In 2016, the opening of The Cité du Vin, a unique cultural and viticultural space on the banks of the Garonne river, marked a turning point for the waterfront of Bordeaux. It created the impetus behind a smart cultural cluster in what was once the historical industrial beating heart of  Bordeaux. Cultural initiatives that led to Bordeaux being named Capitale Européenne du Tourisme Intelligent in 2022. 

Situated just to the north of the Quai de Chartrons, the historic centre of the Bordeaux wine trade, the Cité du Vin dominates the Bacalan docks. It acts as a punctuation between the industrial heritage of the city, and the elegant waterfront architecture Bordeaux is so famous for.  

Bassin à Flots – a melting port 

The Quai de Bacalan guards the entrance to the Bassins à Flot, 13 ha of water within the city.  In the 19th century, these ‘Bassins’ welcomed ships from around the world, to load and unload cargo but also as a dry dock for boat repairs and building. 

The docks are now in the shadow of the U boat pens, built in the 1940s under German occupation and left standing at the end of the WWII. Until recently, this area of Bordeaux was considered a little shady, now it’s unique atmosphere has become hip and cosmopolitan.  

La Cite du Vin re-opened this February with a new interactive and multimedia exhibition that takes visitors around the world of wine and vine, from Antiquity to the present day, across five continents and in eight languages. A Bordeaux 360° workshop is a virtual voyage across the Gironde tasting from an oyster fisherman’s village in Arcachon to a chic Bordeaux rooftop as well as across the vineyards of the Medoc and Saint Emilion. It’s an invitation to discover the region.

Whereas The Via Sensoria uses light, images, video and sound to marry the virtual and real world, inviting guests to engage all their senses as they move through four immersive, dreamlike worlds, each accompanied by a real tasting. Throughout the year, tastings, events, cinema nights, workshops, boutiques and restaurants keep visitors firmly grounded in the real world of wine and gastronomy. 

Sky High

Visits finish in the Belvedere, 8 floors and 35 metres up with a glass of wine chosen from a selection of 20 wines from around the world, served under a monumental ‘chandelier ‘made from thousands of wine bottles.

The view of the eclectic skyline with old grain silos and historic buildings to stunning new architecture shows how the Cite du Vin is at the heart of this newly vibrant part of the city. 

Food and wine

In 2017, the covered market, Les Halles de Bacalan opened its doors, just across from the Cité. They have recreated the spirit of the traditional local market. 22 different producers, bars, restaurants and tasting counters welcome hungry and thirsty visitors. It’s a unique and convivial way to discover all the gastronomic specialties the region has to offer. 

Let there be light 

In spring 2020 Les Bassins des Lumieres, the world’s largest numeric art centre, opened in the WWII U boat pens. 19 months of transformational work brought light and life to this sinister vestige of the war, creating beautiful and dreamlike experiences. Thanks to 90 projectors, iconic works of art are reflected off 12000m² of walls and the water of four 110m bays. In its first year of opening the centre welcomed over 500 000 visitors. This year the art of Salvador Dali and the architecture of Antonio Gaudi take centre stage to a sound track of Pink Floyd. Surreal. 

Historic

In June 2022, just along the docks, The Musée Mer Marine, opened its doors share thousands of treasures from private collections. The interactive exhibition takes visitors through the cultural and natural history of the oceans. The ultra-modern architecture takes the visitor back through the 19^th century history of the port of Bordeaux to its Roman origins. Discovering the exploration, mystery, challenges and  fragile beauty of our oceans through photos and art.

The Bassins à Flots and all it has to offer is just a short tram or boat ride from the centre of Bordeaux. Or stroll or cycle along the board-walk that now runs along the Garonne waterfront, past old warehouses now home to shops restaurants and exhibition centres. It reconnects Bordeaux to its port history and the river that it had turned its back on for so many years. 

Happy Birthday 

It’s not only for visitors. New residential buildings run along the old docks and a vibrant night life is hosted in old and new buildings. The Cite du Vin celebrated its 7^th birthday this June bringing together all the present day diversity of the Bassin des Flots, the beating heart of the city.

To learn more about Bordeaux, you can find Bordeaux Bootcamp here and to cultivate a healthy passion for wine, watch the free Daily Detox webinar here, buy your copy of The Drinking Woman’s Diet  or discover the new online 7 days to a Liver friendly Lifestyle  here. 

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