It's a hot day - check out the cool spots in Bordeaux
Welcome to the south, and south means hot... If you're having trouble coping with the summer temperatures, or if you're visiting Bordeaux with young children or the elderly, don't panic, the city is full of green spaces, cool spots along the Garonne and cultural venues in old stone that are still as cool as ever. The weather's fine, and it's hot, so here are 10 great ideas for keeping cool while discovering Bordeaux!
Going green when it's hot in town
After a stroll through the city centre, there's nothing like a picnic in a park or a siesta in the shade of a tree. If you opt for the public gardens, why not take a short boat trip on the "Petit Mousse"? Children love this little craft, which allows them to get close to swans and ducks. Botany enthusiasts need only cross the Garonne to learn about the flora and fauna of the region and beyond at the botanical garden.
Take a dip to cool off
If the temperature rises too high, you'll be tempted to take a trip to the ocean or the local lakes. Without having to go too far, there are several swimming pools and aquatic centres in Bordeaux (accessible by public transport), some of which are brand new, such as the Aqua Stadium (UCPA) in Mérignac, the Loret aquatic complex in Cenon and, a little further afield, Calinésie in Libourne.
Less extravagant, but just as impressive, the water mirror is a great place to cool off while enjoying one of the most beautiful views in Bordeaux.
Visit the Cité du Vin
The fourth most visited museum in France, this building has plenty to surprise and intrigue tourists and locals alike. The Cité du Vin is a unique cultural site that takes visitors on an interactive, sensory experience based on the world of wine through the ages. And to appeal to as many people as possible, the museum has developed a brand new sensory tour to awaken all our senses, as well as a range of tools for young visitors. The visit ends with a tasting from the top of the belvedere, which offers a breathtaking view of Bordeaux.
Free entry with the CityPass.
Take refuge in a cinema
Is the weather forecasting record temperatures? Here's a good opportunity to check the movies program and support cinema. In Bordeaux, as in other French cities, you'll be spoiled for choice with CGR, UGC and Mégarama offering more or less the same films. If you want to discover the little nuggets of French and international cinema, check out Utopia, a screening room housed in a former church. Comfortably seated, all you have to do is wait for the screening to start!
Behind the scenes of Bordeaux's most beautiful churches
It's a well-known fact that the best places to keep cool on a hot day are churches. And that's just as well, because Bordeaux city center is full of sacred buildings of rare beauty: the imposing cathedral of Saint-André with its treasure, the basilica of Saint-Michel and its spire, the synagogue, the church of Saint-Pierre with its magnificent stained-glass windows or the church of Notre Dame, a Baroque masterpiece... with their varied architecture and decoration, they bear witness to Bordeaux's rich past and have a whole story to tell. Some can be visited with a guide.
Marvel at the city's museums
Another good idea for a cool retreat: the municipal museums. In addition to their permanent exhibitions, each of them offers temporary exhibitions, some of them very entertaining, so that young and old alike can have fun while learning something new. Did you know that if you take the Bordeaux City Pass, you get free access to around fifteen museums as well as unlimited access to public transport?
Enjoy a good ice cream
Sorbet or ice cream, in a tub or in a cone, there's nothing like a good ice cream to quench your thirst and combine freshness and pleasure. As well as the most classic flavors, ice-cream makers have no shortage of imagination when it comes to surprising young and old gourmets, and some even offer a 100% vegan menu. But where should you go for the best ice cream in Bordeaux? On the Place du Parlement, there are not one, not two but four ice-cream parlors facing each other: Jolly, Sofia, Benetille, L'Angelys... One thing's for sure, there's something for everyone! Another place, another ice cream parlour: the Maison du Glacier on Place St Pierre offers more than 80 organic and vegan flavours, made in the traditional way.
Freshness guaranteed at the Bassins des Lumières
With your City Pass, you can also visit one of the immersive exhibitions, housed in a former submarine base - coolness guaranteed. Welcome to the world's largest digital art centre, showcasing the most emblematic artists of recent decades. After Monet, Renoir, Chagall, Klee, Klein, Klimt, Sorolla and Dali, this summer it's Vermeer and Van Gogh who will be honored in this grandiose and atypical space.
Take a cruise on the Garonne
There's nothing like a river cruise to appreciate the beauty of Bordeaux's architecture and its World Heritage-listed façades. For a guided tour, an aperitif or dinner, a cruise on the Garonne is the promise of a zen and refreshing moment.
Quench your thirst in a guinguette
With the summer season upon us, rooftops, terraces and guinguettes abound in Bordeaux, particularly on the banks of the Garonne. La Ginguette d'Alriq is the historic festive and summer hotspot on the right bank, an independent cultural venue where you can come for a drink and a few tapas while enjoying a concert of world music.
