Bordeaux by night

Bordeaux, a port city in the northern part of the Aquitaine region, is regarded by the French as highly sophisticated with an abundance of fashionable shops, historic buildings, and chic chocolateries.

The pedestrian-only shopping streets that cut through the historic center are quite fun. Rue St. Catherine at 1.2 km is the longest pedestrian-only shopping street in Europe, but I was more impressed with its neighboring streets, where one can spend hours uncovering chic French designers and enclosed galeries.

If you are in the market for exquisite chocolates and confections, make a point to visit Saunion at 56 Cours Clemenceau. It has been in the same family for generations, and I was absolutely charmed by the experience of choosing a collection of goodies one by one while the shopkeeper carefully fits each piece into a beautiful little box and ties it with a ribbon.

Le Triangle d’Or is centered around the glass-domed Galeries des Grand Hommes, and small streets shoot out from its center like a star. World class boutiques, upscale cafes, and sophisticated home decor stores make this golden triangle the preferred shopping destination for the city’s aesthetes. An excellent fromagerie can also be found here: Jean D’alos (see photos below). When you’re shopped out, take a quick stroll through the Jardin Public, a small but carefully planned gated park near the historic center.

Place de la Bourse across from the Garonne River

Outside the Opera hall

The main shopping area at night

Tram running through the historic center

Grand Theater de Bordeaux

Stock exchange

Bordeaux stock exchange building

Motorcycles outside the Theater

Bordeaux by night

There is a large population of students in Bordeaux, and therefore a vast amount of bars and restaurants that cater to the crowd

Bordeaux by night

Bordeaux neighborhood walk

In the Jardin Public

A young boy passing through the Jardin Public

Streets near the Jardin Public

In the historic center of Bordeaux

Le Triangle d’Or. The Galeries des Grand Hommes in the background

Tres chic shopping streets adjacent to the Galeries

Inside the glass dome: Bordeaux’s version of a shopping mall

Aforementioned Saunion, an exquisite chocolaterie

Inside Saunion

Decadent chocolates in Saunion

Confections at Saunion

Fromage at Jean D’alos in the Triangle d’Or

At Jean D’Alos

Dairy at Jean D’Alos

Fromage and Vin at Jean D’Alos

Jean D’Alos

Jean D’Alos

Belle display at Jean D’Alos

Jean D’Alos, Bordeaux

Shopping streets in the historic center

A galerie off one of the main shopping streets in the city center

Bordeaux, France

Streets of Bordeaux

Streets of Bordeaux