City guide · Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Walk along the Garonne into the Port of the Moon to understand a merchant port, urban renewal and wine culture
Bordeaux's historic district spreads along a curving stretch of the Garonne, which gives the Port of the Moon its name. Place de la Bourse and the riverside façades show the 18th-century remodelling of the city, while the old-town streets keep an earlier layout; La Cité du Vin presents wine culture through exhibitions, which is not the same as visiting a château. Also worth visiting in the city: Place de la Bourse, the Miroir d'eau and La Cité du Vin. The individual châteaux are scattered across different surrounding appellations, so check addresses and booking requirements before you go.
History
How the city came to be
The bend of the Garonne where Bordeaux stands was settled early, and after the Roman conquest of Gaul it gradually developed into a port and market town. The medieval city had close trading ties with England and the Low Countries, and the port and the wine trade gradually became its defining features. In the 18th century the city began a large-scale renewal: new public squares, quayside façades and straight streets made the classical ensemble facing the river today's most striking sight. Place de la Bourse was built mainly between 1730 and 1755 and embodies the spatial language of this transformation. In the 19th century the city kept expanding, and its port functions and modes of transport changed. The Miroir d'eau, opened on the square in 2006, added a new public-space perspective on the old buildings; in 2007 "Bordeaux, Port of the Moon" was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as a continuous historic urban landscape. La Cité du Vin, opened in 2016, reinterprets local and world wine culture through exhibitions. On your visit you can walk from the old town to the riverside to understand how a port city links commercial history, urban design and contemporary cultural venues; the World Heritage area and the surrounding wine-growing appellations must not be confused as one place.
- Roman periodThe river-bend settlement developed into a port and market town.
- Middle AgesTrade between the port and England and the Low Countries grew.
- Early 18th centuryLarge-scale urban renewal began along the riverside and around the old town.
- 1730–1755Place de la Bourse and the surrounding buildings took shape.
- 2006The Miroir d'eau in front of Place de la Bourse came into use.
- 2007Bordeaux, Port of the Moon was inscribed as a World Heritage Site.
- 2016La Cité du Vin opened.
Stories
Stories of the city
Eleanor of Aquitaine and the English era
History · Bordeaux
In the 12th century, Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, married Henry, Count of Anjou, who succeeded to the English crown months later as Henry II. He granted Bordeaux tax-free trade with England, and the locals, whose main income was wine, profited all the more. For some three centuries Bordeaux remained tied to the English crown, until it was annexed by France after the Battle of Castillon in 1453.
Must see
Places you shouldn’t miss
La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux
Learn about the cultural meaning of wine in different regions through the exhibitions, then finish by looking over the Bordeaux riverside from t…
Bordeaux
The old town centred on the Port of the Moon was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007. The Place de la Bourse and its water mirror, Sain…
Before you go
Rules to know in Bordeaux
France: Check the signs before taking photos; no flash or selfie sticks
Do
- In permanent galleries, handheld photos for personal, non-commercial use are allowed
- Check the signs at temporary exhibitions, which often ban all photography for copyright reasons
- Put your camera away in rooms marked with a no-photo sign
- Check each museum's official rules on large bags and the cloakroom
Don’t
- Don't use flash at any time; strong light can damage old paintings and artefacts
- Don't bring a selfie stick to the Louvre or other museums that ban them
- Don't block paintings or walkways for long
- Don't touch the exhibits
Security staff enforce the flash and selfie-stick bans; you will be stopped, and banned equipment may have to be checked in or left behind.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: American Friends of the Louvre: FAQ
France: Keep your voice down in public and never jump the queue
Do
- Queue patiently and leave a little space in front of you
- Speak quietly on public transport and in museums and libraries
- Let passengers off first and don't block doors or aisles
- Keep to the right on pavements and escalators
- Offer your seat to older people, pregnant women and people with disabilities
- Say Bonjour to staff when you enter a bakery or shop
Don’t
- Don't cut in or push
- Don't take calls or play music on speaker
- At markets, don't pick produce yourself; let the vendor choose for you
Cutting in or being loud won't get you fined, but it is considered rude. Some guides note that queues at stations or markets can be looser; still wait your turn and don't push.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: We3Travel: 16 French etiquette tips for Paris
France: Say Bonjour when you enter a shop; friends greet with la bise
Do
- Say Bonjour when you enter a shop and Au revoir when you leave
- Friends and acquaintances greet with la bise, a light touch of cheeks
- The number of kisses varies by region; follow the other person's lead or go with two
- In formal business settings and first meetings, use a brief, firm handshake
- Use vous with new acquaintances, elders and service staff; switch to tu only when invited
Don’t
- Don't start asking a shop assistant questions without greeting them
- Don't initiate la bise in business settings or at a first meeting
- Don't hug strangers
Nobody will penalise you, but skipping the greeting in a shop is seen as rude, and getting la bise wrong shows you don't know local ways. Two kisses are usual in Paris and the north, three in parts of the south, and customs vary elsewhere.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: La Minute Française: Guide to la bise
France: Dress modestly in churches and remove your hat
Do
- Dress modestly, covering shoulders, knees and midriff
- Take off your hat, silence your phone and keep your voice low inside
- In summer, carry a light scarf to cover your shoulders when needed
- Check the signs before taking photos; ask staff if unsure
Don’t
- Don't walk in front of people who are praying
- Don't touch statues or eat inside the church
- Don't use flash or take photos where it is forbidden
French churches rarely check clothing at the door, but revealing outfits are seen as disrespect toward a place of worship, and some churches may require modest dress and refuse entry to those who are not. Follow the notice at the door or the church's website.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Viator: Know before you go to Notre-Dame
France: Put bread on the tablecloth and tear it by hand
Do
- Wait until everyone is served and the host says Bon appétit
- Put your bread straight on the tablecloth beside your plate
- Tear off bite-sized pieces by hand
- Rest your wrists on the table edge with your hands in view
- Make eye contact when toasting and say Santé
- Ask for une carafe d'eau for free tap water
Don’t
- Don't put bread on your plate or cut it with a knife
- Don't bite into a whole piece of bread
- Don't plant your elbows on the table during the meal
- Don't cut lettuce with a knife; fold it into a small parcel with your fork
- Don't switch your fork to your right hand after cutting, American-style
Nothing happens if you slip up, but you will come across as unfamiliar with French table manners. Tap water is free; bottled water is charged.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: La Minute Française: French dining etiquette
France: Service is included in the price, so tipping is optional
Do
- Look for "service compris" (service included) on the menu or bill
- If service was good, you can leave a small tip (pourboire) as thanks
- Round up to the nearest euro for coffee; leave €1–2 per person at ordinary restaurants
- At upscale restaurants, leave 5%–10% for especially attentive service
- Tip in cash where possible, so it is sure to reach your server
Don’t
- Don't assume you must pay an extra service charge; it is already in the price
- Don't wait for the bill to arrive on its own; signal when you are ready to pay
Tipping is entirely voluntary and not tipping is not rude; knowing what "service compris" means saves you from paying twice. French law requires restaurant prices to include service (commonly said to be about 15%), and meals are unhurried, so servers rarely bring the bill unasked.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: AFAR: When and how much to tip in France
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