Explore the Charm of Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux is synonymous with the famed French wine, but its joie de vivre cannot be bottled. It brims with historic monuments, bustling markets, attractive museums, and boutique art shops that are impressively stocked as the city’s galleries. The Old Town, Vieux Bordeaux, is a charming neighborhood to explore, blending grand vintage architecture with contemporary wine bars where one can linger long after the last drop. On a trip to this world capital of wine, experience and enjoy the best things to do in Bordeaux.

Find the Fairytale Towers

A visit to Vieux Bordeaux is best approached as it would have been centuries ago – through the defensive site of rue du Palais. Here, in the 15th century, the Porte Chailou was built as a testament to King Charles VIII’s conquest of the Kingdom of Naples. Inspired by his campaign in Italy, it is a Gothic-Renaissance-style building with tall turrets and castle windows looking out to sweeping sea views.

Don’t miss the city’s Grosse Cloche belfry; its bell, named Armande-Louise, was cast in 1775 and still rings at noon on the first Sunday of each month and for special occasions. While the Grosse Cloche is a charming sight on rue Saint-James—a street filled with boutiques, cafés, and trays of cannelé—the region’s delightful round rum-infused cakes, it was once used to enforce public order. Visitors can still view its dungeons today.

Cruise Along the River Garonne

One of the best ways to get a lay of the land is from the water. The Garonne River has long been essential for the free flow of products, ideas, and, of course, wine. Most boat tours depart from the city pier in front of the Royal Square, known as Place de la Bourse, which is reflected in the majestic Miroir d’Eau.

Excursions cruise past Napoleon’s Pont de Pierre bridge and the Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas suspension bridge, which connect the left and right banks of the city. Companies, including Yacht de Bordeaux, offer a glass of wine and a cannelé along the way. Most end near the Pont d’Aquitaine, providing a gleaming view of the Cité du Vin. Those who venture further will see the meeting of the Garonne with the Gironde, glide past the Vauban fortifications from the reign of King Louis XIV, and eventually reach the vineyards of the famed Blaye and Médoc regions.

Website: yachtdebordeaux.com