Aquitaine’s coast offers idyllic beaches, exciting water sports and more, while the cuisine is renowned and the wine is excellent. Along this coast, the port city of Bordeaux is considered the major wine industry capital of the world. Besides the beaches, the city offers rivers and lakes, all of which make a great alternative to the French Riviera. Meanwhile, Bordeaux also features some unique and fascinating locations to visit.

Miroir d’eau reflecting pool in Bordeaux

Bordeaux‘s Miroir d’Eau is famous for being the largest reflecting pool in the world. While Washington, DC features reflecting pools, Bordeaux’s definitely beats them hands down, as the Miroir d’Eau covers more than 37,000 sq ft. The reflecting pool is located in the Place de la Bourse and covers a huge square in front of the buildings.

However, the surprising thing is, the water is only 2 cm deep. Due to it being so shallow, people can walk across the pool to the other side. Meanwhile, a mechanism beneath the pool can be activated in the hot summer months, changing the pool into a fog of mist. As long as you don’t mind getting a little damp, this is a pleasant way to cool off on a hot sunny day.

Victor Hugo Market and the Falling Car

Anyone who doesn’t know about this art installation could be forgiven for being shocked to see a 1960s Jaguar Mark 2 hanging precipitously from a parking garage in the Victor Hugo Market. The parking garage is used by visitors to the market, as well as the nearby sports arena, and was constructed by Jean Dauriac and Pierre Laffitte in the 1960s.

However, in the 1990s, renovations were carried out on the building and Jean-François Dosso, an artist and architect came up with the idea of placing the British racing green jaguar there, hanging out from the building. While it was originally intended as a temporary art installation, the idea caught on and the jaguar can still be seen today. Not only does it advertise the building’s purpose, it lends a little whimsy to what would otherwise be a boring building.

Cinema Utopia, Place Camille-Jullian, Bordeaux

Located on Place Camille-Jullian in Bordeaux, the 6th-century Church of Saint Simeon has been transformed into an art-house cinema renowned in the city for its excellent selection of films.

In the lobby of the cinema, the nave of the church has been transformed into a café, serving snacks all day, with outdoor tables. Meanwhile, it retains its original architecture making it a charming place to be.

As for the films, the cinema offers a great selection from the 1950s and 1960s and more. Readers can see the latest program on offer at Cinema Utopia in Bordeaux here on its website.

Make sure to visit these whimsical and fascinating attractions on your next vacation in Bordeaux, Aquitaine, France.