Bordeaux

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Eco-friendly travel guide to Bordeaux advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Bordeaux, France.

Place de la Bourse at night with the Miroir d'eau and tram


  • Air quality: 2.5 / 5
  • Exploring by foot: 3.0 / 5
  • Exploring by bicycle: 3.5 / 5
  • Public transportation: 3.5 / 5
  • Parks: 2.5 / 5
  • Outdoor activities: 3.5 / 5
  • Locals' English level: 3.0 / 5
  • Safety: 3.0 / 5
  • Accommodation: US$70 - $200
  • Budget per day: US$100 - $250

Responsible Travel

Europe is perhaps the most crowded and all around kept up landmasses of the world. France is quite possibly the most wonderful and profoundly visited nations on the planet. Bordeaux is one such state in France that is regularly visited by sightseers. This city is found nearby the Garonne River and lies in the south-western front of France. This city is notable as a wine-developing area in France.

When it comes to visiting sites such as this, one should always visit to maintain the place's beauty and sanctity.

  • Use public transport: Public vehicles must reduce the emission of harmful gases. It also makes the roads less clogged and jam-free.
  • Riding bikes: Bikes are the most eco-friendly way of traveling from one place to another. Many places in Bordeaux offer you as a tourist and a resident to rent bicycles for easy travel. This keeps the environment clean and fresh for everyone to enjoy.
  • Throwing waste at designated spots: Waste management is crucial for any country to keep its environment clean. In Bordeaux, there are specific trash bins placed all over the city for the public to use. Tourists should always use these bins for disposal of waste rather than dumping their garbage all over the town.


Air Quality and Pollution

Air quality is one of the most crucial factors in the world right now. The rise in air pollution is prominent. The quality of air is also a huge concern in cities like Bordeaux. The air quality is a concern for people living in Bordeaux and people going there as a tourist. High quality of air means people will be able to roam around freely without having health issues and breathing issues.

As of today, studies show that Bordeaux air quality is in the 20 to 45 points range. These points mean that the air quality in Bordeaux is satisfactory. The air pollution level is low and possesses minimal risk. The AQI or the Air Quality Index of Bordeaux belongs in a range of 30 to 50. This region's humidity is in the range of 70 to 100. These numbers indicate that there are no severe issues in Bordeaux's living condition. If the current way of life is followed, the situation might stay the same.

But this does not mean that the situation will not be the same in the future. People need to keep the practices that have been going on till now to maintain this level of satisfactory air quality; otherwise, serious issues might appear.

These numbers shown in this article are accurate and needed for sustainable living in metropolitan cities. Tourists who visit Bordeaux have been following the state's laws and regulations for controlling air quality, as are the citizens. The government's rules and regulations have played an essential role in keeping the city’s air quality in good shape.


Respect the Culture

Bordeaux is the first city in France that has created an architecture exhibition and a research center in the 1980s. Bordeaux is also home to a large number of theatres, cinemas, and much more. It also holds the Opera national de Bordeaux that is one of the biggest opera houses in France. Along with this, there are several other venues where music and other cultural performances occur. The city also is known for a large number of festivals and events that take place there throughout the year.


Top 10 Places to Visit

Bordeaux is one of the major well-known cities in all of France. People from all over the world come to visit the city throughout the year. Even though the city is mostly recognized for its high-quality wine and drinks, it is also the home of several top-rated tourist attractions. Here are the top ten tourist spots of the city that attract many tourists throughout the year.

  • Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d’eau: The most recognizable sight in all of Bordeaux is the Place de la Bourse. This monument is located on the edge of the Garonne River. Close to this monument is the Miroir d’eau that is a large shallow pool. The pool is well-known as a place where children and adults all dip their toes and enjoy the Place de la Bourse reflection. People there admire the French architecture as well.
  • Jardin Public: The Jardin public is a 10-hectare wide park located in the center of Bordeaux. The pace was built by taking inspiration from the world-famous Versailles’s garden. The place is the most suitable place for a picnic during the summers due to a large lake situated in the park center. It also holds several beautiful artificial waterfalls, a history museum, and an original iron railing.
  • Cathédrale Saint-André: Cathédrale Saint-André is one of the most historically important places in all of Bordeaux. It is located at the heart of Bordeaux and was built during the 12th century. The Cathedral of Saint Andrew is the home of several important artifacts like sculptures of the Last Supper, the Ascension, and Christ in Majesty. Opposite the hotel now, there is the Hotel de Ville that is a marvelous 18th-century neoclassical building. The cathedral also holds the Bordeaux International Organ Festival during the summer.
  • Tour Le Grand Theatre: It is the Grand Theatre in the heart of the Place de la Comédie. It is the hub of city life and was an ancient site of the Roman Forum. This monumental building was built in the 1780s in a harmonic neoclassical style. Victor Louis built it, and the building has 12 colossal Corinthian columns and holds statues that depict the nine muses and the goddess Juno, Venus, and Minerva. It also has a dazzling 400 light chandelier that is made from bohemian crystals. People attend this theatre to enjoy ballet, opera, and other cultural events.
  • Basiliques Saint-Seurin: The Basilique Saint-Seurin is an exquisite basilica called a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was earlier a stop for the medieval Way of Saint James Pilgrimage. It has several Romanesque style churches that fall on the route to Santiago de Compostela. The choir that features a stone abbot throne and ornate stalls was built during the 14 and 15th centuries. The choir holds 12 alabaster reliefs, the 14th century Virgin Mary statue, and much more. The basilica also has an 11th-century crypt that holds several sarcophagi and treasures from the 6th and 7th centuries.
  • Basiliques Saint-Michel: It is a beautiful Rayonnant Gothic style basilica dedicated to the archangel. It is also a designated UNESCO world heritage site. This monument was built in the 14th to 16th centuries. It has a freestyle belfry that is from the 15th century. It is a 114-meter tall structure that the locals call "La Flèche."
  • Musée des Beaux-Arts: The Museum of Beaux-Art is located in the Jardin de la Mairie public park and occupies parts of the Hotel de Ville. The museum provides a lot of knowledge regarding ancient European art and is the home of various artists from the 15th till 20th century. It is the home of several masterpieces from Titian, Veronese, Rubens, Van Dyck, Delacroix, Matisse, Picasso, and others. Paintings from the Renaissance, 17th-century Dutch paintings, and 17th to 18th-century French paintings are also present.
  • Musée d'Aquitaine: It is the most well-known for the knowledge it holds regarding Bordeaux's history and the region of Aquitaine from prehistoric times the present day. The museum is the home of several important artifacts like Laussel Venus, an artifact from 25,000 BC, Gallic gold coins from around the 2nd century BC, a 3rd-century statue of Hercules, a 13th-century figure of a knight of Curton, and the 16th-century Montaigne's tomb.
  • Esplanade des Quinconces: The Esplanade des Quinconces is a tranquil retreat in the city's heart, just a few blocks away from Le Grand Théâtre. This place was built from 1818 to 1828. The square's monumental fountain honors the Girondins, the group of Republican politicians from the Gironde's département who were deputies in the Legislative Assembly during the French Revolution. There are also statues of Montesquieu and Montaigne.
  • Palais Gallien: It is a 2nd-century amphitheater and is the only remaining vestige of the Gallo-Roman era in Bordeaux. The amphitheater was able to accommodate an audience of 20,000. The elaborate spectacles held here included gladiator combats and Roman games with live animals.
The beautiful Grand theater is a must visit when in Bordeaux


Explore

Bordeaux is one of France's biggest cities that attracts a lot of tourists from across the globe. The city is the home of several historical monuments, beaches, parks, and much more that both residents and tourists love to visit from time to time to enjoy the beauty and serenity that this city has to offer. The museums, famous landmarks, and culture of the place keeps the city interesting and intriguing for the tourists to enjoy.


City Parks

Bordeaux is one of the finest city that is ripe with trees and nature. Though known for its wine, the town has a large number of city parks that tourists and residents visit. This section will inform you about some of the city parks of Bordeaux.

