Bordeaux

Steeped in history, and famed for its unique art de vivre, Bordeaux boasts a rich heritage and houses numerous historic and modern monuments. Are you keen to discover the city’s unmissable places and activities during your stay in Bordeaux? We’ve got you covered! Here’s a selection of the city’s must-sees and essential heritage sites.

Visa

France is a member of the European Union and part of the Schengen area. Please check if need a visa to enter France. In case you do, please apply as soon as possible: we have lost a few students already in previous years because of visa issues :-(

COVID Information

General information on restrictions and recommendations in France and action taken has been centralized on a platform at the following address: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/. Make sure to read regularly the travel restrictions (depending of your originating country) since they are updated on a regular basis based on the sanitary situation in France. See also https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19.

Travel

Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport (BOD)

Bordeaux Airport serves major cities in Europe either directly or via Paris and Amsterdam. Once at the airport, there's a direct bus line that brings you to the train station “Gare Saint Jean” (30min). Once there, it's a 15 minutes walk to the school (at Place Victoire).

It may be an option to fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and then catch a high-speed train (TGV inOui) directly to Bordeaux Saint Jean (3h 47min).

By High-Speed Train (TGV) to Bordeaux Saint Jean

From Paris, the high-speed train to Bordeaux departs from “Gare Montparnasse” and the trip is between 2h 11min and 3h 26min. In Bordeaux, the train station (“Gare Saint Jean”) is very close to the school such that you can just walk (15 minutes) or take a bus (5min) if you have a lot of luggages. If you arrive in Paris, this is certainly the most convenient option. Be careful that in Paris there are several train stations and you may have to take into account the time to commute.

By International Bus

There are several international bus companies that serve Bordeaux from different European cities. The international bus station is close to the train station “Saint Jean”, which is itself not very far from the school (15 min walk).

Accommodation

Bordeaux being quite touristic, accommodation is a bit expensive. Best option might be youth hostel, airBnB or apartment hotel (hotel room where you can cook). If you choose airBnb, you can look at towns around Bordeaux such as Pessac, Mérignac or Talence that are very close to Bordeaux and are served by the Tramway. If you find a location next to a tramway line, then it is really easy and fast to travel.

Venue

Classes will take place at Campus Victoire in the heart of Bordeaux. Address is 3ter Place de la Victoire, 33000 Bordeaux

Magic map

This map contains all important landmarks. Click on the markers to show a description:

  • Place de la Victoire (School venue)
  • Café Auguste (Warm-Up event on Sunday 22 August)
  • Bordeaux Saint-Jean train station
  • Bordeaux Youth Hostel
  • Ténéo Apparthotel Bordeaux Saint Jean
  • Appart'hôtel Victoria Garden Bordeaux Centre (faculty residency)
  • Magasin général (restaurant) for Wednesday night (25 August)

Wednesday afternoon (25 August)

For those who want, you can take the train to Arcachon beach area. There is a train every hour and it takes approximately 50 minutes to go to Arcachon (and then you can walk to the beach). The ticket is 22 euros (round trip). Schedule: https://en.oui.sncf/en/results/outward/train?wishId=bdb4dc43-70fb-4f71-a38f-af0633b7fab2

You can also visit the Wine Museum that closes at 7pm. Ticket is 20 euros and you can taste some wines. There's also an option to book your visit in advance. Note that health pass is required.

Wednesday night (25 August)

We'll have dinner at the Magagin général (see map). Meeting is between 7pm and 8pm, (we'll start dinner at 8pm) but you can come before, there's plenty of things to see in the vicinity of the restaurant and the place itself is great. Best way to come to the place is to take the tramway until Stanlingrad station and walk to the restaurant.

See bigger map