RunCity

Bordeaux on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 10 of Bordeaux's best-known sights, including Jardin Public, Place des Quinconces, Grand Théâtre and more. It is about 8.5 km on foot, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Bordeaux leaderboard.

  • 10Stops
  • about 8.5 kmDistance
  • 2.5 hoursWalking
  • about 71 minRunning
Play Bordeaux in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Bordeaux
Photo: Mariette · Public domain

Bordeaux's route follows the Garonne from the Cité du Vin back into the 18th-century centre, about 8.5 km on flat ground. It starts at the bonus stop, the Cité du Vin, a wine museum shaped like wine swirling in a glass, and comes south through the Jardin Public to the vast Place des Quinconces with its Girondins monument. The columned Grand Théâtre, topped with twelve statues, faces the main square.

On the river, the Place de la Bourse is reflected in the Miroir d'eau, a shallow water mirror that turns to mist every few minutes. The medieval Porte Cailhau and Grosse Cloche gates, the Basilica of Saint-Michel and its separate bell tower, and the seventeen arches of the Pont de Pierre follow, and the route ends at the cathedral and the Pey-Berland tower. The tram runs along the river if you want to skip the long northern leg.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Cité du Vin

    Cité du Vin Bonus Photo

    The twisting golden building shaped like swirling wine.

    Photo: ANAKA · CC BY 4.0

  2. Jardin Public

    Jardin Public

    The 19th-century English-style park with its pond.

    Photo: Pline · CC BY-SA 3.0

  3. Place des Quinconces

    Place des Quinconces

    The vast square with the Girondins monument and its fountains.

    Photo: Michel BUZE · Public domain

  4. Grand Théâtre

    Grand Théâtre Photo

    The columned façade with twelve statues on top.

    Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0

  5. Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'eau

    Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'eau Photo

    The stock exchange façade reflected in the shallow water mirror.

    Photo: Phillip Maiwald (Nikopol) · CC BY-SA 3.0

  6. Porte Cailhau

    Porte Cailhau Photo

    The medieval gate with its pointed towers by the river.

    Photo: Vanderbilt89 · CC BY-SA 4.0

  7. Grosse Cloche

    Grosse Cloche

    The old town gate with its big bell and round towers.

    Photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) · CC BY-SA 3.0

  8. Basilica of Saint-Michel

    Basilica of Saint-Michel

    The Gothic basilica with its separate tall bell tower.

    Photo: Jean-Christophe BENOIST · CC BY 4.0

  9. Pont de Pierre

    Pont de Pierre

    The stone bridge on the Garonne with its seventeen arches.

    Photo: Patrick Despoix · CC BY-SA 3.0

  10. Bordeaux Cathedral

    Bordeaux Cathedral Photo

    The cathedral and its separate Pey-Berland tower on the square.

    Photo: Chabe01 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Play Bordeaux in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Bordeaux on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 10 stops on this route add up to about 8.5 km, roughly 2.5 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Bordeaux is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Bordeaux?

    Open Bordeaux in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Bordeaux leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Cité du Vin and finishing at Bordeaux Cathedral. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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