  • Parc Bordelais: Parc Bordelais is a city park located in the upstate neighborhood of Caudéran and is the biggest green space in all of Bordeaux. A wide range of activities are accessible for people there, and it is a family-friendly space.
  • Parc Reviere: Parc Reviere is built surrounding former castle ruins, which can be seen until now. The parc is mostly used for romantic get-aways and to live in seclusion from the city for quite some time.
  • Jardin des Lumières: Jardin des Lumières is located near the Place de la Bourse tram station. It is a formidable promenade in the city near the Garonne River.
  • Jardin Botanique: The Jardin Botanique offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about biodiversity and sustainable development with many tools available to teach visitors more about these issues.
  • Jardin Public: The Jardin public is a 10-hectare wide park located in the center of Bordeaux. The pace was built by taking inspiration from the world-famous Versailles’s garden. The place is the most suitable place for a picnic during the summers due to a large lake situated in the park center. It also holds several beautiful artificial waterfalls, a history museum, and an original iron railing.
The beautiful Jardin Public


National Parks

Bordeaux used to be one of the major industrial cities in France. The city used to be filled with wineries and parks filled with beautiful trees and animals. Several natural reforms have been added to the town, and the number of parks has been growing. But as of now, there is only one national park, and that is the Jardin Public. Other national parks are in the process of building but not yet completed.


Beaches

Bordeaux may be known for its wine mostly, but a common aspect of Bordeaux that people tend to forget is its plethora of beautiful beaches. The city has a 130-kilometer wide coastline and has about 12 beaches. These beaches attract over a thousand tourists due to the charm that the beaches hold. Here are some of the top beaches in all of Bordeaux.

  • Lacanau-Océan Beach: Lacanau-Océan Beach is one of the biggest beaches in all of Bordeaux that spreads fifteen kilometers. The area is well covered with a beautiful pine forest. Surfing is the most common activity that people are found doing on this beach. It is also the home of several different types of water sports.
  • Le Porge-Océan Beach: Le Porge-Océan Beach is a beach known for its calm and quiet nature. People on this beach prefer silent and calming surroundings. People come here to enjoy nature and live some time off from the traffic.
  • Bordeaux-Lac Beach: Bordeaux-Lac Beach is a beach mostly used by families to do picnics and summer trips. The beach is surrounded by beautiful forests and a crystal clear lake suitable for a picnic. The beach also is the home of several types of water sports and activities.
  • Grand Crohot Beach: The Grand Crohot Beach is located on the Ca Ferret Peninsula. The seaside area can be reached through a series of wooden walkways and offers prime views of the crisp ocean waves. There are several water activities, horse riding, and other activities: several restaurants and food stalls where you can enjoy food while enjoying the scenic beauty.
The view from the beautiful Lacanau Beach


Landmarks

Bordeaux is one of the most historically important states in Germany. So consequently, several important historical landmarks are present in Bordeaux. Some several historical monuments and sites act as landmarks for tourists. Here are some of them.

  • Pont de Pierre: Pont de Pierre is a famous landmark that covers the banks of the Garonne River. The monument was built in the 19th century and is 486 meters long. It has 17 arches and offers a beautiful scenic view while traversing on foot.
  • Tour Pey Berland: The Tour Pey Berland is a historical monument built in the 15th century. It is a St. Andres bell tower. After reaching the top of the tower, people enjoy one of the finest views Bordeaux has to offer.
  • Grosse Cloche: The Grosse Cloche is one of the former belry of the Bordeaux’s town hall. This monument plays a key role in informing citizens about major events happening in the city.
  • Pallais Gallein: The Palais Gallien is a well-hidden monument to Bordeaux's Roman past. The Palais Gallien once served as the entrance to a vast 3rd-century amphitheater.
Pont de Pierre


