Bordeaux Halal Travel Guide
Bordeaux deserves to be equally famous for its magnificent neo-classical waterfront and old town, a UNESCO World Heritage List
History
Bordeaux and the whole province of Aquitaine came under English rule for 300 years from 1154, when Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future King Henry II. The English rulers enjoyed drinking the wines of Bordeaux, but they enjoyed the profits even more – trade with Bordeaux was their largest source of income. Most wine came from the Graves region just upriver from the city, and this was a clear, deep rosé called clairet, still produced today. The English came to call any Bordeaux red wine “claret”.
In 1453 France took control of Aquitaine and cut off the supply to England, which ceased to drink wine for the next 500 years, turning to beer and gin. This caused a slump in Bordeaux, which only revived from the 16th century through trans-Atlantic trade. The city then prospered through the 18th century, when most of its fine buildings were erected, and it provided the model for Haussmann’s 19th-century remodelling of Paris. Bordeaux also came to eclipse other French Atlantic ports such as Bayonne and La Rochelle. Much of the wealth was based on the triangular slave trade: sugar, rum and other plantation products were shipped to France from the Americas and Caribbean, France shipped industrial wares to Africa, whence the slaves were sent west to work those plantations.
Bordeaux suffered a human cost in later turmoils: the French Revolution, Napoleonic wars, and First and Second World Wars. But the damage to buildings was small enough to be repaired, rather than needing whole-scale rebuilding. The 18th-century grandeur was thus preserved. It helped that the limestone and gravel subsoil wouldn’t take the weight of high-rise buildings. Credit is also due to the Mayor of Bordeaux (and former French prime minister) Alain Juppé, for keeping out modern intrusions while revitalising the inner city, with pedestrian precincts and a revamped transport system.
Orientation
Bordeaux’s Centrepiece is the elegant riverfront and former port, where fine 18th-century buildings stretch for 3 km along the west bank of the Garonne, from Quinconces in the north to St Croix in the south. The old central districts of St Pierre and St Michel extend inland for about 1 km. Most city sights are in this area. The railway station is south, at the foot of Cours de la Marne. To the north, Quai des Chartrons has been redeveloped as the “City of Wine”, and has the wine museum. The main university campus is in the suburb of Talence, 10 km southwest. The districts east of the river are modern: the main reasons to cross are for the view back west in morning sunshine, and to visit the Botanic Gardens.
Get in
Fly to Bordeaux
Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (15 km (9.3 mi) west of the city Centre). Domestic flights link it to Paris Orly Airport & Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Montpelier, Nice and Strasbourg. International destinations include Schiphol Airport, Barcelona El Prat Airport, Basel, Berlin, Bristol, Brussels, Budapest, Casablanca, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Geneva, Lisbon, London (Gatwick Airport, Luton & London Stansted Airport), Madrid–Barajas Airport, Milan, Prague, Rome, Tunis and Venice.
There are in effect two-and-a-half terminals, side by side. Air France uses Terminal B, the budget airlines use Terminal “Billi” which is the half: an add-on to B. Other flights use A and B – these two are modern spacious terminals with the usual land- & air-side facilities. “Billi” has a poky, cramped check-in area, but shops & restaurants once you get airside.
Lianes bus 1+ runs downtown from Terminal B Arrivals every 10 minutes, via Mérignac town Centre and Bordeaux city Centre to the main railway station of Bordeaux St-Jean. It’s a flat fare of €1.60, pay on the bus and the driver gives change within reason. The complete journey generally takes an hour. The bus runs from 5 am to past midnight and connects with the tram system at Mérignac.
The “Keolis” express bus runs every 30-60 minutes non-stop between the airport and the main railway station. The fare is €8 (concessions €7) and you can pay on the bus. The bus generally runs between 08:00 and 20:00. So although it’s quicker, you may spend longer waiting for the next bus, and if you’re really in such a desperate hurry you need a taxi.
Travel by train to Bordeaux
The main train station Gare Saint-Jean is located around four km south-east of the city Centre. The main entrance faces west down Cours de la Marne; buses, trams and taxis leave from the forecourt here. Take Tram C to get downtown if you are going to the more northern part, or a bus if you are going to the central area around Place de la Victoire.
