaine has recently undergone a major renovation, and added a new exhibition of Bordeaux s Atlantic trade history. The museum is open all year round. Admission is 5.50 Euros for adults, with concessions available. Admission is free on the museum s open day, on the first Sunday of each month. There is a dedicated tram stop adjacent to the main building. Address: 20 cours Pasteur, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Tiraden. Sight description based on Wikipedia. - Page 8 -
- Page 9 - F) Saint Andre Cathedral (must see) The Saint Andre Cathedral, often known simply as Bordeaux Cathedral, is located at Place Bey Berland in the heart of Bordeaux city center. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Andre was consecrated in 1096 by Pope Urban II; however only a wall within the nave remains of the original Romanesque structure. The majority of the building has survived from the 14th and 15th centuries. The cathedral s famous Royal Gate dates to the early 13th century. The entire building, including the separate bell tower, the Tour Pey Berland, is listed as a French national monument. The cathedral has played its part in the history of Bordeaux. In 1137, Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the region s most famous historical figures, married Prince Louis VII. Within a few months, they became King & Queen of France, but their marriage was annulled in 1152. Eleanor went on to marry Henry Plantagenet, a future king of England. The cathedral boasts two Gothic towers above the main entrance, in addition to the vertiginous bell tower directly adjacent to the main building. Still an active place of worship, it holds mass each Sunday, and is still the seat of the Archbishop of Bordeaux-Bazas a position once held by Pey Berland, after whom the bell tower and surrounding square are named. Address: Cathédrale Saint-André, Place Pey-Berland, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Abxbay. Sight description based on Wikipedia. G) Musee des Beaux Arts (must see) The Musee des Beaux Arts de Bordeaux is found on Cours d Albret, in the northern quarter of the city center. Founded in 1801, it is the city s most popular fine art museum, and is seen as one of the best art museums outside of Paris. Particularly well known for its collections of 17th century French and Dutch art, the Musee des Beaux Arts houses an impressive collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture, including pieces by Renoir, Picasso and Eugene Delacroix. The museum is housed in an elegant if unassuming two storey sandstone building, with a columned entrance. The building was formerly a dependency of the Palais Rohan, Bordeaux s historic town hall. Constructed in 1770, just thirty years before the museum took up residency, it is flanked by a public park (Jardin de la Marie) and the Galerie des Beaux Arts, a modern annexe which houses temporary exhibitions. A recent collection - Page 9 -
- Page 10 - tracked the evolution of Eastern themed art from the Renaissance to the modern day. Entry to the museum s permanent collection is free, though there may be a charge to view temporary exhibitions. The main galleries are open all day from Wednesday to Sunday, closing on Monday and Tuesday. Exhibition opening times may vary. Address: 20 cours d Albret, Jardin de la Mairie, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Michel BUZE. Sight description based on Wikipedia. H) Basilique Saint-Seurin (must see) The Basilique Saint-Seurin stands on the edge of a public park, close to Place des Martyrs de la Resistance. Whilst its address recalls the modern history of France, the church itself is one of the city s oldest buildings. Extended and renovated through the ages, the crypt dates back to the 6th century almost to the origins of Christianity. It was first constructed in the age following the Roman Empire, when Christian groups fought for control of France. One such group, the Merovingians, took control of much of Western France, including Bordeaux. They believed that they possessed a direct bloodline to Jesus Christ. The marble tombs of many Merovingians can be seen in the ancient crypt. The Basilique Saint-Seurin is a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site, and one of Bordeaux s most historic buildings. Romanesque in origin, it has had many Gothic elements added through the years. Chapels from the 11th and 14th centuries are housed within the nave. In the 15th century, extensive Gothic ornamentation, including sculptures and keystones, were added to the church interior. The church and crypt are both free to visit. Address: Place des Martyrs de la Résistance, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and JPRoche. Sight description based on Wikipedia. - Page 10 -
