Bordeaux in January: a good time to travel

Now that the Christmas and New Year celebrations are over, it’s time to start planning the first getaway of the year. Bordeaux in January is a wonderful option that you should consider, with its charm and tradition, this city invites you to explore it and discover all its secrets.

There is no better way to start a new year than with a free tour of Bordeaux. These will take you to the main attractions of the place, where wine will always be the protagonist. As you know, this city is known for having some of the most exquisite and highly valued wines in the world. There is even a museum dedicated to its history, but we will talk about that later.

Why should you visit Bordeaux in January?

Here are some of the reasons why you should visit Bordeaux in January:

• Fewer tourists and more authenticity: by travelling in this month, you’ll avoid the summer crowds, allowing you to enjoy a more authentic experience. The less crowded streets offer you the opportunity to explore the city at your own pace and interact more intimately with the locals.
• This month is perfect for those looking for a quieter, more romantic trip. Strolling through the Jardin Public or along the quays of the Garonne River offers moments of peace and natural beauty, ideal for relaxing and reconnecting.
• This city, known as “Sleeping Beauty”, is famous for its stunning 18th century architecture. During January, the winter illumination further enhances the beauty of monuments such as the Place de la Bourse, creating a magical and photogenic atmosphere.
• Although it is winter, the weather here tends to be milder than in other parts of Europe. This allows you to enjoy outdoor activities, such as strolling along the Garonne river or visiting nearby vineyards, without the extreme cold of other regions.
• Of course, this is the rainiest month in Bordeaux.
• Although it is the low season, Bordeaux still offers cultural events, including exhibitions in museums such as the Musée des Beaux-Arts. January is also the month of the winter sales, ideal for those looking for bargain shopping.

The charm of Bordeaux in January

The holidays are over, but the magical atmosphere can be extended for a few more days. Although we have told you that the place is not as cold as in other regions of Europe, the temperatures are still a little low. So winter clothing will still be your best bet.

Although it may seem a little hard to believe, until a few years ago, Bordeaux was a somewhat neglected city. Thanks to the initiative of its rulers in conjunction with its inhabitants, it has evolved into the modern city it is today, open to tourism, but without neglecting its traditional and historic side.

If this is your first time discovering its charms, here are some ideas if you don’t know what to see in Bordeaux in four days. We’ll talk about historical sites, review the best of the local gastronomic offer and talk about the influence of wine in the region.

Bassins de lumières

Bassins de lumières is an exhibition as novel as it is charming and original, certainly one of the reasons why it is worth visiting Bordeaux. First of all, you should know that this place used to be a former submarine base of 42,000 m² that was built by the Germans during World War II.

Now, it is a digital art centre that combines lights and sound. Images are projected on the anti-bombing walls, while being reflected on the water where Italian and German U-boats were stationed during this period.

La Cité du Vin

In English it would be something like the city of wine. As you may already know, Bordeaux is geographically developed as one of the largest wine producing regions in the world. In fact, wine has been part of Bordeaux’s history for thousands of years. Some even state that it was the Romans who established the first vineyards in this area.

Well, the Cité du Vin is a wonderful place to visit in Bordeaux in January, although it is a bit out of the centre, you have good public transport options to get there. It is a cultural facility completely dedicated to wine, its history and industry, offering a completely sensory experience.

Spread over an area of 13,350 m², it is ranked seventh among the best museums in the world. It has thematic and interactive areas, with activities and plans for all ages, including the youngest visitors.

The mirror of water

For some, the Bordeaux water mirror is what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, i.e. its main attraction. It is a large esplanade of 3,450 m², which has earned it the place of being the largest in the world.

Built in 2006, it is located between the Place de la Bourse and the river Garonne, and is equipped with a series of water jets arranged on the ground. Every so often they release a small amount of water, causing the space to fill a few millimetres and creating a beautiful mirror.

Halles de Bacalan food market

When it comes to enjoying its gastronomy, there are many restaurants in Bordeaux that you can find. Without a doubt, a visit to the Halles de Bacalan market is all you need to get to know its flavour and culinary tradition first hand. Among the star products you can’t miss are foie gras and oysters from the famous Arcachon Bay.

If you have a passion for sweets, we recommend you go for the cannelé. This is a traditional dessert that was the result of a kind of experiment made from leftover egg yolks, the whites of which were used to clarify wine. One day, some nuns mixed them with a little rum and vanilla and this is what they got.

A walk along the river Garonne

The Garonne is one of the main rivers in France, as well as being an important source of economic activity, as it is used as a trade route between neighbouring towns. From here you can get to know or enjoy the city from another point of view. There are companies that offer boat trips, most of which take approximately an hour and a half.

During the trip you will be able to enjoy the main attractions of the city, such as the bridges, the Cité du Vin, the Place de la Bourse, among many others. As we have already explained, many of these places are illuminated at night, which you will love.

These tours are available all year round, starting very early in the morning. If you allow us to make a recommendation, we must say that the best time to do it is around sunset. You will see in the foreground how the sun begins to set and little by little the city lights up.

Discovering the medieval gates

Bordeaux has more than two thousand years of history and during medieval times it was a fortified city, like many others in Europe. Its extensive wall had nine gates that gave access to visitors and pilgrims, although over time some of them were destroyed. Today, you can see six of them:

• Aquitaine Gate. Built in 1753, it was named after the Duke of Aquitaine, who had just been born at the time. It has the appearance of a triumphal arch and is located in the former Place Saint Julien.
• Burgundy Gate. Erected between 1750 and 1753, it is known as the Arc de Triomphe or the Porte des Salinières. This is because salt was one of the main products traded at the time.
• Gate of the Great Bell. It is perhaps the most famous in Bordeaux, as well as the oldest. It dates from medieval times and, together with the Cailhau Gate, is one of the few monuments you can find from this period.
• Cailhau Gate. One of the most famous and most photographed monuments in the city. It is located on the banks of the river, between the Place de la Bourse and the Porte de Bourgogne. Its construction dates back to between 1493 and 1496, it is 35 metres high and commemorates the victory of King Charles VIII in the battle of Fornovo.
• Dijeaux Gate. Built in 1748, it has many architectural similarities with the Porte d’Aquitaine. It is behind the Place de Gambetta, just at the end of Rue Bouffard.
• Porte de la Monnaie. Built between 1752 and 1758, it is located next to the Mint, between the Stone Bridge and St John’s Bridge.