Location: Rue Sainte-Catherine
Top Things to do in Rue Sainte-Catherine
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What to do and see in Rue Sainte-Catherine, Nouvelle-Aquitaine: The Best Sights & Landmarks
After many years of hard work, the "Sleeping Beauty" has awoken from its slumber. The city is beautifully restored and has an ultra-modern public transport system. The “Port of the Moon” is also now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Stone Bridge, with its 17 arches, crosses the Garonne, offering pedestrians a lovely view over the docks and harbor. Take a stroll through old Bordeaux in the Triangle d'Or and stop at Place des Quinconces, France’s largest public square. The city of Bordeaux is an ideal base for exploring the greater wine region’s unforgettable sights and tastes.
Restaurants in Bordeaux
1. Place du Parlement
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 615 reviews
A pretty town square lined with shops and outdoor cafes.
Reviewed By 750dimitrisl - Sydney, Australia
We walked through this Square a couple of times. There are some good cafes and other shops here and it's a perfect place to sit down for a while. As in other parts of the city there is some lovely architecture all around. This spot has a bit of history as it goes back a very long time. Its name is due to the fact the city's first Parliament was situated here from the mid-15th century until it was abolished, towards the end of the 18th century. It has also undergone a few name changes, but Place du Parlement has survived the longest. Definitely worth a visit.
2. Place de la Bourse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,857 reviews
Reviewed By Effecrisse - Milan, Italy
The square is really marvelous, we can be breathless at night thanks to a spectacular lighting and to the Miroir d'Eau just in front of the palaces that perfectly reflect on it. You can take fabulous pictures there!
3. Pont de Pierre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,367 reviews
Reviewed By Staidthere - Jakarta, Indonesia
Bordeaux has two iconic images: the Place de la Bourse city square and the old stone bridge. For history and beauty, we prefer the 200 year-old Ponte de Pierre because, like the Statue of Liberty in New York, it must have been the first image of Bordeaux to weary travelers who crossed the Garonne River and passed into the safety of the city through the Bourgogne Arch. Until 1965, it was the only bridge across the river. The 17 small regular arches are characteristic of old stone bridges (steel construction allows longer spans), and today the repeating arches exhibit a graceful image of their former glory, especially just before nightfall when the details of the bridge including the Napoleon seals, are still visible among lights on the arches reflecting off the river. The lovely evenly-spaced 19th century overhead lamps made us pause just a bit longer to contemplate the bridge and its history, despite the rush of evening commuters. We suspect the old bridge should be reinforced or replaced, but it has been preserved more for aesthetic reasons, like the Charles Bridge in Prague, because nowadays only pedestrians and lighter public transport pass over it.
4. Port de la Lune
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 160 reviews
Reviewed By Malarchy - Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Le Port de la Lune is the old harbour at Bordeaux on the Garonne. Nowadays it loosely refers to the promenade between the Pont de Pierre and the Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas. The backdrop on the Left Bank is beautiful and it is a pleasant place to walk, cycle, or run on a sunny day. The old port is no longer in operation but there are still occasional visits from cruise ships. It is far from the best way to experience Bordeaux but fortunately these monstrosities do not stay for long. It is also possible to get a small boat along the Bordeaux stretch of the Garonne from here. The promenade as a whole is lovely. Several spectacular buildings face it such as the Palais de la Bourse which in the right period of the year is reflected in the Miroir de l'Eau. The buildings generally that can be seen from the promenade are lovely. The Garonne is a flowing river and dredges up quite a lot of mud. Despite that it is a thoroughly pleasant waterway to pass alongside. The view to the Right Bank is much less interesting and is clearly the poorer relation. The bridges at either end are impressive in their own ways but form a backdrop rather than a core part of the area. The aspect that makes this area work is how lively it is. There are always people enjoying the area passively or actively. A particular highlight is coming across street dance collectives by the Miroir de l'Eau. On Sundays a nice little market springs up mainly swelling fresh products. At the new bridge end there is a shopping avenue with a series of restaurants. The whole area is well maintained despite its popularity. It is a genuine pleasure to experience and a wonderful promenade.
5. Quinconces Esplanade (Esplanade des Quinconces)
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 898 reviews
Reviewed By candaceorlando - Sacramento, United States
The square is said to be the largest in Europe and is often used for events. While we were there a food event was being set up (it looked like local restaurants or shops had booths to sell a couple of their popular items). I learned that sometimes there are shows in the square. Because of the fountain and the victory column, I recommend passing through here if you are nearby and have the chance.
