Walking tour of Saint-Michel and the quays of Bordeaux: 1h45, 3.7 km
A walk through our own neighbourhood, between a lively local market, medieval monuments and a view over the Garonne.
Practical information
- Duration: around 1h45
- Distance: around 3.7 km
- Start and finish: from our B&B, 24 rue des Fours
- Best time: morning, when Capucins Market is at its liveliest (closed on Mondays)
This walk introduces our own neighbourhood, less trodden by visitors in a hurry than the classical centre. Allow around an hour and three quarters to cover its 3.7 kilometres, at an easy pace. It works well in the morning, when Capucins Market is at its liveliest, but also late in the day for the light on the medieval monuments. You feel a more working-class Bordeaux here, shaped by centuries of craftsmen and traders, taking in the spire of Saint-Michel Basilica, the Grosse Cloche and Porte Cailhau. The banks of the Garonne are 150 metres away, a two-minute walk. It starts and ends at our home, 24 rue des Fours, where we're always glad to share our favourite addresses.
The stops
Leaving our door, the spire of Saint-Michel Basilica already draws the eye.
1. Saint-Michel Basilica and its spire
📍A Flamboyant Gothic basilica built from the 14th to the 16th century, topped by a freestanding spire that gave its name to the neighbourhood.
The route then passes through Capucins Market, the neighbourhood's own hub.
2. Capucins Market
📍The neighbourhood's covered market, between producers' stalls and counters where people eat standing from the morning on.
Further on, the Grosse Cloche marks one of the city's old medieval gateways.
3. Grosse Cloche (Big Bell)
📍A two-towered medieval belfry, a former city gate and a symbol of Bordeaux for centuries.
The walk then reaches Porte Cailhau, facing the river.
4. Porte Cailhau
📍A late 15th-century city gate facing the river, poised between Gothic and Renaissance.
It ends within sight of the Pont de Pierre, the first bridge built across the Garonne in Bordeaux.
5. Pont de Pierre (Stone Bridge)
📍The first bridge built over the Garonne in Bordeaux, with its seventeen stone-and-brick arches.
Start and finish: our home, 24 rue des Fours
Addresses along the way
- Déméter — 9 rue Ausone — Sharing neo-bistro, creative small plates, natural wines. One of our favourites. 📍
- Julo — 11 rue des Faures — Quality snacking two steps away. Ideal for a quick, well-made lunch. 📍
- Le Passage Saint-Michel — 14 pl. Canteloup — A former banana-ripening warehouse turned brasserie and second-hand shop. South-West cooking served all day, a large terrace at the foot of the Saint-Michel spire, open every day. 📍
- Monkey Mood — 11 rue Camille Sauvageau — A short walk from the B&B. Brunch and lunch, accessible world cuisine. 📍
- Tripletta — 30 pl. Meynard — Neapolitan pizzas, cocktails and natural wines, on a large terrace on Place Saint-Michel, facing the basilica. 📍
- Le bistrot du cachalot — 19 pl. Canteloup — Good value, neighbourhood atmosphere, fresh produce. Generous portions of mussels. 📍
All our neighbourhood addresses
Check availability →