Bordeaux

Bordeaux is a city on the Garonne River in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. The central area displays 18th-century limestone facades, tree-lined boulevards, and public squares that spread from the train station to the waterfront over several kilometers.

A Roman trading post called Burdigala was founded here around the 1st century and grew into a river port that supplied the empire with wine. The arrival of merchants and builders in the 18th century transformed the waterfront into a major Atlantic harbor connecting France with its overseas colonies.

Market halls and neighborhood bakeries shape daily life, with locals stopping for coffee before work and gathering at the quays during weekends to walk or jog along the river. University students from the law and philosophy faculties frequent secondhand bookshops near Place Gambetta and fill outdoor seating in the Saint-Pierre district.

The tram network runs from the main train station to the river docks and covers most neighborhoods visitors explore on foot. Electric bike stations and pedestrian signage help with navigation, and the central area remains flat and easy to walk across without steep inclines.

A continuous line of 80 LED lights embedded in the pavement traces the entire route of the old city walls through streets, parks, and squares. This installation lets visitors follow the original medieval boundary without needing to see any surviving stones or gates.

Location: Bordeaux Métropole

Location: arrondissement of Bordeaux

Location: Gironde

Inception: 5 century BCE

Elevation above the sea: 9 m

Shares border with: Blanquefort, Talence, Bègles, Mérignac, Pessac, Bassens, Le Bouscat, Bruges, Cenon, Eysines, Floirac, Lormont

Address: Place Pey-Berland, 33000 Bordeaux

Phone: +33556102030

Website: https://bordeaux.fr

GPS coordinates: 44.84123,-0.58004

Latest update: December 14, 2025 21:15