12 Best Sights in Bordeaux and the Wine Country, France

Built during World War II as a German U-boat base, this eerie series of underground, water-filled artificial caverns has been re-created as an astounding, echoing event and exhibition space for conceptual art. More than 100 computer-controlled projectors splash huge images inspired by the work of artists as diverse as Gustav Klimt, Ego Schiele, Salvador Dalí, and Antoni Gaudí onto the interior surfaces of the four chambers, reflected in the deep, still water that half fills them. The music of contemporary and classical composers accompanies the ever-shifting images, creating an immersive, overwhelming sensory experience. Dress warmly; it can get chilly in there.

On tree-lined Cours du XXX-Juillet, not far from the banks of the Garonne and the main artery of the Esplanade des Quinconces, you'll find the Maison du Vin de Bordeaux and its École du Vin. Run by the CIVB (Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bordeaux, which oversees the Bordeaux wine trade), this school offers two-hour wine appreciation workshops (€29.15) as well as intensive programs and summer courses for professionals. The on-site Bar à Vin is a good place to sample and buy reds (like Pauillac or St-Émilion), dry whites (like an Entre-Deux-Mers, Graves, or Côtes de Blaye), and sweet whites (like Sauternes or Loupiac). This can be particularly useful when trying to decide which of the 57 wine appellations to focus on during your trip.

One of the region's most famous wine-producing châteaux is actually within the city limits: follow N250 southwest from central Bordeaux for 3 km (2 miles) to the district of Pessac, home to Haut-Brion, producer of the only non-Médoc wine to be ranked a premier cru (the most elite wine classification). It's claimed that the very buildings surrounding the vineyards create their own microclimate, protecting the precious grapes and allowing them to ripen earlier. The white château looks out over the celebrated pebbly soil. The wines produced at La Mission–Haut Brion (Domaine Clarence Dillon), across the road, are almost as sought-after. Visits are by request only and should be booked at least two months in advance.

Just north of the Esplanade des Quinconces (a sprawling square), this two-story museum is imaginatively housed in a converted 19th-century spice warehouse—the Entrepôt Lainé. Many expositions here showcase cutting-edge artists from France and from all over the world.

This may not be one of France's finer Gothic cathedrals, but the intricate 14th-century chancel makes an interesting contrast with the earlier nave. Excellent stone carvings adorn the facade of the hefty edifice. You can also climb the 15th-century, 160-foot Tour Pey-Berland for a stunning view of the city.

One block south of the Maison du Vin is the city's leading 18th-century monument: the Grand Théâtre, designed by Victor Louis and built between 1773 and 1780. It's the pride of the city, with an elegant exterior ringed by graceful Corinthian columns and a dazzling foyer with a two-winged staircase and a cupola. The theater hall has a frescoed ceiling with a shimmering chandelier composed of 14,000 Bohemian crystals. Contact the Bordeaux tourist office to learn about guided tours.

Two blocks south of the Cathédrale St-André, this excellent museum takes you on a trip through Bordeaux's history, with emphasis on Roman, medieval, Renaissance, colonial, and 20th-century daily life. The detailed prehistoric section almost saves you a trip to Lascaux II, which is reproduced here in part.

Bordeaux was one of 15 French cities chosen by Napoléon to showcase his war-acquired works (most notably from Italy) along with bits of existing royal art, so this museum has a fetching collection. Expanded to include pieces from the 15th century to the present, it now displays important paintings by Paolo Veronese (St-Dorothy), Camille Corot (Bath of Diana), and Odilon Redon (Apollo's Chariot), plus sculptures by Auguste Rodin. Located near the Cathédrale St-André and ornate Hôtel de Ville, the Museé des Beaux-Arts is flanked by tidy gardens.

The centerpiece of the left bank is this open square built in 1729–33. Ringed with large-windowed buildings, it was beautifully designed by the era's most esteemed architect, Jacques Gabriel, father of Jacques-Ange Gabriel (who went on to remodel Paris's Place de la Concorde). Across the road from the square, just beside the river is the Miroir d'Eau (Mirror of Water), a large rectangle of shallow water that reflects the sky and periodically comes to life as a fountain.

A few blocks southeast of Place de la Bourse, Place du Parlement is also ringed by elegant 18th-century structures and packed with lively outdoor cafés.

For a view of the picturesque quayside, stroll across the Garonne on this bridge, built on the orders of Napoléon between 1810 and 1821, and until 1965 the only bridge across the river.