The main ticket hall is at the north end of the station building, under the big network map and vast vaulting ceiling. Most of the self-service ticket machines are also here, plus (usefully) a piano. There’s a selection of fast food places around the hall. The lower floor is a shopping mall and subway access to platforms.
TGV trains speed hourly from Paris Montparnasse, with the quickest taking just over two hours. A couple of trains per day run direct from Paris CDG airport, though the travel time of about 3 hours 30 is no quicker than changing at Montparnasse between TGV and RER. Alternate TGVs from Paris continue south along the coast to Bayonne, Biarritz, and the Spanish border at Hendaye. Regional (cheaper) TER trains also run this route south, as well as north to La Rochelle and inland to Périgueux and Clermont-Ferrand. Fast Intercité trains connect to Toulouse, Marseille, Montpellier and Nice.
Travel to Bordeaux by car
From the north (Paris, Tours, Poitier) follow the A10. From Toulouse to the SW take A62, from Bayonne take A63.
A beltway A630/N230 encircles the city. It’s usually congested and slow-moving in rush hour.
Bordeaux has Flixbus direct services to Paris Bercy Seine (7-8 hours, 4 per day), Toulouse (3 hours, 6 per day), Bayonne (2-3 hours, 3 per day), Lyon (7-8 hours, 2 per day), Nice (one per day, 12 hours) and Nantes (4-5 hours, 4 per day). They also run direct but not daily to Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon. Change in Paris or Lyon for other international routes.
Eurolines run direct to Frankfurt (16 hours, 3 per week), Stuttgart (16 hours, twice a week), Warsaw (35 hours, twice per week) and Przemysl on the Ukraine border (40 hours, twice per week).
The bus stop for Flix and for Eurolines is on Quai de Paludate just north of the railway station, opposite No. 18, where the tracks bridge the quay before crossing the river. Eurolines timetable shows this as rue des Terres de Borde, which is the street paralleling the tracks just east of the station.
European Bike Express transports cyclists plus their bikes from UK to various European locations, including Bordeaux on their “Atlantic A & B” routes. They run every couple of weeks in summer and are sure to be booked solid in the weeks around le Tour, il Giro and la Vuelta. The pick up & drop off for Bordeaux is at Lormont, 10 km north of the Centre off the A630 ring-road, by the massive Golden-Gate-styled Aquitaine Bridge.
Get around
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On foot
Walk: although Bordeaux is a big city, the sights of interest are fairly close together in the old Centre, and much of it is pedestrianised. A car here would be a handicap.
All public transport information is posted on the TBC website . Maps and times can also be easily accessed with Google Maps, just select route “By public transport” when getting directions.
The city bus routes fan out from four main hubs:
- The main railway station, Gare Saint-Jean, has buses to city Centre, university, and north side.
- Place de la Victoire has buses to the Centre, railway station, University, and north and south-west sides of the city.
- Place Gambetta has buses to la Victoire, the railway station, and west, north-west, and north sides.
- Quinconces is a main interchange between trams and buses.
As well as standard buses, there is a small electric bus, called la navette du Centre-ville, operating within pedestrian precincts. There are no bus stops for this one, just wave your hand to the driver to be let on, and tell the driver when you want to get off.
Single tickets (€1.60) can be purchased from the driver on the bus. If you’re likely to make 4 or more journeys, buy a package of 5/10 tickets for €6.70/€12.70 or a daily/weekly pass for €4.60/€13.40 from Espace TBC (Feb 2018). They have kiosks at Gare Saint-Jean, Place Gambetta and Quinconces. Also you can also buy from the automated machines at the tram stops, all machines will accept coins and some of them will accept chip debit/credit cards. All trips are good for one hour of unlimited transfers, including bus and tram – you must validate your ticket each time you change. Try to avoid travelling during rush hour.
By tram
There are three tram routes (A, B & C) crossing the city. Tickets and fares are the same as for the bus, with unlimited transfers within one hour. A distinctive feature of the tramway is that within the inner city, it has no overhead wires as it uses a ground-level power supply.
