Panoramic Bordeaux & Wine Museum (Ending in Pauillac)

See Bordeaux’s cultural and historical landmarks on an enlightening driving tour and then browse an architecturally stunning museum devoted to wine.

After departing from the pier, you will soon reach the heart of Bordeaux, an extraordinary city that UNESCO has recognized as a World Heritage site for its cultural values and well-preserved architecture. While driving along, you will pass one highlight after another, from the Chartrons riverfront where the wine trade began to the glorious Grand Theatre, an architectural masterpiece inaugurated in 1780.

In time, you will arrive at La Cité du Vin, a museum designed with bold curves and shapes that evoke iconic symbols of Bordeaux such as a gnarled wine stock and wine swirling in a glass. The museum’s interior is just as breathtaking as exterior, as you will discover during a self-guided tour that allows you to explore the themed spaces that you find most captivating.

You might see how grape varieties have spread around the world, how climate affects cultivation and the process of transforming grapes into wine. Some of the art depicts favored methods of transporting wine over waterways, while other artistic expressions touch upon the importance of wine in religion. Another themed space celebrates the art of living with a focus on how wine has been served since antiquity.

You will also have the opportunity to visit the Belvedere, the museum’s eighth floor, where you will enjoy a panoramic, 360-degree view of Bordeaux while savoring a glass of wine.

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.