Bordeaux, a strong identity between land and water

The Gironde, is, first and foremost, water.
La Garonne and the Dordogne meet to form the firth of the Gironde, the longest in Europe: 100 km.

The Arachon Basin "a veritable interior sea"
is exceptional. Opening to the Atlantic Ocean,
it is dominated by the Dune de Pyla,
the highest in Europe: 114 m of sand.




The ocean side offers superb beaches
from the Pointe de Verdun to the border of Landes.
Its lakes - Hourtin-Carcans, Lacanau and Cazaux - are among the largest in France.

Land of tradition

The Gironde is also vines and forests. Here, the vines are spread throughout 500 communities, and its legacy is lavished with a history still distinguished by wineries and the wine trade, its appellations d'origine controlée (AOC) are famous throughout the world..

It is also the second most forested department in France, where pine forests comprise nearly 400 000 hectares.
The Foret des Landes de Gascogne, an ancient marshland, is accessible to pedestrians today, thanks to a network of cycling paths.


Less than three hours From Paris

At the crossroads of two major highways linking Northern Europe and Spain, the Gironde is less than three hours from Paris, by the TGV Atlantique.
It is internationally accessible by air through the Aeroport de Bordeaux Mérignac.
The regional capital, Bordeaux, is the heart of commerce and the economy of the Gironde and is the seventh largest city in France.


It is a land of innovation with industries such as high technology, chemistry, information technology, research and aerospace.

The Gironde and its regions

The Coeur-Entre-Deux-Mers : St Loubes, Créon, Targon, langon, ...

Landes and Gascogne : Villandraut, Bazas, Captieux, ...

Médoc : Soulac, Hourtin, Lacanau, ...

Haute Gironde : St Palais, Blaye, St André se Cubzac, ...

The Libournais : Libourne, St Emilion, Castillon la Bataille, Coutras, ...

The Basin d'Arrachon : Arcachon, Cap Ferret, Belin-Beliet, ...

Bordeaux and its neighbourhoods

The Lake : Bati In the 1970s, this district was constantly evolving. The green belt of Bordeaux, it also houses modern convention and exhibition facilities.

Bacalan : A maritime and port district that crosses the threshold of the commercial rue Achard to a striking cultural heritage of plazas, boutiques, kitchen gardens, small streets and alley ways, warehouses and manufacturers all in an atypical atmosphere of conviviality and kinship.

Grand Parc - Chartrons - Paul Doumer : The Grand Parc district and Chartrons create a balance between urban design and exceptional natural areas: the river, the public garden and the eight hectares of greenery that make up the Grand Parc.

The Bastide : A relatively young area of Bordeaux, dating from the 19th century with the construction of the Pont de Pierre. This quarter is enjoying a new boom at the joining of the two rivers.
In full renovation and rich in potential, La Bastide is taking on its new role as the Town Centre and the hub of activity without losing its character.

Hôtel de ville - Quinconces - St Eloi - St Pierre :
Historical center of Bordeaux, the Hôtel de ville - Quinconces gives this city attributes of both a regional metropolis and one of history.

St Seurin - Fondaudège : Resolutely residential, this area has a life apart from the town center yet utilises both its proximity and its accessibility.
Each sector of the District is its own small village of shops and stone houses built around islets of greenery and organised around commercial centres and local services.
Here, the area takes on its true character. The people here know one another and have for generations. Like their parents, the local children share benches at school, swim at the pool (la piscine Judaique) and play together in the public garden (le Jardin Public).

Caudéran : Dating from the 19th century near bourg de Saint-Amand and annexed by Bordeaux in 1965, Caudéran is a district apart. A residential area jealously guarding its life style, it is often called the «Neuilly Bordelais». This area offers charm to families seeking a quiet community with convenient upscale shopping and services.
Ici le patrimoine architectural et végétal ajoute à la qualité des lieux.

St Augustin - Quintin - Loucheur - Tondu :
When, at the beginning of The 20th century, Bordeaux, confined by its boulevards and streets, looked for an area for development, it naturally looked to the west.
In just a few decades, three new districts shot up on the untouched land surrounding the municipal hospices and hospitals constructed in the 19th century. The « village » of Saint Augustin, built around its church, the suburbs of Quintin et Loucheur and their shops, and Tauzin, a district of small tract homes built in the 1960s.

St Bruno - St Victor - Mériadeck : A colourful area, Mériadeck is a mélange of styles:
residential areas, traditional shops, and a new 'green house' city;
convenient services available in larger areas;
seniors attached to the history of the area as well as young students and workers who appreciate the convenience of the district so well served by public transport.

Capucines - Victoire - St. Michel - Ste Croix : tourists from around the world share this historic district in the center with the young students and families of Bordeaux offering public services that add to the quality of an urban lifestyle.

Nansouty - St Genes - Simiot - Barrière de Toulouse : just a few steps from the centre of town, the Gare Saint Jean and the university campus, this district is typically Bordelais. The rows of shops and the sector of small homes were built over the centuries all along the old roads to Toulouse and Bayonne to create a remarkable architectural ensemble typical of the urban image of Bordeaux.

St. Jean - Belcier - Carle Vernet - Albert 1ère - Sacré Cour :
This district constitutes one of the city's major entrances.
Once plans for development, planned for both structure and appearance, were announced for the area, it took its future by the horns. Objective: to add value to its residential areas by creating an infrastructure for urban renewal and to ensure the development of a centre for business and services.