Museums

  • Cité Du Vin: One of the most famous museums preferred by all tourists is the Cité Du Vin. It is a relatively new museum built in 2016 and is located near the banks of the River Garonne. It is home to an imaginative and engaging interactive treat telling the story of wine across the ages.
  • Musée de la Mer-Marine: This museum lies next to the Cité Du Vin. The new museum dedicated to the maritime adventures the city had to offer once one of Europe's largest ports. With more than 10,000 marine objects and art pieces, the Musée Mer Marine collection covers several millennia of history of navigation.
  • Natural History Museum: The natural history museum is the largest in France outside of Paris. The museum depicts the journey of the Aquitaine region from prehistoric times. There are a few temporary exhibitions organized every year that are held in this museum.
Insinde an exhibition at the Cité Du Vin Musuem


Eat

France is a country that is known for its eccentric dishes and mouth-watering foods. Moreover, Bordeaux is a well-known place for the finest quality wine that it offers. Mixing these two factors are what tourist and residents of Bordeaux enjoy the most.


Traditional Local Restaurants

Bordeaux also is the home of several big food chain restaurants. The following are some of these traditional restaurants available in Bordeaux.

  • Les Drôles: Les Drôles is one of the finest traditional restaurants in Bordeaux. This restaurant is known for its authentic French dishes that are served alongside some of the best wines available in all of France. The restaurant is located near the Place de la Bourse. People from all over the world come to this restaurant to enjoy the generous, warm, and local cuisines.
  • La Table De L’hippodrome: La Table De L’hippodrome is a traditional restaurant located on the Bouscat racecourse. The restaurant is well known for its authentic traditional dishes that are refined to perfection. They have cooks that produce delicious dishes for the customers with fresh ingredients from the local producers. The restaurant is well-known as a place where one can eat and dine while watching a race comfortably.
  • Le Bouchon Bordelais: Le Bouchon Bordelais is a traditional restaurant in Bordeaux that is located near the Place de la Bourse. This restaurant uses an innovative idea of not providing people the option of dining in. Rather, they allow takeaways and delivery services for their customers. This restaurant provides some of the finest local cuisines in all of Bordeaux and has worldwide recognition.


Vegetarian and Vegan

Here is the list of some of the vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Bordeaux.

  • Kitchen Garden: The Kitchen Garden is one of the top-rated vegetarian restaurants in all of Bordeaux. It provides 100 percent original home-made vegetarian food. This restaurant is known for its organic, fresh, and local foods. This restaurant has both dine-in and takeaway options but does not provide delivery options to its customers.
  • Rest’O: Rest’O is one of the best vegan restaurants in the Bordeaux region. This restaurant follows a completely different ideology than any other restaurant. This restaurant allows only a takeaway option and makes everything home-made. Due to this home-made food, they require their customers to provide them at least 10 hours of preparation time. They advise their customers to place their food order about a day before and before noon, before taking the food.
  • Le P’tit Chez Moi: Le P’tit Chez Moi is one of the finest vegetarian restaurants in all of Bordeaux. This restaurant provides a soothing and beautiful ambiance for their customers to dine in. They also provide their customers takeaway option. The restaurant is open all days from 12 pm to 7:30 pm but is closed only on Mondays and Sundays

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Street Food

Street foods are a thing of beauty for any place in the world. Different places have different types of street food that are all mouth-watering and delicious to eat. The same goes for Bordeaux, France. Bordeaux is the home of several different street food delicacies. Many delicious street foods are a specialty in Bordeaux, and people from across the globe come to eat them.

There are a number of street foods that are famous in Bordeaux. Here is the list of some of these famous street foods.

  • Le Magret De Canard Grille
  • Les Cepes En Persillade
  • Dunes Blanches Du Cap-Ferret pastries
  • Foie Gras De Canard
  • L’épaule d’agneau de Pauillac
  • L’entrecôte de bœuf de Bazas à la sauce bordelaise
  • Les huîtres de Damien Boulan
  • La lamproie à la bordelaise
  • Canelés


Drink

Many times earlier, Bordeaux is a place recognized for the top quality of wine it has to offer. Other than wine, in Bordeaux, drinking is an issue that no person has faced. The water, wine, beers, coffee, and other types of drinks are some of the fines available.


