The Cité du Vin: an exhibition of diverse experiences

The project to create a cultural centre around the theme of wine began in 2009. The aim was to pass on and safeguard the cultural heritage of wine. With Alain Juppé and François Hollande in attendance, the venue was inaugurated in May 2016, and a month later its doors opened to the public. As for the shape of the building, the architects from XTU architects wanted to imagine wine spinning in a glass.

Bordeaux's Cité du Vin welcomed 270,000 visitors in 2016 in just 7 months of opening, attracting tourists from all over the world. More than 145 different nationalities visited the site. There are also visitors to the free-access areas, such as the Boutique, the Reading Room and the Gardens. Another important area is the restaurants, which generate footfall thanks in part to their unbeatable views over the quays and the Garonne. Measuring over 55 metres high, the Cité du Vin evokes fluidity, as if to recall the red liquid.

Spanning 10 levels, the entire complex is dedicated to the cultivation of wine and vines. As well as its architecture, which immerses you directly in the theme of the subject, it offers a sensation of perpetual movement once inside. 20 interactive trails with different themes are presented to give you an unforgettable and sensational experience. The tour covers 3,000 m² on the second floor, and some of them are even available in 8 languages.

The aim is to pass on the taste and cultural heritage that wine represents to as many people as possible. To achieve this, the creators of this space have focused on immersion. Through light and sound effects and tastings, the venue offers visitors the chance to discover or deepen their knowledge of wine. The programme includes a world tour of vineyards, a world tour of the history of wine and a tasting session. The entire site is laid out in such a way as to allow visitors to move at their own pace and discover what they want to know. Film screenings are also available to immerse visitors in the world of wine.

At the top of the tower, you can finish your visit at the Belvédère, a bar offering a 360° view of Bordeaux and a selection of wines from around the world. The place can also be hired out privately, so you don't have to pass through the museum to enjoy a drink as the sun goes down!

The visit can be completed in 2 or even 3 hours, giving you plenty of time to enjoy and discover each floor. For the more passionate, the visit can take all day, with 10 hours of content on the permanent tour. You're sure not to get bored.

The Eklo hotel is the closest accommodation to the Cité du Vin.

Restaurant Le 7, on the seventh floor of the Cité du Vin, offers a menu of fresh produce according to the season. The wine list features 500 bottles from 50 countries. While you enjoy your meal, the restaurant offers a panoramic view of Bordeaux and the Port de la Lune. If you would like to have lunch outside the museum, the Requins Marteaux seafood restaurant, just 1 minute away, will be delighted to serve you. A wide choice of seafood and fresh fish is on offer.