Bordeaux, France: More Than Just Wine 🇫🇷 Discover Little Paris of Southern France

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Bordeaux, France isn’t just about wine—it’s the “Little Paris” that dazzles with golden limestone streets, grand squares, hidden history, and local treats. Explore Bordeaux like never before—beyond its legendary wine region lies a city shimmering in history, architecture, and charm. In this video, I’ll guide you through:

The UNESCO-protected Port of the Moon with its picturesque Place de la Bourse and mesmerizing Water Mirror (Miroir d’Eau).

Elegant landmarks like the Grand Théâtre, Grosse Cloche, and the medieval Porte Cailhau

Morning strolls down Rue Sainte-Catherine, quiet cafés in Place de la Victoire, and ribbons of timeless façades

Authentic bites—pastry stops and local markets that show the soul of Bordeaux

Daylight revelations that turned initial doubts into love—witness how golden light transforms a city at dusk

Tips to make the most of one day in Bordeaux, including best viewing spots and insider advice

#bordeaux
#francetravel
#unesco

Timecodes:
00:00 Bordeaux is France’s Little Paris
00:57 Gare de Nantes to Bordeaux Saint-Jean
02:54 Check into Bordeaux Jost Hostel
04:02 Bordeaux night life?
04:38 Is Bordeaux safe?
06:09 Why Bordeaux is France’s “Golden City”?
07:09 Bordeaux Church of the Sacred Heart
07:50 Marché des Capucins and Bordeaux food
08:40 Place de la Victoire is the gateway to Bordeaux old town
09:54 Sainte-Catherine is Europe longest pedestrian shopping street
10:28 Grosse Cloche is Bordeaux Big bell and Place Fernand Lafargue
11:21 Tour Pey Berland & Saint-André Cathedral & Porte Dijeaux are UNESCO buildings
12:45 Librairie Mollat is France largest independent bookstore
13:31 Place de la Comédie and Opéra National de Bordeaux
14:14 Place des Quinconces has France most beautiful fountain
15:27 Garonne River Promenade | Place de la Bourse | largest water mirror
17:18 Saint-Pierre Church | Porte Cailhau | Basilique Saint-Michel
20:05 Travel from Bordeaux to Toulouse