Tap-water

In several different parts of the world, drinking tap water is advised to be avoided. This is due to the high rate of water pollution and the chemical that is found in them. But this is not the case in Bordeaux. Residents and travelers who have visited Bordeaux have often said that Bordeaux's tap water is drinkable. Though there is no confirmed statement from WHO, people still believe this statement to be true. This statement becomes acceptable as Bordeaux's water pollution level is low. The city's water is mostly clean, and people have been using tap water for drinking for several years.

Therefore, the answer to whether the tap water of Bordeaux is drinkable or not is simple. The tap water is drinkable, but one must use other options when possible.


Organic Cafés

Bordeaux is a major French city, and several people have taken it upon themselves to provide people with organic alternatives of several different things. There are several different organic stores in Bordeaux; some of them are listed below.

  • Food du Goût - Healthy Food
  • Café Kokomo
  • Banana Café
  • Smart Green Corner
  • MUNCHIES
  • La Soupe au Caillou


Breweries

Bordeaux is known for its wines. Therefore, breweries are a staple for any French state. In Bordeaux, there are a large number of breweries that provide top-rated French drinks. Both residents and tourists can be seen enjoying their evening with friends having a drink or two in these breweries. These breweries also hold several top-rated French beers and whiskeys that are renowned worldwide. The following are some of the most famous breweries in Bordeaux.

  • Bordeaux Beer Factory - Brasserie Urbaine
  • Brasserie LaLune - Brasseurs Bio à Bordeaux
  • JAQEN CRAFT BEER
  • Le Zytho
  • Les Berthom Bordeaux
  • The Frog & Rosbif, Bordeaux
  • Café du Levant
  • Brewery City Hall
  • Brasserie Burdigala
  • LevЯette Café Bordeaux
  • Les Trois Pinardiers
  • La Comtesse
  • Le Bar à Vin


Activities

People of Bordeaux live an extravagant lifestyle. There is a large number of activities that a person in Bordeaux can enjoy and partake in. People often can be seen partying late nights at clubs, enjoying watching games with friends at bars, and much more. Streets and playgrounds are often filled with people playing some sport or the other.

People in Bordeaux also enjoy the fun activities that the beaches have. The summer is when one can find the breaches filled with people resting or having fun with friends.


Yoga and Retreats

Yoga is a pretty common activity that most of the people in Bordeaux intensely follow. These yoga retreats in Bordeaux have seen people worldwide come to their institution to practice and achieve the serenity that yoga brings. There are several yoga retreats in all of Bordeaux. Here are some of them listed below.

  • La Cabane Du Yoga Cestas
  • The Last Yogi Yoga Bordeaux
  • Abhyasa Yoga Iyengar
  • Yoga Pop
  • Yoga Bordeaux - Shala - Ashtanga Yoga, Flora Brajot
  • Amrit Yoga
  • Zen & Dance Yoga aérien
  • Yoga Sana
  • Le Corps En Éveil
  • Satnam Club
  • Yoga With You Bordeaux
  • Flow & Fit Yoga
  • Bikram Yoga Bordeaux
  • Ysananda Yoga
  • Alchimie Yoga
  • Studio Di Vita


Accommodation

Bordeaux is a city in France that attracts a lot of tourists from all over the world. Such kinds of the city have many hotels and guest houses for people to live in.


Green Hotels

Bordeaux is one of the most prosperous cities in France. Many people come throughout the year to visit the city for its rich culture, historically important sites, and world-class drinks. But the city also likes to look after its environment. The government and other parties have installed several green hotels for such tourists to stay in. These hotels are environmentally friendly and have been why the pollution level is so low in Bordeaux. Below are some of the top-rated green hotels in Bordeaux.