By ferry
The river-bus BAT³ or Batcub runs from Stalingrad/Quai de Queyries on the east bank, northward along the west bank to Quinconces, Les Hangars and Cite du Vins, finally to Lormont (east bank, beneath Pont Aquitaine.) Ferries run every 45 min, 7 days a week, with the complete run taking 40 min. They’re part of the TBM city transport system so tickets and tariffs are the same as for bus and tram. Bicycles are carried.
Travel by bicycle in Bordeaux
V3 run a bike-share scheme in Bordeaux, as they do in several other European cities. You’ll need to register online and put down a €200 deposit. Then pick a hire for one day (€1.60), 7 days (€7), one month (€10) or longer. Each bike usage is free up to 30 minutes, thereafter it’s €2 per hour (Feb 2018). There are some 175 docking locations in and around the town, and V3’s interactive map shows real-time availability.
Sightseeing in Bordeaux
Highlights of a walking tour of Bordeaux include:
- Les Quais along the west bank: called the “Port of the Moon” for the crescent sweep of the river
- Quinconces, a leafy square (and transport hub), with the ornate Girondins Memorial to those guillotined here, and the nearby Public Gardens
- Porte de Bourgogne, the archway leading into Cours Victor Hugo
- Mirroir d’Eau (Water Mirror), across the road from Place de la Bourse: alternates a shiny water surface with a mist
- Place de la Victoire, with a similar archway, at the foot of rue St-Catherine the main shopping mall
- Place Gambetta, with upmarket mansions
- Notable churches are the Cathédrale St-André (mostly 13-14th century, with detached bell-tower “Pey-Berland” €5.50 to climb); Basilique Saint-Michel (also with detached tower, open daily); and the church of St Croix (which is closed for restoration).
Then escape the city in the Jardin Botanique (Botanic Garden), on the east bank off Quai des Queyries. Open Apr-Oct 08:00-20:00, Nov-Mar 08:00-18:00, admission free.
Museums
- Musée D’Art Contemporain (CAPC), 7, rue Ferrère (just north of Quinconces, off Quai des Chartrons), . Tu-Su 11:00-18:00 (W to 20:00), closed Monday. Remarkable building, the Entrepôt Lainé is a huge 19th warehouse for food imports. Most of the space is given over to changing exhibitions and installations (and the concession price applies whenever there isn’t one). Display of the permanent collection also rotates: the current arrangement, called [sic], stands until end of October 2019. Small rooftop cafe. €7, concessions €4, free on the first Sunday of the month.
- Musée D’Aquitaine, 20 Cours Pasteur, . Tu-Su 11:00-18:00. Stunning museum that exhibits Gallo-Roman statues and relics dating back 25,000 years. €5, concessions €3.
- Musée du Vin et du Négoce, Cellier des Chartrons 41 Rue Borie, . Daily 10:00-18:00. History, old equipment & new technology from 2000 years of wine production in the region. The entry fee includes a taste of two wines. €10, concessions €5.
- Musée des Beaux-Arts (Museum of Fine Arts), 20 cours d’Albret (west side of Hotel de Ville, but you need to enter from c. d’Albret), . W-M 11:00-18:00. An enlightening walk through the history of western art. In two wings behind the Hotel de Ville. Start in the south wing which runs from the Renaissance via the Flemish masters to end of 18th century. The north wing continues through the major 19th & early 20th-century art movements. Look out also for exhibitions in the annexe, Galerie des Beaux-Arts, on Place du Colonel Raynal. Collection €4, concessions €2; with exhibitions €6.50, €3.50.
What to do in Bordeaux
Sports
Watch football (soccer) at F.C. Girondins. They play in Ligue 1, the top flight of French football, and often qualify for European tournaments. Games against big rivals (eg Marseille, PSG & Lyon) usually sell out, so buy tickets in advance from the club website . For other games you should have no difficulty buying on the day. Girondins have played since 2015 at the Nouveau Stade (or “Matmut Atlantique”; capacity 42,115), 20 km west of Bordeaux in the suburb of Le Haillan. Get there on Tram C to Parc des Expositions and walk 400 m, or Tram B to Brandenburg then take the shuttle bus, or bus 7 or 32 from Les Aubiers.
