Schmap Bordeaux Neighborhood Guide

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Bordeaux - Neighborhood Guide
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Bordeaux Home
Schmap Bordeaux guide and map

Bordeaux may be made up of "arrondissements" like Paris, but people tend to talk about the city in terms of quarters (quartiers). Each quarter has a name and encompasses a relatively precise area, often flanked by two main roads or streets. Let's start with the oldest one, which is often considered the most beautiful of Bordeaux's quarters.

The Saint Pierre Quarter

Right in the heart of Bordeaux, the St. Pierre quarter is the historic centre of the town. It is made up of beautiful little streets, some of which are still paved. Saint Pierre is Bordeaux's culinary capital, with a large amount of restaurants to suit every taste and pocket—something for gourmets and gourmands. The Place du Parlement is home to some wonderful architecture and a decorative fountain. Also in the area is the Eglise Saint Pierre, built in the XVth and XVIth centuries on the site of the former Gallo-roman port.

The Chartrons Quarter

This very attractive quarter, set on the banks of the Garonne, used to be very busy and wealthy thanks to the wine trade. Here, merchants and businessmen rubbed shoulders with sailors and labourers. Its name comes from the Chartreux convent, built in the XVIIth century, and it used to be the centre both of the town and of Anglo-Saxon and protestant life. With the decline of river-trade, the quarter emptied, becoming a calm residential area with antique shops. A section of the quarter is today known as the "village des antiquaries" or antique-shop village. In this area visitors can take in the Musée des Chartrons, and nearer the banks of the Garonne the Croiseur Colbert. Not far from here is the magnificent Centre of Contemporary Art (CAPC).

The Saint Eloi Quarter

This focal point of this quarter is, of course, the Grosse Cloche, just next to the Eglise Saint Eloi. Bordeaux's main shopping street (2kms long!), the rue Sainte Catherine, is nearby. The Grosse Cloche links the Saint Michel, Victoire and Saint Pierre quarters—it is a sort of crossroads for the oldest, pre-medieval quarters and the areas that were modernised from the XVIIth century onwards.

The Saint Michel Quarter

Separated from the St. Pierre quarter by the cours Victor Hugo, the St. Michel quarter is by far the liveliest and most colourful area in town. Spaniards, Portuguese, North Africans and French live happily side-by-side, and visitors can enjoy food and drink from a variety of cultures, often at very reasonable prices. Built around the Saint Michel basilica, a Gothic church erected at the end of the XVth century, and the Flèche Saint Michel, at 114 metres the highest monument in Bordeaux, this popular quarter has a young vibe. Every Monday morning there is a clothes market on the square and Saturday mornings see two other large markets: the Capucins, on rue Elie Gintrac and the one around the flèche Saint Michel. Sunday morning is reserved for bric-a brac and antiques. Guaranteed to be buzzing.

The Sainte Croix Quarter

Formerly a suburb, this quarter only became part of the city proper in the XIVth century. The Romanesque church of Sainte Croix, built between the end of the XIth and XII centuries, stands on the place Renaudel. This institution remained Benedictine until the Revolution and is now a parish church. Today the heart of the quarter borders the older, pre-XIIIth century areas and the zones that were modernised during the XIXth and XXth centuries.

The Station Quarter

On arrival in Bordeaux's train station, visitors can immediately admire the building itself—the Gare—an enormous hall built in the arc of a circle. This quarter equals 24-hour service par excellence as the place to buy food, drink and cigarettes, day or night. It is a popular area, with numerous sex-shops, bars, restaurants and hotels (from basic to luxurious). Travellers weary from their train journey can try the Hôtel Ibis.

The Victoire Quarter

Centre of student night-life, the Place de la Victoire is one of Bordeaux's larger squares. Just like a compass, this focal point looks to the North, South, East and West and as such is a good place from which to orient yourself. The rue Sainte Catherine starts with the passage under the Porte d'Aquitaine.

The Grands Hommes Quarter

This chic, elegant quarter is home to the old Dominican Notre Dame church, built in 1684. Not far from here are the former place Dauphine (1747), the Place Gambetta, the Allées de Tourny, a walkway which was done up in 1745 by Tourny, and the cours de l'Intendance, a triumphal way used by many a King and chief of State. The Grand Théâtre stands on the place de la Comédie.

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Chartrons

Bordeaux
France

This very attractive quarter, set on the banks of the Garonne, used to be very busy and wealthy thanks to the wine trade. Here, merchants and businessmen rubbed shoulders with sailors and labourers. Its name comes from the Chartreux convent, built in the XVIIth century, and it used to be the centre both of the town and of Anglo-Saxon and protestant life. With the decline of river-trade, the quarter emptied, becoming a calm residential area with antique shops. A section of the quarter is today known as the "village des antiquaries" or antique-shop village. In this area visitors can take in the Musée des Chartrons, and nearer the banks of the Garonne the Croiseur Colbert. Not far from here is the magnificent centre of Contemporary Art (CAPC).

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Kathryne Taylor

Photo: Jean Luc Boulin

Photo: v3ga

Photo: Michele L. Lefebvre

Photo: Hien Le

Photo: Jeremy Lage

Photo: valmente

Photo: Clement Roth

City Centre

Bordeaux
France
The centre of Bordeaux comprises several quarters offering a wide variety of attractions. Of the neighborhoods found here, St. Pierre, perhaps most notably, lies in the heart of Bordeaux, and is the historic centre of the town. It is made up of beautiful little streets, some of which are still paved. Saint Pierre is Bordeaux's culinary capital, with a large variety of restaurants to suit every taste and pocket—something for gourmets and gourmands alike. The Place du Parlement is home to some wonderful architecture and a decorative fountain. Also in the area is the Eglise Saint Pierre, built in the XVth and XVIth centuries on the site of the former Gallo-Roman port.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: mistca (Eugene Zhuko

Saint Jean

Bordeaux
France
Along the Southern edge of the city, Saint Jean spreads all the way to the river and is a nice area for a stroll among shops, churches, and scenery.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Bertrand DUPERRIN
Photo: Bertrand DUPERRIN
Photo: cyphermyst@gmail.com
Photo: Antoine Courtot
Photo: al_7akawati
Photo: Henry de S. Copeland
Photo: Tildo
Photo: jipolo

Saint Michel/Victoire

Bordeaux
France
Separated from the St. Pierre quarter by the cours Victor Hugo, the St. Michel quarter is by far the liveliest and most colourful area in town. Spaniards, Portuguese, North Africans and French live happily side-by-side, and visitors can enjoy food and drink from a variety of cultures, often at very reasonable prices. Built around the Saint Michel basilica, a Gothic church erected at the end of the XVth century, and the Flèche Saint Michel, at 114 metres the highest monument in Bordeaux, this popular quarter has a young vibe. Every Monday morning there is a clothes market on the square, and Saturday mornings see two other large markets: the Capucins, on rue Elie Gintrac and the one around the flèche Saint Michel. Sunday morning is reserved for bric-a-brac and antiques.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: NeiTech
Photo: Bernard Higonnet
Photo: Olivier Boisseau
Photo: NeiTech
Photo: Gonzalo Hernández Ar
Photo: Cyril Gana
Photo: Ignacio Herrera Aguilar
Photo: Alain Muller

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Bordeaux - Neighborhood Guide"
Bordeaux
Bordeaux - Historical Background
Bordeaux - Where to Stay
Bordeaux - Dining & Drinking
Bordeaux - Art & Entertainment
Other nearby cities:
Bilbao (234 miles)
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Marseille (500 miles)
Paris (504 miles)
Madrid (540 miles)
Salamanca (596 miles)
Valencia (608 miles)

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