  • Hotel De Seze: It is one of the finest green hotels in all of Bordeaux. The hotel is located near the Grand Theatre in Bordeaux. The hotel has overall 55 rooms, including three suites. The hotel has an eighteenth-century look with elegant furniture. It is considered to be one of the finest eco-friendly hotels in all of Germany. The hotel follows a towel reuse program to stop wasting and throwing towels. They also take it upon themselves to educate their guest about several green practices and also make sure that their staff also follows these practices.
  • Intercontinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel: It has a reputation of being one of the finest hotels in all of Bordeaux. This hotel is a part of Bordeaux’s history. This hotel is also near the Grand Theatre of Bordeaux. The hotel officials ensure that their guest feels no discomfort while staying in the hotel and ensuring that all the waste is not disposed of improperly.


Hostels and Guest Houses

  • B&B La Masion Fernand: It is one of the finest guest houses in all of Bordeaux. This hotel is located in the city center district of Bordeaux. It is located 500 m from Saint-André Cathedral, 500 m from Great Bell Bordeaux, and 600 m from the Museum of Aquitaine. It is a family hotel with spacious rooms to accommodate several families together. The hotel is a non-smoking zone and allows pets to stay in the hotel. The hotel has several amenities like free wifi, free parking, cable tv, and much more.
  • La chartreuse: La chartreuse is one of the fanciest guest houses in all of Bordeaux. IT is located in the heart of Bordeaux. It is around 2.2 km from Esplanade des Quinconces, 2.3 km from Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, and 2.4 km from Saint-André Cathedral. Breakfasts are offered every morning to their guests. The hotel also has several amenities like cable TV. The rooms in the hotel are spacious enough to accommodate a whole family. Each room is also equipped with coffee makers. Lastly, the hotel is also a non-smoking zone.
  • La Course: It is another top-rated guest house in Bordeaux. The hotel has several amenities like free wifi, a good fitness center, non-smoking rooms, a terrace, and much more.


Apartments

Nowadays, several people are moving to Bordeaux either for work purposes or any other reason that makes them stay in Bordeaux for a longer time. In such a scenario, people to rent an apartment to stay in to save the excess cost they have to pay if they stay in hotels and guest houses.

If you plan to live in Jakarta for a reasonably long period and would like to save on hotel accommodation, you could choose private apartments. You will have many such options available to you. However, not all apartment owners may feel comfortable renting out their properties to foreigners, but things are changing. But there are some issues or precautions present that one must take before renting an apartment. These precautions include:

  • Examining the whole apartment before confirming any case of previous damage.
  • Taking on a contract to prevent any legal disputes.
  • Selecting the apartment of the right size depending upon one's budget and requirements.
  • Making some ground rules when living with other tenants.


Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a new and innovative way of staying at a place you don’t know anything about. This way of accommodation has seen a rise in Bordeaux. There are many sites online that offer people the option of Couchsurfing in Bordeaux. Not only have that, but the residents of Bordeaux also signed in on these sites to provide their homes for Couchsurfing purposes.

There are several online communities out there in Bordeaux that allow people to live in their houses if you are a part of that community.


Camping

Camping is a common practice in Bordeaux. There are several lakes and river-sides where people prefer camping. Now and then people prefer spending time with their family in the woods and on such sites. Here are some of the best campsites in all of Bordeaux.

  • Camping Langeot
  • Camping Le Village du Lac
  • Caravan Beau Soleil
  • Blacksheep van Bordeaux
  • Côté Ô
  • Camping Le Port Neuf
  • Camping Bel-Air


How to Get There

Traveling to Bordeaux is an issue not too big. There are airports, buses, trains, and several other methods one can take very easily for traveling to Bordeaux.


Air

Bordeaux is one of the biggest cities in all of France. But unfortunately, as of now, there are only two operational airports present in Bordeaux. These two airports are – Bordeaux Airport and Skytanking Bordeaux. Though there are only these two airports in Bordeaux, that doesn’t mean that they are insignificant in any way. Bordeaux airport is one of the biggest airports in all of France. These two airports have seen travelers from all over the world and are some of France's busiest airports.