Watch rugby union at Union Bordeaux Bègles, who play in the Top 14, the top flight of French rugby. They were formed in 2006 by the merger of Stade Bordelais and Bègles. They usually play at Stade Chaban-Delmas, west of city Centre on the inner ring-road. The former Bègles (Andre Moga) stadium is now just a training ground.
Watch ice hockey at Boxers de Bordeaux, who play in Ligue Magnus, the French top professional league. They play at the Meriadeck ice-rink.
Bordeaux Cricket Club play at Château Giscours in Labarde, 25 km north of the city; attendance is free.
Explore the city on wheels as Bordeaux is a good city for roller-skating (or roller-blading) and other “skating sports”.
Learn
Bordeaux is a great city for learning- to learn a bit about French culture, consider visiting cinemas such as Utopia or going to the city library in Meriadeck.
The Bordeaux University, a few kilometers south of town, offers a wide variety of courses, from science to humanities, from beginner classes to high-level research. The laboratories are among the best in France. It is possible to take French courses there in the summer, with Erasmus students. The DEFLE (Department for the study of French as a foreign language) is attached to Université Michel de Montaigne – Bordeaux III. It offers both semester and vacation courses in French for foreign students.
Shopping in Bordeaux
Bordeaux has made its wealth out of trade, and the local economic system relies heavily on shops and trading halls. The Pedestrian Center is full of stores of all kinds, from clothes to art, craftworks, food and wine etc. If you’re looking for luxury items, head to Gambetta square and its surroundings.
Buy some local music – Bordeaux music groups are on the rise! Check out Kap Bambino, an electronic music duo formed by singer Caroline Martial and beat-smith boyfriend Orion Bouvier.
Clothing is less expensive than in Paris, so wear comfortable shoes and head to Rue Sainte Catherine, the longest pedestrian precinct in Europe and the best place for shopping. For some cheap second-hand and vintage clothes, check out a shop called KiloChic on 40 Cours de la Somme. There are also a few AMOS second-hand stores in the city that offer a nice selection of second-hand and vintage stuff.
If you buy wine, do it in town (duty paid) to go in checked baggage; the airport’s not a good place because of prices, limited selection and carry-on limits. Keep receipts handy, your own country probably has a bigger customs allowance for wine that’s duty-paid.
Where to stay in Bordeaux
Most tourist hotels are close to the railway station (that is, close to the Quais). There are some luxury hotels close to Gambetta square and Quinconces square, which are really nice but rather expensive.
Budget
- Auberge de la Jeunesse (Bordeaux Youth Hostel), 22 cours Barbey (300 m west of railway station), . Bordeaux’s only hostel has decent facilities. Breakfast and bedding is included. There is a lock-out between 02:00 and 05:00 so plan your night accordingly. €23 per person/night.
Mid-range
- Ibis Budget Bordeaux Centre Gare St Jean, 60 Rue Eugene Leroy, . Opposite main railway station, the rooms are small but self-contained. Good location for transport, 3 km from downtown.
- A Blue Lodge in Bordeaux (C’est une maison bleue), 70, rue de Ségur, . Lovely guestrooms in a 19th-century “échoppe” with garden. Located on the Tramway B line leading to the historical city Centre. Also direct from the train station with bus N°9. Easy and free parking. Close to Universities and Victoire.
- Best Western Premier Hotel Bordeaux (formerly Tulip Inn), 4 rue Martignac, . Charming 18th-century hotel, with fine furnishings throughout the hotel, with mahogany furnishings and beech furniture. Close to the Grand Theatre and the Triangle d’Or.
- Hotel de Normandie, 7-9, cours du 30 Juillet, . While the rooms are rather bland, the location and views of the Place des Quinconces from the rooms are stunning.
Splurge
- Intercontinental Grand Hotel (formerly the Regent), 2-5 Place de la Comedie (opposite Opera / Theatre), . Five-star hotel near acclaimed restaurants. Rooms are impeccably decorated, with marble bathrooms.
- Novotel Bordeaux Lac (formerly the Sofitel), Avenue Jean-Gabriel Domergue. On the banks of the Bordeaux lake, near the Convention Centre. Private swimming pool.
