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La Cité du Vin, located on the banks of the river Garonne at the entrance to the marina, is the world’s first centre where you can learn about the whole of the wine production process.
It offers a journey through time and space in order to discover the various dimensions of wine, including its role in culture, civilisation and cultural heritage, thanks to scientific, artistic, cultural and festive events, workshops, games, temporary exhibitions, and more... It’s all about the experience!
The architecture and scenography
The architecture of La Cité du Vin, both contemporary and bold, was designed by the French architects XTU and the English architects Casson Mann Limited. Depending on the viewpoint, the building changes shape, like a flowing liquid, in reference to wine and the river Garonne.
Especially noteworthy is the material and structure of the building, its reflections as well as its radiance. Its golden hues are reminiscent of Bordeaux’s coloured stone façades and the reflection of the sun on the Garonne. You will not be disappointed on entering the building, where you experience its roundness and fluidity of movement throughout the visit.
Once inside the building, we embark on a digital and interactive immersion into the heart of wine culture and civilisation.
We love the way in which the visit is planned, nothing is imposed on you; you are free to find your own way through this experiential location. The visit is primarily sensory: the senses are awakened, unusual wine-tastings and entertainment reveals all the secrets of wine, experienced through feeling and not only sight.
The circuit
Permanent circuit
To best discover all the secrets of wine, the tour consists of nineteen thematic areas. It doesn’t matter if you're an adult or a child, you can explore the influence of wine on societies throughout the ages in different ways, viewing a screening or face-to-face with experts, standing in front of animated pictures or through giant bottles explaining the different wine families, in a group aboard a boat sailing through historic adventures, sitting relaxed in front of artistic works....
We are particularly fond the "travelling companion" that detects and triggers various multimedia entertainments on the tour. You can choose between eight languages and select a special tour for children. All information is suitable for people with disabilities. Throughout the tour, you can select the themes that interest you most so that you can start again with a personalised booklet to further deepen your knowledge of these themes.
Exhibitions
Throughout the year, La Cité du Vin hosts exhibitions. For three months in Spring and again in Autumn, exhibitions with themes exploring the world of wine and its civilisations through painting, sculpture, photography, history, comics, ethnography or the fine arts.
Every summer, a vineyard has the opportunity to present an exhibition in La Cité du Vin for six weeks. Ideal for exploring in an original way.
The Belvedere
To enjoy a panoramic view of Bordeaux and its surroundings, go up to the 8th floor and enjoy an exceptional 360° panoramic view, 35 metres high. The lookout offers a selection of world wines and grape juices for tasting at an oak counter or while enjoying the view.
La Cité du Vin also offers a reading room, gardens, a restaurant, a wine bar, a cellar, a library, a snack bar, a shop and a pontoon for yachtsmen to dock as close to the location as possible.
A platform for information and reservations
The Wine Routes Information Area on the ground floor invites visitors of La Cité du Vin to move from theory to practice by discovering the vineyards on the 6 wine routes of Bordeaux: guided tours and cruises from La Cité du Vin, tasting workshops, fine dining locations and hundreds of castles open to the public!
For useful information
go to: 150, 134 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
Hours: daily from 9:30a.m. to 7:30p.m.
Prices: between €8 and €32