>Bordeaux Riverside DIY Walking Tour Route Map <
Distance: 6 km (almost 4 miles); Duration: 2-8 hours; For the RETURN journey
This DIY Walking Tour of Bordeaux is just 6 kilometres long (almost 4 miles). But almost half of this distance is covered by the boat trip. So you will only be walking for 3-4 kilometres (about 2 miles). An easy one hour walk.
On this return trip between central Bordeaux and the Cité Du Vin, you will pass:
The “Miroir d’Eau” in central Bordeaux > a cruise along the Garonne on a public boat > the Cité Du Vin > the “Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas” bridge (if you’re really lucky, you will witness it being raised) > the “Cap Sciences” science centre > the Statue Marthe Adélaïde Modeste Testa > returning to the “Miroir d’Eau” (opposite “Place de la Bourse”).
And because it’s a DIY walking tour of riverside Bordeaux, you can take it at your very own pace; stopping for a coffee/snack/drink where, when, and for as long as you like; lingering at the attractions of riverside Bordeaux which interest you (and speeding past those that don’t).
So if you were to simply rush round without stopping, you could easily complete the entire journey (both the boat trip from Bordeaux city centre to the Cité Du Vin, followed by the return walk back to Bordeaux city centre again), in around 2-3 hours. However, I would recommend taking a full day to complete this route from central Bordeaux to the Cité Du Vin and back.
Bordeaux Riverside DIY Walking Tour: Walking Directions
These are very thorough walking directions, and this is a seriously easy route to follow – so you shouldn’t be getting lost in Bordeaux when following this guide.
However, I definitely recommend that you follow the Google Streetview route of the entire Bordeaux Riverside DIY Walking Tour first, from the comfort of your own home before you head to Bordeaux, as this will allow you to better visualise the entire route before you arrive.
START: Place des Quinconces
The first part of this route doesn’t actually involve walking at all.
But a TRAM!
All trams in Bordeaux are accessible -and you just buy your ticket from a machine at the tram stop.
Take a tram (Line B – the Red Line) from Quinconces to La Cite du Vin. It takes just 12-15 minutes.
You might be thinking of taking the public ferry instead. Yes, it is accessible, but the ferry from Quinconces only goes as far as Les Hangars. So it just HAS to be the tram (or a round-trip by foot?).
La Cité Du Vin Tram Stop
Alight here, and enter the Cité Du Vin (the main entrance faces the street/tram stop).
After visiting the Cité Du Vin, walk towards the road, and turn LEFT, and cross the Pont Tournant des Ecluses bridge (using this nearside pavement).
At the end of the bridge, turn LEFT and follow the pathway that leads off towards the main river.
At the end of the path (when you return to a paved surface), continue STRAIGHT AHEAD and walk BELOW the “Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas” bridge.
Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas (Bridge)
If you’re very lucky, the bridge will be raised as you pass by it (the central part of the bridge rises horizontally, on four vertical pillars, to allow larger cruise ships to continue along the Garonne to central Bordeaux).
Fortunately, the times when the bridge will be raised can be found HERE (in French), so you don’t need to just “trust to luck” that the bridge will be raised when you visit.
You are now on the main riverside walkway leading back to the centre of Bordeaux, and as long as you keep the river on your left, it is virtually impossible to get lost. You just keep walking.
Along the way, and in order, you will see the Cap Sciences Science Museum, numerous eating/drinking places in the Bord’eau Village outlet centre (there are steps leading up to these places, but a step-free ramp can be found at various points – ex. HERE and HERE) and Les Hangars (Médoc) Public Ferry Stop (on your LEFT).
Miroir d'Eau
Finally reaching the Miroir d’Eau, and Bordeaux city centre – where this DIY Walking Tour Of Riverside Bordeaux now ends.
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