Bordeaux Tourist Guide

If you’re looking for all inclusive holidays for the family, which offer plenty of things for you and your children to see and do, then you may wish to consider visiting Bordeaux in France.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading countries when it comes to culture and cuisine, city breaks here are bound to be something for all the family to enjoy, regardless of their age.

One place any nature lovers in your brood may want to visit is the Bordeaux Zoo. Located just south of the city centre, you will be able spot a variety of captivating animals here.

As well as monkeys, pelicans and giraffes, a range of big cats – including lions and panthers – can be spotted at the zoo.
Children will have also the chance to go water tobogganing and fossil hunting, so there ought to be plenty of opportunity to have a fabulous day out.

Bordeaux is awash with historic architecture, so make sure that you take in some of the city’s stunning structures during your trip.
And you may find the Bordeaux Cathedral is hard to miss. As the city’s largest religious building, it dominates the skyline.

The Romanesque cathedral dates back as far as the 11th century, where it was consecrated by Pope Urban II. However, the only part of it left from this period today is a wall in the nave, as the majority of the structure you will see was built in the 12th to 16th centuries.

It is now a French national monument, so stopping here could mean your children not only have a fun time during their family holiday but they also get to learn something.

But Bordeaux Cathedral is by no means the only historic building to be found in the city and you may want to visit the mesmerising Grand Theatre de Bordeaux. Built in the 18th century, this performing arts venue has hosted a wide range of performances over the years and is where the world-famous La Fille Mal Gardee ballet premiered.

Said to be a fantastic example of neoclassical architecture, the Grand Theatre de Bordeaux was also at one point the national assembly for the French parliament.

To learn more about the building’s history you can go on a guided tour on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, although to truly see the theatre come to life book a ticket to watch one of the many performances that take place there each year.

Alternatively, you and your loved ones may want to visit the 11th century Eglise Sainte-Croix, or Church of the Holy Cross as it is known in English.

Featuring a Romanesque-style facade, the church is annexed on to a seventh century Benedictine abbey so there should be plenty of scope for you and your loved ones to see some historic architecture.

Bordeaux is not only well-known for its fantastic period buildings but is also famous for producing a range of top-quality wines. By taking a tour of the various vineyards in the city – as well as in neighbouring towns and villages like Graves and Medoc – you can learn more about how it is made and pick up some bottles to take home with you.

And if you want to gain a deeper insight into the beverage, stop by the Bordeaux Wine School for a class on wine tasting. Who knows, you could soon become a connoisseur!

Whatever your age or interests, Bordeaux is sure to offer something for you and as such is the perfect destination for a family holiday.