French lessons, cultural activities and welcoming host families - totally immerse your students in French in the spectacular city of Bordeaux.
‘Take Versailles, add Antwerp, and you have Bordeaux’. That’s according to Victor Hugo, who, like many others, was dazzled by the beauty of Bordeaux.
Bordeaux is a fantastic destination for a school trip, especially for French language groups who want to immerse themselves in the French language and culture.
In southwestern France, Bordeaux is a great alternative to Paris and Lyon. An ancient city, there’s plenty of history to explore and yet the healthy student population means that there’s a vibrant, youthful atmosphere that your students will really resonate with.
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Paul Hudson
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Tour Consultant
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Why visit Bordeaux?
Rich in history
Bordeaux’s history is long and fascinating. Founded by the Celts, ruled over by the Romans and sacked by the Vandals, Bordeaux was later ruled by the English for nearly 300 years (although it couldn’t feel more French nowadays).
The city’s golden era was the 18th century, when the Port de la Lune became the second busiest port in Europe, supplying the continent with most of its coffee, cocoa, sugar and cotton.
Bordeaux’s also hosted the French government in exile three times (at the start of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 and during WW1 and WW2).
Impressive architecture
When Haussman was asked by Napoleon III to turn Paris from a semi-medieval city into a modern capital to make France proud, he took inspiration from Bordeaux. The city’s still home to 362 monuments historiques – second only to the French capital.
The best place to explore Bordeaux’s incredible architecture is the Port de la Lune (the city’s 18th century port). The imposing Place de la Bourse and the spectacular Miroir d’Eau are real highlights (and super instagrammable).
But make sure you don’t miss out on the charming narrow streets of the medieval St Pierre district. Or the stark, vast wet docks and Nazi submarine bunkers of the bassins à flot. Each district of Bordeaux has a different character just waiting to be discovered.
Wine not?
Bordeaux’s the wine capital of France (not such a big attraction when most of your group is too young to drink said wine, granted).
But you don’t have to drink wine to appreciate this side of Bordeaux.
There are loads of beautiful châteaux and vineyards around here that are well worth a visit. And (arguably, more importantly) if you’ve got world-class wine, you’re gonna need world-class food to go with it. Which is why Bordeaux’s also become one of France’s gastronomic capitals (so, you can be sure your group won’t go hungry here).
Other cities in France
- School trips to Amiens
- School trips to Disneyland
- School trips to Dunkirk
- School trips to Futuroscope
- School trips to Lille
- School trips to Loire Valley
- School trips to Lyon
- School trips to Montpellier
- School trips to Nice
- School trips to Normandy
- School trips to Opal Coast
- School trips to Parc Asterix
- School trips to Paris
- School trips to Rouen
- School trips to South of France
- School trips to Strasbourg
- School trips to The Somme
Activities in Bordeaux that your school group will love
Parc Bordelais
Enjoy a moment of tranquillity in Bordeaux's largest park.
Musée d'Aquitaine
Explore the history of the Aquitaine region at this fantastic museum in Bordeaux.
Bordeaux Cathedral
Explore this beautiful cathedral at the heart of Bordeaux.
Le Marché des Capucins
Visit le ventre de Bordeaux to discover the local specialities of Bordeaux.
Bassins des Lumières
Immersive digital art in a former submarine base.
Saint Emilion
Enjoy a half-day excursion to the spectacular medieval town of Saint Emilion in the heart of Bordeaux's wine country.
Balade Gourmande, Bordeaux
Take a guided foodie tour of Bordeaux - miam miam.
Walking Tour of Bordeaux
Get your bearings with a walking tour of Bordeaux.
FAQs
How long should we spend in Bordeaux?
If you’re planning to visit Bordeaux on a French language trip, we’d really recommend staying for 5 days. This will allow your students to get the full benefit of the lessons at the specialist language school, while also giving them time to explore the city and all its history and culture. And, if you choose to stay with host families, it will give them plenty of time to find their confidence, get to know their hosts and start to become comfortable using French in conversations.
When should we visit Bordeaux?
Bordeaux is beautiful at any time of year and, like most destinations, we’d recommend trying to visit outside of the peak tourist times to take advantage of cheaper prices and fewer crowds.
The weather’s generally best between May and September.
Autumn’s a great time to visit because this is harvest time – but the city can get busy due to the wine festivals that take place around then.
It’s also gorgeous in the spring and really sparkles at Christmas time.
What’s the best way to get around Bordeaux?
Mostly flat, Bordeaux’s centre is fairly compact, making it a really walkable city (which is great news for visiting school groups). And the public transport system’s really good and easy to use, especially the tram.
Which visits are a must in Bordeaux?
We’d definitely recommend taking a walking tour fairly soon after you arrive in the city, to help get your bearings. And you should definitely visit the magnificent cathedral and the incredible Bassin des Lumières. If you’re interested in the history and culture of Bordeaux and the wider Aquitaine region, you should definitely stop by the Musée d’Aquitaine too.
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