Bordeaux itinerary — 3 days

The monumental cathedral of Bordeaux, consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1096 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Camino de Santiago. It was the setting for the historic 1137 wedding of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Louis VII of France. The cathedral boasts a cavernous 124-metre-long nave and the carved 13th-century Royal Gate. Beside the cathedral stands the freestanding 66-metre Tour Pey-Berland bell tower with panoramic views.

The freestanding bell tower of Bordeaux's Saint-André Cathedral, constructed in the Flamboyant Gothic style between 1440 and 1500 under Archbishop Pey Berland. The 66-meter tower was built separately to protect the main cathedral from the heavy vibrations of its massive bells. Climbing the 229 steps of the spiral staircase leads to two open-air galleries beneath a gilded statue of the Virgin, rewarding climbers with panoramic city views.

Bordeaux's premier history and archaeology museum, housed in a grand 19th-century university building on Cours Pasteur. The museum covers over 400,000 years of regional history, displaying treasures from the prehistoric Venus of Laussel and Roman Burdigala bronzes to the Renaissance cenotaph of philosopher Michel de Montaigne. An insightful gallery thoroughly examines Bordeaux's 18th-century maritime expansion and colonial port trade.

The 15th-century Gothic Saint-Eloi gate with its clock and great bell is an ancient symbol of Bordeaux shown on the city's coat of arms. The bell marked the hours, summoned townsfolk and warned of fires; recast several times, the present one dates to the 18th century. The towers served as the belfry of the old town hall. The gate stands on a pedestrian street in the old town on the way to Place de la Victoire, framed by cafes and shops.

Renaissance city gates 35 metres tall, raised in 1494-1496 to celebrate King Charles VIII's Italian campaign. An odd mixture of Gothic and Renaissance: pointed turrets, carved scallop shells and grinning gargoyles. Inside is a small exhibition on medieval Bordeaux, and a narrow spiral staircase climbs to a viewing platform over the Garonne and the old town's rooftops. The gates once opened straight onto the river; today they face Place du Palais.

Commissioned by Napoleon, the Pont de Pierre was the first stone bridge built across the Garonne in Bordeaux, opening in 1822. Designed by engineer Claude Deschamps, the masonry bridge spans 17 arches, matching the 17 letters in the name 'Napoléon Bonaparte'. Decorated with elegant medallion reliefs of the emperor and the city crest, the span is now reserved exclusively for pedestrians, cyclists, and trams.

A Gothic basilica of the 14th-16th centuries in the Saint-Michel quarter, listed by UNESCO as part of the Way of Saint James. Because of the marshy ground its 114-metre bell tower stands apart from the nave and served sailors as a landmark for centuries. A crypt with catacombs lies beneath; inside, the stained glass and a statue of Archangel Michael slaying the dragon stand out.

Darwin Eco-systeme is an alternative quarter on the right bank of the Garonne, developed since 2010 inside the derelict Niel military barracks. Under the roofs of old hangars sit an indoor skatepark, an organic grocery, a bakery, bars and coworking spaces, while the facades carry street art renewed every season. From the rooftop you get an unusual view of Bordeaux's stone quays across the river. Entry is free.

An ultra-modern cultural centre and wine museum opened in 2016 along the banks of the Garonne River. Its futuristic, flowing silhouette by XTU Architects evokes swirling wine and twisted vine trunks. Interactive multimedia exhibits guide visitors through the history, geography, and sensory world of global winemaking using touchscreens and aromas. Standard admission includes a complimentary glass of wine at the 8th-floor 360-degree Belvédère.

A vast submarine pen on the bank of the Garonne, built for the Italian navy during the Second World War under the code name Betasom. Its massive concrete shells with four inclined docks survived every bombing. Today it is a cultural venue: Bassins des Lumières digital art shows and concerts take place here, and the scale of the structure impresses as much as the programmes.

The world's largest digital art centre, housed within a colossal World War II submarine base in Bordeaux. High-definition projections of iconic artworks are cast onto massive raw concrete walls and reflected across four immense twelve-meter-deep water basins. Visitors stroll along elevated gangways accompanied by evocative soundtracks, experiencing an unforgettable 360-degree immersive light and sound show.