Top 10 Bordeaux museums and galleries

Bordeaux is one of France’s cultural capitals – and for good reason: 2 new places to visit since 2019 and a new opening in 2020. Here is our top 10 selection of super museums  for your next visit.

1 Cité du vin

1 Esplanade de Pontac, Bordeaux
Tram: La Cité du vin (Ligne B) or river boat

This is a personal favourite of ours (and a favourite of just about everyone who has visited so far). Opened in the summer of 2016, this striking building on the banks of the river Garonne is home to an imaginative and engaging interactive treat telling the story of wine across over the ages.  Use a free ‘travel companion’ (available in eight languages) to find your way around, drop in at La Cité du Vin’s Belvedere, where you can be awestruck by a 360° view of Bordeaux, dine in the restaurant or try wine by the glass from around the world. This is an ideal stop for the whole family. Take a look at our blog for more information.

2 Musée de la Mer Marine – NEW

89 rue des étrangers, BORDEAUX
Tram B : Arrêt Rue Achard 

Next door to La Cité du Vin is the new Museum dedicated to the maritime adventures the city had to offer once as one of the largest ports in Europe. We call it museum thanks to its wide and high standard collections. Its aim is the passing of history and knowledge and also a place to foster exchanges and art in general. With more than 10,000 marine objects (scale models and life-size boats, navigation instruments, maps and atlases) and pieces of art, the Musée Mer Marine collection covers several millennia of history of navigation. At the moment, the museum boasts a collection of Da Vinci inventions to celebrate the 500th year of his death until 6th of March 2020.

3 Natural History Museum – NEW

5 place Bardineau, Bordeaux
Tram: C and D (from Dec’19)

Completely renovated, the new Museum of Bordeaux is a place of wonder, an information space, debates and exchanges about the place of man in nature. Permanent tours, temporary exhibitions, multimedia shows, workshops and various surprises make each visit a unique experience. The Square Art and Sciences complete the offer. The architectural heritage and a contemporary museography contribute to the enhancement of the collections. Among the one million represented by the collections of the Museum, approximately 3,500 specimens are now presented through different exhibitions. A great place located in the beautiful Jardin Public makes it a great moment with young children.

4 Musée d’Aquitaine (Museum of Aquitaine)

20 cours Pasteur, Bordeaux
Tram: Hotel de Ville (Ligne A or C)

One of France’s largest historical museums outside of Paris, the museum charts the journey of the Aquitaine region from prehistoric times. The region is vast and varied, stretching from the mountains of Pyrenees to the vineyards of the Médoc, and from Arcachon Bay to the Landes. The museum is as varied and as interesting as its region. There are a few temporary exhibitions during the year. Just ask us when booking your holidays.

5 Musée des Beaux-Arts

20 Cours d’Albret, Bordeaux
Tram: Palais de Justice (Ligne A)

Set in a pleasant park, the Museum of Fine Arts is one of France’s largest galleries outside Paris. The south wing is home to paintings from the 16th century through until the 18th century, while the north wing focuses on the 19th and 20th centuries. There are paintings from some of Europe’s finest painters here, including Matisse, Picasso, Renoir and Rubens, alongside works from Bordeaux’s own artists such as Lhote, Marquet and Redo. There is also an excellent selection of Dutch works on display, which should impress visitors from Holland.

6 Cap Sciences

Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, Bordeaux
Tram: Les Hangars (Ligne B) or river boat

A science museum housed in an old storage hangar on the river, there are lots in interactive labs designed to ensure all members of the family learn and have fun.

7  Musée du Vin et du Négoce (Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum)

41 rue Borie, Bordeaux
Tram: Chartrons (Ligne B)

In the heart of Bordeaux’s old wine trading area, this museum allows you to visit an impressive stone vaulted cellar, and learn about old and new methods of Bordeaux wine production and sale. The finale is a tasting session of recommended wines of Bordeaux. This place is well appreciated by our clients as there are private masterclasses on Bordeaux wine in English all year around.

8  CAPC Musee d’Art Contemporain (Museum of Contemporary Arts)

7 rue Ferrère, Bordeaux
Tram: Musee d’Art Contemporain (Ligne B)

With over 1300 works from nearly 200 artists, this is one of the most important collections of modern and contemporary art in France. It’s housed in an old colonial warehouse and focuses on emerging art styles. Alongside the permanent show there are temporary exhibitions, art history talks, and learning experiences for the kids.

9 Musée National des Douanes (National Customs Museum)

1 place de la Bourse, Bordeaux
Tram: Place de la Bourse (Ligne C)

With a wonderful central location, this museum is housed in an unmissable 18th century building with a grand facade. There are lots of interesting curiosities here, including uniforms, furniture, maps and, of course, plenty of impounded items! There are also major works of art, including an impressionist painting by Claude Monet.

10 Submarine Base – OPENING ON 17th APRIL 2020

Impasse Brown de Colstoun, Bordeaux
Tram: La Cité du vin (Ligne B) or river boat

First impressions of this huge concrete building – one of five built by the Germans to house U-boats during World War II – are of a derelict, austere site. However this place is about to become one of Bordeaux’s premier exhibition spaces, hosting a variety of activities throughout the year, including art, concerts, opera, jazz, theatre and dance. Check the website for events and official opening.

Credits : © Culturespaces – Nuit de Chine ; © akg-images ; © akg-images / Erich Lessing ; © Heritage Images / Fine Art Images / akg-images