Bordeaux is set to shine once again in the 2024 holiday season. The city council has decked the streets with lights to brighten up the elegant avenues of the Gironde capital and create a warm and festive Christmas atmosphere. Here are some of the places not to be missed during the festivities.
Quinconces Christmas Market
This year, for the first time, Bordeaux Christmas market is moving to the vast Place des Quinconces, the largest public square in Europe! It seems that the Allées de Tourny could no longer host this Christmas market due to its size and popularity. We can therefore expect to see even more wooden cabins hosting gourmet stalls and creative gift ideas from designers and artisans. Furthermore, a giant Christmas Ferris wheel will be installed on the Place des Quinconces from 29 November to 19 January 2024, with breathtaking views of the glittering city and the magnificent Monument aux Girondins.
From the Cours de l’Intendance to the Grand Théâtre
This is Bordeaux’s most stylish spot, but above all it’s the best decorated. From the Place de la Comédie to Gambetta, you can browse the finest shop windows and admire the spectacular hanging lights under which the trams pass. Just a quick tip: it’s even more magical when the road is wet. While you’re there, take a stroll through Passage Sarget and have a look at the Grand Hôtel hall. But above all, don’t miss the light show projected onto the Grand Théâtre, arguably Bordeaux’s most beautiful landmark. This stunning video mapping display can be seen on the Place de la Comédie every evening from 6 December to 5 January, from 5.30pm to midnight.
The glass Christmas tree in Place Pey-Berland
In 2021, Mayor Pierre Hurmic’s environmentally minded council challenged tradition by installing a contemporary work of art in front of Bordeaux Cathedral. A fir tree made of glass and steel in place of the familiar Christmas tree. Although not unanimously acclaimed at first, the people of Bordeaux have warmed to it and visiting photographers are quick to immortalise it. It has been embellished over the years, and will sparkle even more brightly for its fourth year. As a bonus, on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 to 21 December 2024, the west façade of the cathedral will be brought to life with a video mapping show.
Allées de Tourny synthetic ice rink
There are still plenty of reasons to visit this magnificent avenue, which has always shone so brightly at Christmas and New Year. In addition to the ever-popular carousel, a dry ice rink will be open from 22 November to 12 January 2024.
Promenade Sainte-Catherine
A somewhat unusual shopping centre, Promenade Sainte-Catherine is like a mini-village with its narrow streets and two-storey open-air courtyard. It’s always bustling at Christmas time, with lots of festive decorations. Apparently Santa Claus can even be found there every weekend in December.
The Little Prince at the Bassins des Lumières
Be sure to catch the latest exhibition at the Bassins des Lumières in Bordeaux’s former submarine base. Young and old alike will be transported to an imaginary world of dreams through Saint-Exupéry’s watercolours and words. The paintings projected on the walls are brought magically to life with music and poetically reflected on the water’s surface. Don’t miss this unique exhibition which runs until 5 January.
The endless perspectives of Rue Sainte-Catherine
Billed as Europe’s largest pedestrianised shopping street, it unveils a whole new dimension at Christmas. Crossed by 46 garlands of lights, we can truly appreciate its beauty and seemingly infinite length.
Although Bordeaux is famous for its stunning architecture, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, I can promise you that it looks even more dazzling decked out in lights. So start planning your getaway to the most beautiful city in the South West for the holiday season.