- Burdigala, 115 rue Georges-Bonnac, . Displaying a European elegance, the Burdigala attracts a cosmopolitan clientele that appreciates its multi-lingual staff and spacious rooms complete with marble bathrooms. Hotel also hosts long term stays.
- Hotel Mercure Bordeaux Cite Mondiale Centre Ville (formerly Libertel), 18 parvis des Chartons (on Quais by CAPC art museum), . More than just a luxury hotel, the Mercure also features a wine bar that showcases 200 different wines from all over the world. The spacious rooms have all been renovated and display a subtle elegance.
Telecommunications
Bordeaux is covered by the three major telecommunication operators in France : France Telecom (Orange), Bouygues, and SFR. If you have a GSM cellphone with an international subscription, you should be able to give calls from anywhere in the city. It is also possible to find phone cabins, but some have been removed recently due to their decreased usage.
As for internet access, there are a few cybercafes in the pedestrian center, which are not expensive (from €2 to 4 per hour).
Most restaurants also offer free Wi-Fi.
Stay safe and avoid Scams in Bordeaux
Bordeaux is not a city with a high crime rate. If you respect some simple rules, you shouldn’t have any problems.
- Beware of pickpockets, mostly in crowded buses and in the pedestrian streets. Do not leave any luggage out of view as it might disappear. If you’re taking the bus with a backpack, it’s better putting it between your feet than keeping it on your back.
- Do not go to clubs or bars alone at night. If you are meeting with friends, meet outside the bar/club. It’s easier to get inside when you’re a pack.
- As another general rule, do not accept drinks offered by people you don’t know, as some people may drug you and abuse you afterwards. There were several cases reported in Bordeaux. Take drinks directly at the bar or from the waiter.
Cope
Consulates in Bordeaux
USA, 89 Quai des Chartrons, , fax: +33 556 51 61 97.
Go next
There are a lot of interesting things to see close to Bordeaux.
- North: The Medoc region, where some of the famous Bordeaux wines are produced. The first growths Château Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Château Margaux and Chateau Mouton Rothschild are all located in the Medoc. If you are planning a tour to a chateau, keep the following in mind: (1) call ahead and make a reservation; (2) Chateau Latour generally only accepts serious collectors and professionals.
- West: To the west, you will end up at the Atlantic Ocean, with over 250 kilometers of golden sand beaches accompanied by a sea of unspoilt pine forests; there are a lot of very nice-looking little towns close to the sea, including Arcachon, sea-side town, noted for its oyster production. You can take a train from Gare de Saint Jean in Bordeaux to Arcachon for around €7, the train takes between 40 and 50 minutes. The Hourtins’ Lake, the biggest fresh water water lake in France, is located there. In summer, its a paradise to go swimming or cycling in the pine-tree woods of that area. Near Arcachon is the biggest sand dune in Europe– very interesting, especially when you travel with small children, or with your inner small child.
- East: Here you will find Saint-Émilion, a well known AOC (c.f. Saint-Émilion AOC) surrounding the UNESCO Heritage village by the same name (c.f. UNESCO World Heritage List). Here, the most famous chateau are Château Ausone and Château Cheval Blanc. Nearby, in the Pomerol AOC, lies Château Petrus. In addition, the Entre-deux-Mers between the Garonne river and the Dordogne river has a large variety of old castles and wineries that produce Bordeaux Superieur wines.
- South: The Graves region, which includes some of the oldest vineyards. Two famous estates are Château Haut-Brion and Château La Mission Haut-Brion. To the southeast lies Sauternes, which produces one of the most famous dessert wines in the world, Château d’Yquem. This area is the most interesting for historical tourism, with many beautiful towns and historical monuments open to the public. Towns: Bazas, Saint Macaire, Uzeste, Cadillac. Castles: Chateau de Roquetaillade , Villandraut, Malle, Fargues, Cazeneuve. About 10 km southwest of Bordeaux, in the suburb of Pessac is Quartiers Modernes Frugès, a 1920s housing development by the architect Le Corbusier that is listed as a world heritage site.
Reach them by regional railways (TER), or inter-city bus lines (which often go where trains do not). By car, all these areas are less than an hour from Bordeaux.
The whole region is covered with well organized bike or walking trails which let you discover the countryside.