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France Bordeaux dazzles with neoclassical elegance in its UNESCO-listed Port of the Moon. A global wine capital, it blends medieval charm with modern flair—from the dreamy Miroir d’Eau and Grand Théâtre to La Cité du Vin. Stroll market-filled streets, sip canelés, and venture to vineyards or the Atlantic coast. my next destination is a name I have heard countless time Bordeaux in my layman’s mind Bordeaux has always meant one thing wine premium wine I picture endless vineyards rows and rows of grapevines stretching to the horizon what I did not expect Bordeaux is actually a city a city with grand architecture golden limestone facade and sweeping Boulevard that could rival Paris itself they call Bordeaux, Le Petit Paris or Little Paris in English and I am here to find out why after a three-hour layover in Nantes my train is now heading south leaving the former capital of Brittany and traveling deep into southern France this is a four-hour journey covering 347 kilometres Thus bringing my total distance so far to 1,530 kilometres from where I started in Zurich during the train journey, I did wrestle with a decision should I do a wine tour? while in Bordeaux after all I have come all the way into one of the most famous wine regions in the world but the reality is my western France route has already eaten into my precious travel time each day now is gold and besides looking out from my train window in late spring the Vineyard are still bare from winter no leaves no grapes just rows of quiet vines beautiful in their own way but perhaps not the visual impact I would imagine to be honest I did not expect Bordeaux to be this big I thought I was coming into a charming wine town not a full-blown city that greets you the moment you step off the train at Bordeaux Saint Jean train station from Paris Bordeaux is just over two hours on the TGV it is thus no wonder some people even do Bordeaux as a day trip from Paris I did not hang around too long to admire the historical Saint Jean Station even though yes it was partially built by Gustave Eiffel I had booked a bed at Jost Hostel just a 10-minute walk from the train station and probably the most budget friendly option in the city at 32 euro a night sounds like a good start, right? well until I met my hostel mates turns out we had a big fight over my bed that he wrongfully occupied I was not going to win this fight especially since he spoke only French and I did not so I pulled off the classic out of sight, out of mind move and asked the reception to change my bunk to another level my crisis has averted and my Bordeaux adventure could now begin I made one rookie mistake in Bordeaux I totally underestimate the distance from the train station to the Old Town for some reason I thought they would be near just a short stroll apart and not the most exciting one I might add the streets at night were pretty nondescript and here’s the kicker Bordeaux is not exactly the city of lights Paris of the dark at least not in the way I imagine normally I will be fine wandering around at night if I know the city’s layout but this was my first time in Bordeaux I did not know which neighbourhood was safe which one to avoid or if there were any sketchy spots at all luckily the outer edges of the old town are well lit but the deeper I went in the deeper it got just pools of yellow light spilling onto the cobblestone streets my inner streets instinct kick in you know that little “fight or flight” radar you have when exploring somewhere unfamiliar at night then I remember reading that Bordeaux is often called Little Paris and suddenly the mood shifted the dimly lit alleys, the stone façade, the quiet charm it is all felt like a medieval version of Paris after the sun goes down or maybe that was just my overactive imagination still I use the night to get my bearings spotting the landmarks I would have visit in daytime tomorrow so when tomorrow comes I will just explore Bordeaux with the sun on my side and no maps needed just curiosity leading the way here I am starting the 3-kilometre walk from the train station to Bordeaux Old Town with daylight on my side I can finally explore some of the streets that felt a little too dark last night and it is definitely more interesting then sticking to the same boring road yesterday night Bordeaux Historical Centre is a sea of warm honey colour Limestone giving the whole city its golden glow this stone called “Pierre de Bordeaux” is the city signature building material a lighter softer yellow compared to mountain famous Limestone that gives Malta the nickname of Golden City due to the distinctive golden colour limestone used in its construction I can only imagine how magical these streets must look when the evening golden sun hits them I make a quick stop at the church of the Sacred Heart from the outside it almost feels like a cousin of Paris Notre Dame with its blend of neo-Romanesque and neo-Byzantine design inside the highlight is a stunning rose window instantly bringing back memories of Notre Dame in Paris the best part it is quiet, peaceful completely tourist free I had my heart set on breakfast at Marche des Capucins one of the best spots in Bordeaux to taste local food but it turns out the market is closed on Monday and guess which day I come Yes, Monday so too bad for me now for Plan B I wander into a nearby bakery or boulangerie as the French call it for classic simple French breakfast no way am I eating at my hostel cafeteria I might bump into that roommate I fought with and honestly flaky croissant and coffee at 6.30 euro taste better without awkward encounter Place de la Victoire the grand gateway into Bordeaux Old Town several main streets meet here making it a natural starting point you cannot miss the gate Aquitaine it is a 17th century stone arch used to mark the city border and in the middle of the square a quirky 16-meter sculpture with two giant tortoises these tortoises were added in 2005 to celebrate Bordeaux wine culture I am still not sure how these tortoises link to wine but it is fun to look at it is early morning shops are closed streets are calm which means I get bored almost entirely to myself from here I headed down Sainte Catherine streets one of Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping streets while the entire length of Sainte Catherine street is 11.2 km the pedestrian shopping street part it is still measured at 1.2 km making it one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe it offers a multitude of shops ranging from major international brands to local small boutique a perfect way for a day of shopping right now in early morning it is totally calm but by midday it is packed with shopper the Grosse Cloche literally big bell is one of Bordeaux older belfries and still working today walking under the belfries feels like stepping into medieval times but with cafe boutiques just around the corner for the first time visitor a morning walk is highly recommended to soak into the tranquillity before diving into the square busier hours by afternoon indulge in Bordeaux cafe culture as evening approaches be prepared for a livelier setting Place Fernand Lafargue is a cozy little square that looks straight at the Grosse Cloche it is a nice pause point grab a coffee watch the city stir this is Tour Pey Berland a bell tower that stands apart from the cathedral itself this is the Cathedral Saint Andre French cathedral architecture is notable for building the tower separately from the main church this was a practice to prevent the heavy vibration of the bells from damaging the main structure of the church the Tour Pey Berland tower is another iconic Monument contributing to the designation of Bordeaux Historical City as a UNESCO World Heritage Site if you have got the legs for it 233 steps we’ll reward you with a 360-degree City View that will offer a panoramic view of Bordeaux Porte Dijeaux is yet another of Bordeaux stone arches that’s a present everywhere in the city of Bordeaux however Porte Dijeaux is a quieter one tucked between the shops but still a nice landmark on the way to the Grand Theatre Librairie Mollat or Mollat Library in English Mollat Bookstore is the largest independently owned bookstore in France located in the heart of Bordeaux visit to Mollat is a must for keeping abreast what’s happening on the cultural scene or if you love literature however one problem for me It is all in French, so my wallet is safe I enjoy walking along the streets of Bordeaux Bordeaux is one of the largest UNESCO World Heritage urban areas in the world Opera National de Bordeaux or the Grand Theatre is a pure elegance of Neo-Classic columns statues and the whole Paris in the south vibe built in Neo-Classic style in the year 1780 the theatre has an impressive facade and a luxurious Italian style hall it is currently home to the National Opera of Bordeaux the National Ballet of Bordeaux and has been the scene of many important historical moments just beyond the Bordeaux Opera House lies Place des Quinconces one of Europe largest square the Place des Quinconces is the venue all year round for fairs, Circus, sporting events and artistic events the word “Quinconces” in French refers to the way the trees are planted in staggered rows here you will find two beautiful fountain and the towering Monument aux Girondins this Monument is 54 meters high and what it represents it was built just at the end of the 19th century after the revolution and this Monument was to represent the people that died during the terror of the revolution these two fountains front and back are one of the most beautiful fountains in France itself with the installation of a tram system in the year 2003 the place has become the most important public transport hub of the area cross one street, one would come across the Garonne River promenade the city has done a fantastic job in turning the Riverside into pedestrian heaven perfect for a slow walk with views of the bridges boats and golden facades this promenade is a stunning waterfront area along the Garonne River offering a blend of historical architecture vibrant atmosphere and recreational space walking further down the promenade is the Place de la Bourse and the Water Mirror this is Bordeaux superstar where one can see the Place de la Bourse reflected perfectly in the world largest man-made water mirror the impressive water mirror was created to reflect the buildings of the Place de la Bourse on the water it is the kind of place you will stop take a picture and then another, non stop and then after that just stand grinning The Water Mirror is less than 20 years old but located across from a Monument nearly three centuries old it is becoming one of the city main attractions cross the busy road in front of the water mirror one will reach Place de la Bourse Place de la Bourse also known as the Stock Exchange Square is a large rectangular plaza situated along the Garonne River in Bordeaux Saint Pierre districts in the Old Bordeaux is an enchanting labyrinth of narrow lanes inevitably leads to the predominantly 15th century church around which the Medieval neighbourhood flourishes and that bring us to Saint Pierre Church it is a small but charming church tucked between the cafe and greeneries it is so easy to missed but worth a peep if you are wandering nearby I am seeing a large gate called Porte Cailhau looks like a fairy tale castle gate Porte Cailhau dates back to the reign of Charles VIII and it shows on the wall of the gates this was built to impress wealth power and a clear Celebration of the king back in the year 1400s this gate was part of Bordeaux thick defensive walls and was one of the main entry points into the Old City and only two gates like this survive till today if you look closely you can see just how thick the walls are I am imagining that same wall stretching all the way around Bordeaux keeping out invaders it is definitely one of my favourites in this city Basilique Saint-Michel took over 200 years to construct from 14 to 16th century this basilica is tall pointed and dramatic at 114m high it is the tallest tower in southern France it offers a magnificent lookout the entire Bordeaux at the top although at the time of my visit the tower is under renovation right now similar to Pey Berland tower the bell tower is independent from the church for the same reason still it is an impressive final stop before I hit back for my train in retrospect Bordeaux surprised me Bordeaux is not flashy and it doesn’t try too hard but if you wander with me you will find a city of golden stone, grand square and little corner that sticks with you long after you are gone I am now at Bordeaux train station moving on to my next destination down south thanks for watching this video all the way to the end if you enjoy this video give it a thumbs up and drop a comment I would love to hear from you and if you haven’t already hit that subscribe button so you won’t miss the next adventure next stop Toulouse