Races in Bordeaux

Riddle: what do Catherine Laborde, Serge Lama, Rosa Bonheur, Montesquieu and Michel de Montaigne have in common? Well, all of these celebrities are from Bordeaux. Beyond its celebs, “Bordeaux is really awesome!” Our friends from Bordeaux can’t stop singing their city’s praises, the prefecture of the Gironde department. And for good reason: among the French cities where life is good, Bordeaux ranks 8th! Not surprising when you know all the assets of the “sleeping beauty” 😴.

Under its former name Burdigala, capital of Gaul Aquitaine for more than 200 years under the Roman Empire, Bordeaux has around 250,000 inhabitants, making it France’s 9th largest city. And if it was ranked the 2nd city to discover by The New York Times in 2016 and number 1 by Lonely Planet in 2017, it’s because it’s brimming with wonders!

Among its treasures, we think of Rue Sainte-Catherine, the largest pedestrian shopping street in Europe: the perfect spot to try for a record over 1.2 km (very precisely). The city is also famous for Place de la Bourse, Place des Quinconces (the largest in France), La Cité du Vin and for its UNESCO-listed monuments: Saint-Michel Basilica, Saint-André Cathedral, Porte Cailhau, and the Port of the Moon, crescent-shaped. What’s more, its proximity to the Arcachon Bay, the Dune of Pilat, the Gironde estuary and the Atlantic Ocean (less than an hour away) makes it a remarkably well-located city.

You’ve got it: whether you’re looking for a hike, a road race or a trail run in Bordeaux and the surrounding area, there’s plenty to do! For training, Parc Bordelais, one of the most famous, is a benchmark for local runners. You can also count on Bois de Bordeaux, Domaine de la Burthe, the banks of the Garonne or Parc de l’Ermitage Sainte-Catherine. So many magnificent routes for running in Bordeaux, summer and winter alike, since the Aquitaine oceanic climate—with mild winters and hot summers—is ideal for burning calories all year round. For ball-sport fans (round or oval), note that the rugby (Union Bordeaux Bègles) and football (Girondins de Bordeaux) clubs play at the highest national level. A perfect excuse to head to the stadium on weekends when you’re not running in Bordeaux!

What’s more, the 200 km of cycle paths laid out by the city make Bordeaux the 6th most bike-friendly city in the world—handy for a recovery spin after a race. On the stopwatch ⏱️ side, among the city’s biggest events you’ll find the Bordeaux Métropole Marathon, the 10 km of the Bordeaux quays, or the Cité Run (urban trail).

Located in the very heart of Gironde, Bordeaux is an ideal base for lovers of running, good wines and historic monuments.

PS: if it’s your first time in Bordeaux, avoid ordering a “pain au chocolat” at the bakery!