Introduction to Bordeaux

Your essential primer on Bordeaux

$373 and up

Private

N/A

Small group

Tour Details

About the Tour

Duration: 3 hours
Location: Bordeaux

Photos & Highlights

Get acquainted with Bordeaux's main sites, history, and neighborhoods
Led by an expert in history or local culture

Tour Description

Discover Bordeaux on our 3-hour introductory tour with a local expert or historian. Designed to provide a perfect introduction to Bordeaux for first-timers or reorient returning travelers to this unique region of France, the tour will explore Bordeaux’s viniculture and local history. We will explore Bordeaux’s historic center, discover the city’s treasures and discuss today's Bordeaux. We'll conclude with a glass of local wine to toast our time together.

Sites Visited

St. James Quartier
Place du Palais
Place Saint Pierre
Place du Parlement
Place de la Bourse
Rue Sainte-Catherine
Place de la Comédie

Included

3 hours with a local expert or historian

Itinerary Detail

We’ll begin in the historic center of the city, right near the cathedral. Our guide will begin to introduce the historical narrative of Bordeaux, from the Medieval period to the Golden Age to the mid-1990s and beyond. Our route may vary according to our interests and our guide's background, however, we'll touch on a range of sites relevant to the city's story. Expanding our geographical scope, we will venture across the city to other notable sites, such as the grand square of Place du Palais and Place Saint Pierre. We may pop to admire the historic Grosse Cloche (the big bell) in St. James Quartier, stroll along the Quai and Garonne river. We'll stop to discuss and admire the water mirror at the historical Place du Parliament and Place de la Bourse before walking to another marvelous square: Place des Quinconces. Our route may take us along Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping street (Rue Sainte-Catherine) as we soak up local Bordeaux life. As we wander Bordeaux’s charming streets, your expert may also introduce you to a local special pastry, canele, and learn about its regional significance.

We will finish our introductory tour with a more comprehensive understanding of Bordeaux’s growth into a major wine-trading city. We’ll have visited a number of important locations, immersing ourselves in Bordeaux’s grandiose history and viticulture.

At the end of the tour, we will have the opportunity to visit a local wine bar that specializes in regional wines by the glass, rotated on a monthly basis. While there, you can choose a glass of local wines, before we delve into the different wines of Bordeaux - red, white, sweet, dry and sparkling.

To continue your explorations of the city with Context, we recommend our Bordeaux Wine Tour or we are happy to assist in assembling a Custom & Multi-Day Tour of Bordeaux tour geared to your specific interests.

FAQ

What is a private tour?

Our private tours are limited exclusively to travelers in your party. They are designed to provide a learning experience that is completely tailored to you and your traveling companions. Private tours give you more flexibility with scheduling (you decide when the walk best fits in your trip), the ability to tailor your itinerary (we'll work to match the itinerary to the interests and dynamics of your group), and more personalized time with your guide.

Where do we meet? Where does it end?

We meet at The Grosse Cloche, on the corner of Rue Saint-James and Cours Victor Hugo. The tour will usually end around the Place de la Comédie. Your route may differ according to your guide. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map.

What if it’s raining?

Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your expert will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to be prepared; we encourage keeping an eye on the weather and bringing along an umbrella, sunscreen, water, or a hat as needed.

Is this suitable for children and / or travelers with mobility challenges?

Yes. We can adapt the route of our private tours based on the ages, needs, and interests of travelers in your party. Please share any specifics about your group’s needs in the notes section of your order and we’ll adjust your itinerary accordingly.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Anne

Cooking, eating, and travel have always been Anne's passions. She grew up with a father who was a chef and helped him for many years creating and leading food tours for culinary students and professionals. Anne went to study French Cuisine at ESCF-Ferrandi in Paris, France, and then completed two internships at La Bigarrade and Akrame. She has worked at Verjus, in Paris, and also as a chef on private yachts all over the Mediterranean. Filled with restaurants whose creative, talented chefs have helped make Bordeaux a gastronomic destination in France, the city and its surrounding region have a rich food & wine culture Anne looks forward to sharing with you!

Hubert

Hubert is a native guide of Bordeaux. Passionate about History and WW2 history in particular, he obtained a double masters degree in History and Journalism. He worked as a journalist in Paris for 7 years and a freelancer for the French television before moving back to Bordeaux to become a guide. He has now been leading tours for 5 years and is always eager to share his knowledge of the city and the region with visitors.

Jennifer

Jennifer is an American expat from upstate New York currently living in Bordeaux for the past 10 years and raising three daughters in this dynamic and vibrant city. She fell in love with this beautiful city of stunning architecture harmonized with a "joie de vivre" of its inhabitants and chose to make it home. She holds a Masters Degree in Education and has always had a love of traveling and history. She describes herself as a life-long learner. She recently passed the WSET (Wine & Spirite Education Trust) level 3 (with Merit) to increase her knowledge in wine. She is an experienced local and regional tour guide (working with many river and ocean cruise ship companies arriving in Bordeaux for the past 7 years), who loves to share her love and passion for her adopted city and the surrounding region.