Choose from 490 Fun Things to Do in France
American Military Cemetery
Ancient Theatre of Fourvière (Theatre Romains de Fourvière)
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Bordeaux Cruise Port
There are over 350 buildings and monuments listed as Historic in the city and in the past decades a major project has been undertaken to clean the facades and put in a tram-service with no overhead wires to mar the beauty of the city.
Greeting arriving ships to the port is a one kilometer stretch of gracious historic palaces which line the quay built in the 17th and 18th century - even back then Bordeaux was keen to make a good first impression on visitors and it continues to do so today.
How to Get to Bordeaux
This is a river port which lies 60 miles (90 km) inland from the Bay of Biscay. Ships travel up the Gironde Estuary and the Garonne River for about six hours before heading under a suspension bridge and round a bend to reveal the city of Bordeaux in all its 18th century magnificence. Ships dock alongside the quay, right in the heart of the city. To reach the historic city all you need to do is cross the road.
One Day in Bordeaux
If you have only one day in Bordeaux you will need to choose between wine and architecture. If you choose wine there are many excursions outside town to respected vineyards such as Medoc and Chateau Mouton Rothschild and pretty wine towns such as Saint-Emilion. If your preference is for architecture - and perhaps shopping and dining - Bordeaux is a wonderful city to explore on foot, or on the new improved tram system.
The opera house Opera National de Bordeaux is the cultural heart of the city and an elaborate building in itself as well as host to world-class music. Place Parlement is filled with outdoor cafes for people watching, and St Andre Cathedral is a lovely 17th-century church. Place de la Bourse (Place Royale) is a pinnacle of the style of the city and is wonderfully lit up at night. And of course there are many places you can taste, learn about and buy wine from the local region.
Port Information
The language spoken is French but Bordeaux has many visitors so English is spoken in many shops and restaurants, although the French may be reluctant to use it. The currency is the Euro. Be aware that the river is tidal so the gangway may change angle quite dramatically over the hours as the waters rise and fall with the tide. These tides are also the reason the river is murky.
Bossons Glacier (Glacier des Bossons)
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Cours Mirabeau
Simply strolling the wide avenue – a spacious 42 meters wide - is enough to unveil many of its charms. Elegant 17th-century mansions, walled gardens and ornamental fountains line the sidewalks and a pit stop at one of the many alfresco cafés is the perfect way to take in the scenery. Once home to the city’s elite, Cours Mirabeau boasts one-time residents like a young Cezanne and architectural highlights include the monumental entrance of Hotel de Villiers and the regal Hôtel d'Arbod Jouques. Look out for the many impressive fountains along the route too; most notably the masterpiece of ‘La Rotonde’, which takes center stage in the Place Général de Gaulle.
Carnavalet Museum (Musee Carnavalet)
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Bourg
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Cours Saleya Flower Market (Marche aux Fleurs Cours Saleya)
- Dress for the weather, with plenty of sun protection in summer.
- Bring cash, as most vendors do not accept credit cards.
- Expect large crowds during summer.
Alpilles Natural Regional Park (Parc Naturel R egional des Alpilles)
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Antibes
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Antibes Port Vauban
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Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum
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Court of Scents (Cour des Senteurs)
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Conciergerie
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Coustellet Lavender Museum
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Crazy Horse Cabaret
- Dress respectably. Ties and jackets are not required, but shorts, sneakers, and sportswear are not allowed.
- Performances contain partial nudity and may not be suitable for kids.
- For the ultimate indulgence, splurge on a private VIP booth to sip Champagne and snack on caviar during the show.
- Seats are not reservable; they are assigned and allocated on the night of the show.
- The Crazy Horse is wheelchair accessible.
British War Cemetery
The peaceful Bayeux War Cemetery is the largest of the 18 Commonwealth military cemeteries in Normandy. It contains 4,868 graves of soldiers from the UK and 10 other countries (including Germany, in contrast to the American cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer). Many of the soldiers buried here were never identified, and the headstones are simply marked 'A Soldier Known Unto God'. The bodies of 1,807 other Commonwealth soldiers were never found, and are commemorated on the memorial across the main road.
Bayeux was liberated by the Allies in June 1944 and became the seat of government for France until Paris was liberated. In this time the British built the ring road to enable military vehicles to move around the city and established many military hospitals. Many of those buried in the cemetery are from those hospitals.
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The cemetery is on the south-west side of the ring road around the city, near the intersection of Boulevard Fabien Ware and Route du Molay-Littry, opposite the Museum of the Battle of Normandy.