Bordeaux Airport


Bus

Traveling to Bordeaux by bus might seem hectic but is possible. The long-distance buses tend to stop near the southeast of the train station in Rue des Terres de Borde. Bus operators like SoBus and CompareBUS do operate to take you to Bordeaux, but one must confirm the tickets before boarding them and check the stops. This is because sometimes the bus does not follow a route that will take you to Bordeaux.

A bus in Bordeaux


Train

Bordeaux is prosperous and one of the biggest cities in France. The city’s biggest train station is the Gare Saint-Jean, located about 4 kilometers from the town center. The station sees several trains to go to all parts of France all day and is one of the city's busiest ones.


Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is a risky travel mode, both for the person asking for a ride and the person offering a ride. People are often wary of such people and do not want to offer a ride to such people. Some people do offer rides to such hitchhikers, but even they avoid taking on hitchhikers at night.

In the case of Bordeaux, the city is covered with ring roads and a fast dual carriage-way bypass that does not provide any stop to pick up hitchhikers. This problem of roads and the problem of trusting hitchhikers make hitchhiking almost obsolete for traveling to Bordeaux.


Others

Other means of reaching Bordeaux are several. Several highways are linked with Bordeaux that one can take for coming from any other parts of France. Car rental and intercity taxi services are present in abundance for people to opt for reaching Bordeaux.


Moving Around

Bordeaux is a town that is way ahead of its time that still is true to its roots. The city is proud of the several modes of transportation that it has to offer. These modes have been running for a long time and are perfect for tourist and residents both.


Walk

The most interesting way to explore the city of Bordeaux is by walking. The greater part of the town’s center resides in a pedestrian area. People, both residents, and tourists, are often seen going for an evening walk in the town center to enjoy the lovely environment that Bordeaux has to offer. Though there are several modes of transportation available, for short-distance travel, people prefer walking. Forgoing to a nearby park or a shopping market, people are advised to pick walking as an option. Walking is the most environmentally friendly mode of travel that will help maintain Bordeaux's present environment's high quality.


Bicycle

Bordeaux is a town in France that has several flat lanes. It also has a number of lanes that are specifically designated for traveling on bicycles. Recently, a new and wide bike-sharing program has been added in the city called VCUB. This program allows people, both tourists and residents alike, to book a bicycle for traversing around the city. Bicycles are the most eco-friendly mode of transportation that is available to man. That is why the government in Bordeaux are pushing this bike-sharing program a lot.

Rue de la Maison-Daurade, Bordeaux, France


Electronic Vehicles

The electric bus, called la navette du centre-Ville, is the only public transportation on pedestrian roads. This is the only electronic vehicle that is operated in Bordeaux at the moment. This bus does not have a stop. To ride the bus, one needs to wave their hand at the driver and depart from it, and the passenger needs to tell the driver the place he or she wants to drop.


Public Bus

In Bordeaux, the bus network is widely and evenly distributed. The four main places that are the major bus terminals of the city are:-

  • Gare Saint-Jean
  • Place de la Victoire
  • Place Gambetta
  • Quinconces

One can easily travel to all parts of the city via bus from these four major bus terminals. At peak hours from 8 to 10 am, and from 4 to 7 pm, one should try to avoid buses as they get overcrowded during those times.


Tram, Train and Subway

There is a tramway that operates in Bordeaux. This tramline crosses the Garonne via the Pont de Pierre. This tramline has no overhead wires because of the underground power supply that it uses to traverse.

There is also a ferry system in Bordeaux. This ferry system, called Le Bus du Fleuve, links the city's western and eastern parts. One can ride this ferry by simply buying a standard bus ticket.

The city has state of the art Trams in place that you can use to travel around


Sustainable Shopping

Bordeaux is a city in France that has a large number of residents. Due to this, there are several means of shopping that is available there. The city is filled with food and flea markets. There are also several clothing stores and second-hand stores.


Food Markets

Bordeaux is an advanced metropolitan city where people live a very basic lifestyle. Rather than buying food online in Bordeaux, people prefer buying from several food markets that are available. Here are some of the following list of food markets available in Bordeaux.