- Page 11 - I) Allee de Tourny Allee de Tourny it's one of three streets (along with Cours Clémenceau and Cours de l Intendance) that form Bordeaux's famous "Golden Triangle", delimiting the Grands Hommes district. The streets emanating from the circular Galerie des Grands Hommes like the spokes of a wheel are named after famous literary figures. However, this district is best-known for its trendy boutiques as well as shops selling international brands and luxury items. This is where the tout Bordeaux runs into one another, the place to be seen It is also where shops selling fancy foods, great growth wines, and Champagne are located. Address: 8 Allée de Tourny 33000, Bordeaux,France Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Abxbay J) Grand Theatre de Bordeaux (must see) The Grand Theatre de Bordeaux is located on a grand square, adjacent to Rue Esprit des Lois, in the city s cultured Grands Hommes quarter. Inaugurated in 1780, it was designed by renowned French architect, Victor Louis. Louis won the commission after earning the Grand Prix de Rome, a scholarship scheme for gifted young artists and architects. The young architect went on to design the famous Theatre Francais in Paris. Victor Louis vision for the Grand Theatre in Bordeaux was certainly ambitious conceived as a temple of the Arts, it has a wide portico entrance, complimenting the building s Neoclassical design. The entrance features 12 colossal Corinthian style columns. Each column is topped with a statue, representing the nine Muses and three Goddesses Juno, Venus and Minerva. The theater's interior is arguably equal to its spectacular exterior. Recently renovated, its vast auditorium has been repainted in its original colors of blue, white and gold the traditional colors of French royalty. Superbly preserved, it is one of the last remaining wooden framed theaters in Europe. Once a temporary seat for the French Parliament, it is now home to two of the city s most esteemed theatrical groups the National Opera and National Ballet of Bordeaux. Address: The Grand Theatre, Bordeaux, France - Page 11 -
- Page 12 - Image Courtesy of Flickr and filtran. Sight description based on Wikipedia. K) Place du Parlement (must see) The Place du Parlement is linked by Rue Philippart to the Place de la Bourse, one of the city s most famous sights, which is known for reflecting in the Garonne at night a feature known locally as the water mirror. Place du Parlement is less well known, but is perhaps a more central location for the Bordelais themselves it is known for its many bars, restaurants and cafes, with terraced seating surrounding the edge of the square. The name itself means place of discussion, although the word parlement has links with royal institutions, and is in fact the foundation for the English word parliament. The square appears to be a complete architectural project, with consistent design features on all four sides. These include a balustrade that runs around the square, and arcaded ground floors to house additional shops and eateries. Once known as the Royal Market Place, the Place du Parlement has a large neo-renaissance fountain at its center. Close to many of Bordeaux s more famous avenues, including Place Pey Berland and the Espalanade des Quinconces, Place du Parlement is a lively spot to stop for a bite to eat, particular in the summer months, when outdoor dining is available late into the evening. Address: 9 Place du Parlement, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Langladure. Sight description based on Wikipedia. L) Place de la Bourse (must see) Place de la Bourse and the magnificent building standing here are situated near the Garonne River. The design of the edifice, of its arched facade and the gorgeous fountain in front represents a perfect combination of several architectural ideas making this place one of the main attractions of the city. Today, Place de la Bourse houses the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Address: Place de la Bourse, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Flickr and Dennis Jarvis. Sight description based on Wikipedia. - Page 12 -
- Page 13 - M) The Miroir d'eau The Miroir d'eau (Water Mirror) or Miroir des Quais (Quay Mirror) in Bordeaux is the world's largest reflecting pool, covering 3,450 square metres. Located on the quay of the Garonne in front of the Place de la Bourse, it was built in 2006. It is made of granite slabs covered by 2 cm of water. In summer, a system allows it to create fog every 15 minutes Address: Quai du Maréchal Lyautey 33000, Bordeaux, France Image Courtesy of Flickr and S. Faric. Sight description based on Wikipedia. - Page 13 -