France’s premier wine museum is an interactive experience engaging all of your senses, ending with a wine tasting on the top floor and a panoramic view over Bordeaux.The exhibition takes you through the greatest wine regions of the world, wine making processes and techniques throughout the centuries and a sensory experience.

As a symbol of the city, Louis XV’s favorite architect, Jacques Gabriel, designed it in the 1720s. Go up for a closer look to see the mascarons (sculpted faces) beneath the arches of the buildings. And naturally, you’ll want to cross the road to the Water Mirror, created by the landscape artist Michel Corajoud. It’s a large pool with little more than a shallow film of water, sometimes veiled by mist, reflecting Place de la Bourse.

Built in the 15th century, La Grosse Cloche is the old belfry for Bordeaux’ town hall. It is one of only a handful of fragments remaining from the city’s medieval period and is built on the remnants of the 13th-century Porte Saint-Éloy, a former gate in the old ramparts. This gate once had a small prison for juvenile offenders. You can get a good look at the bell from the below; this dates to 1775 and weighs 7,750 tons.

The other fragment of the old walls, Porte Cailhau is just as magnificent. It dates to 1495, and was constructed to celebrate King Charles VIII’s win against the League of Venice at the Battle of Fornovo. There’s a white statue of the king in one of the niches, as well as a notice telling you to beware of the lintel, as Charles VIII died at 27 after walking into one in Amboise by accident.

Laid out in 1820 on the site of Château Trompette, a castle-fortress that once stood court in the city, Place des Quinconces was intended as a defense to prevent rebellion. The Monument aux Girondins honors the Girondists that were victims of the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. There’s four scenes on the fountain: Triumph of the Concorde, Triumph of the Republic, the Tribune and the city of Bordeaux. The central column is topped with a statue of liberty. We think it’s one of the most beautiful places to watch the sunset in Bordeaux.

The architect Victor Louis built the Grand Théâtre in 1780, and it’s regarded as his masterpiece. Even if you have no reason to go inside, come to Place de la Comédie after dark and marvel at the sight of the portico and the 12 statues of muses and goddesses in lights.

When it was inaugurated in 1746 this park was on the edge of Bordeaux in land formerly taken up by unproductive vines . The Jardin Public is in the English style and has lawns, historic trees, statues, fountains, balustrades and wrought iron bridges crossing its serpentine pond.There’s a restaurant in the old orangery, and the park is bordered on all sides by 18th-century townhouses. It’s a beautiful location for a picnic or maybe even a game of pétanque. Childhood trauma advice: don’t touch the swans, they bite.

Bordeaux’s oldest monument is actually located outside of the old city walls. Palais Galien is the ruins of a Gallo-Roman amphitheater dating back to the second century when Bordeaux was called Burdigala. The site is located a few minutes’ walk from Jardin public and you can see all of it from the street.

Darwin sits on Bordeaux’s right bank and it’s a unique project created to revitalize the former Niel Military Barracks. More than 100 companies and 30 associations in Bordeaux share the space and a common goal: to reduce their companies’ environmental footprints. You’ll find an organic grocery store, an urban garden, a skate park and more at Darwin. The Magasin Général is also France’s largest organic restaurant and Darwin brews its own organic beer.

As one of the largest museums of its kind outside of Paris, the galleries are huge, and if you only have time for a quick visit there are a few pieces that you can’t leave without seeing. One that will set you reeling is the Laussal Venus, a lifelike stone carving of a woman that is 27,000 years old. There’s also a Gallic treasure unearthed in Tayac, with a solid gold torc and hundreds of gold coins and ingots, the most recent of which is from the first century BC.

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The medieval village of Saint-Émilion impresses with its steep tertres (soil mounds) and ancient monuments. Built as an upper and lower town, Saint-Émilion seems nearly to be cradled by a bowl that’s surrounded by vines. We also recommend having a Michelin star meal at le Logis de la Cadène, one of the oldest restaurants of Saint Émilion dating back to 1848.

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Located on the Left Bank, Margaux is home to some of Bordeaux’s most famous châteaux like Château Margaux, Château Latour and Château Palmer. It takes just 35 minutes to reach Margaux by car. All of the Margaux châteaux are located within a couple minutes drive of each other, and the flat terrain makes it a perfect area to bike from château to château.

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The castle and estate of Baron Charles-Louis de Secondat, known as Montesquieu, who was the first philosopher to ask for seperation of powers - executive, legislative and judicial. One of the fathers of democracy.