  • Marché des Quais de Bordeaux Chartrons
  • Marché des Capucins
  • Marché des Chartrons
  • Market Bordeaux Hugo
  • La Guitoune
  • Marche Bio des Quais de Bordeaux
  • Carrefour
  • Les Halles Bacalan
  • Min De Brienne Marché de Gros de Bordeaux
  • Carrefour Supermarket Saint-Jean Bordeaux


Flea Markets

Another type of market that can be seen in abundance is the Bordeaux flea markets. The flea markets bring rare, cheap ad eccentric items in Bordeaux that people, residents, and tourists, find attractive and invest in. It is often seen that flea markets of Bordeaux brings forth super-expensive things but are sold at low prices.

The following are some of the most famous flea markets in all of Bordeaux.

  • Les Puces de Saint Michel
  • Marché des Capucins
  • debarras rapide 33
  • MARCHÉ NEUF
  • Les Brocanteurs du Passage Saint Michel
  • Marché des Quais de Bordeaux Chartrons
  • Les Hangars St Michel Bordeaux Gironde
  • Warehouse Saint Germain


Second Hand Stores

Second-hand stores are common in Bordeaux. Here are some of them listed below.

  • Blue Madone
  • Steack-Fripes
  • Boutique Marcelle
  • Leilou Shop
  • Amos Bordeaux Saint Michel
  • Maroutchia


Eco-Fashion

France is a country known for its fashion and lifestyle. People in France love to dress and buy good clothes. There are stores in Bordeaux that sell fashionable clothes, but not all of them sell eco-fashion stores. Few in Bordeaux do sell eco-fashion stores.

Here is a list of some of them.

  • Aatise - Visite sur RDV uniquement
  • EKYOG Bordeaux
  • SKFK
  • Blue Madone
  • Billabong Bordeaux
  • Picture Organic Clothing


Recycling

The pollution control of Bordeaux is one of the finest in France. The high level of ecological balance and environmental control of the city comes from its reliance on recycling products. The city emphasizes the recycling of waste products over unmanaged dumping of said products.


Waste

France has the best waste recycling rate all around the world. In cities like Bordeaux, this is more prominent as almost all recyclable products are managed properly. These products, instead of just dumping unmaintained, are used for other purposes. Bordeaux takes waste management as its top priority for maintaining the proper ecological balance.


Work and Study Abroad

Bordeaux is a commercial town. People from all fields of work live there. The job opportunities that people get in Bordeaux is immense. People from across the world can be seen working and living in Bordeaux due to their work.

Education is another factor that the officials of Bordeaux regard highly. They emphasize on keeping their number of educated citizens high. They also take in students from across the world who want to come to Bordeaux to study.


Exchange Student

Education is one of the top priorities in all of France. There are several universities all over France that take in exchange students from all over the world. But the problem lies in Bordeaux. This is because, as of now, there is one single university in all of Bordeaux that takes in exchange students. This university is the University of Bordeaux.

The average exchange student count of Bordeaux might be lower than any other place in France, but the city has seen a very big number of exchange students coming in to study in Bordeaux from all over the world.


Au Pair

Au pair jobs are scarce but available in France. In places like Bordeaux, people do get offered au pair jobs. They have presented places to live in where they need to do all household works like cooking and cleaning. These jobs are starting to increase in number through the years and might seem greater recognition in the future.


Volunteering

The people of Bordeaux are known for their hospitality. Bordeaux is also the home of several non-profit organizations that specialize in volunteering work and helping others. There are several organizations, some of which are listed below.

  • Comité Français pour Unicef
  • Code'ngo Bordeaux Victoire
  • Fondation des Apprentis d'Auteuil - Bureau Bordeaux
  • Martine Ngo Nlend Manga - Joie de Vivre Mentoring
  • Comite Catholique Faim Developpement
  • Emmaüs Connect - Bordeaux

All these organizations, along with several other works diligently for the betterment of other people. These organizations offer volunteering work for people in dire need and even secure funds to relieve such people. Each organization might work and specialize in different fields, but all of these aim for a single goal: making the lives better for Bordeaux residents.


See Also