History · Bordeaux · France
8 historic sites to see in Bordeaux
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland, Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux and Esplanade des Quinconces. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 6–8 hours across 6 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 6–8 hours
- Areas
- Hôtel de Ville, Triangle d'Or and Quinconces and Saint-Pierre
Historic sites in Bordeaux
Religious site · Hôtel de Ville
1.Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland
Its bell tower, the Tour Pey-Berland, stands apart from the church and is topped by a gilded statue of the Virgin; the climb up its spiral stairs gives the best panorama of the old town's rooftops and spires.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Iconic
Architecture · Triangle d'Or and Quinconces
2.Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux
Inside, the blue-and-gold auditorium and grand staircase influenced later opera houses, including the Palais Garnier in Paris. It is home to the Opéra National de Bordeaux and can be seen on guided tours or at a performance.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
- After dark
Landmark · Triangle d'Or and Quinconces
3.Esplanade des Quinconces
It hosts funfairs and the spring and autumn Foire, and the riverfront end has two rostral columns.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
Historic site · Saint-Pierre
4.Porte Cailhau
It looks more like a fairy-tale castle than a city gate, and a small exhibition inside explains the history of the medieval ramparts, with views of the Pont de Pierre from the upper windows.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Historic site · Saint-Pierre
5.Grosse Cloche
It marks the southern edge of the old town, and the streets around it have small bars and bakeries.
- Time needed
- 15 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Saint-Michel
6.Basilique Saint-Michel
The square around it is the heart of the Saint-Michel neighbourhood, with café terraces, grocers and weekend bric-à-brac stalls, and the Marché des Capucins is a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Museum · Victoire
7.Musée d'Aquitaine
Its rooms on the city's role in the Atlantic slave trade in the 18th century are among the most direct treatments of the subject in France, and help explain the wealth behind the riverfront façades.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Experience · Bassins à Flot
8.Bassins des Lumières
Large-scale projections of painters' work move across the walls and reflect in the water, with a soundtrack, and programmes change each year.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Hôtel de Ville | Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland | 1–1.5 hours |
| Triangle d'Or and Quinconces | Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux and Esplanade des Quinconces | 1 hour + 20–30 minutes |
| Saint-Pierre | Porte Cailhau and Grosse Cloche | 30 minutes + 15 minutes |
| Saint-Michel | Basilique Saint-Michel | 45 minutes |
| Victoire | Musée d'Aquitaine | 1.5–2 hours |
| Bassins à Flot | Bassins des Lumières | 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 3 low cost, 2 mid-priced. Book ahead for Bassins des Lumières. The longest visit is Musée d'Aquitaine; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Bassins des Lumières: Buy timed tickets online for weekends and school holidays.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Hôtel de Ville, Triangle d'Or and Quinconces, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Michel): Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland → Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux → Esplanade des Quinconces → Porte Cailhau → Grosse Cloche → Basilique Saint-Michel, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Victoire and Bassins à Flot): Musée d'Aquitaine → Bassins des Lumières, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 12°C (54°F), about 10 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Still cool and grey, but one of the least expensive months; vineyards are bare and being pruned.
- January: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 12 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Cool and often damp, with short days; museums and wine bars are quiet and hotel prices are low.
- March: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Days lengthen and café terraces reopen on sunny afternoons, though showers are frequent.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Saint-Pierre — Medieval lanes, café squares and wine bars between Place de la Bourse and the cathedral
- Triangle d'Or and Quinconces — Grand boulevards, luxury boutiques and the Grand Théâtre
- Saint-Michel — Basilica spire, grocers from around the Mediterranean and good-value eating
- Victoire — Student bars around Place de la Victoire at the south end of Rue Sainte-Catherine
- Bassins à Flot — Former docks turned new district with the Cité du Vin and the submarine base
More of Bordeaux
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Bordeaux?
Cathédrale Saint-André and Tour Pey-Berland. Bordeaux's Gothic cathedral, where Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Louis VII of France in 1137, has a long, single nave and a richly carved north portal.
+Which of these are free in Bordeaux?
Esplanade des Quinconces, Grosse Cloche and Basilique Saint-Michel.