My favorite museums in Bordeaux

What better way to spend a rainy winter day than exploring a museum? Bordeaux enjoys mild winters, but there are still days when staying indoors feels just right!

On one such day (sunday 6th january 2025), Julie and I decided to spend the entire day visiting some of the city’s main museums: the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Museum of Natural History.

All those museums are free every 1st sunday of the month!

Here’s a quick overview of these must-see museums in Bordeaux:

Map of the 3 main museums in Bordeaux city center

The 3 museums reviewed in this article are located in the city center of Bordeaux and are easily accessible on foot.

• See also: useful maps for visiting Bordeaux

Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts)

Bordeaux’s Museum of Fine Arts is one of the oldest museums in France, established in 1801.

It features an impressive collection of European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, spanning from the 16th century to the 20th century.

Highlights include works by artists such as Rubens, Delacroix, and Matisse. The museum is split into two wings.

Allow 2 hours to visit the museum

In the first wing, you will find different collections with arts dating from 15th century to 18th century:

• Renaissance, 15th and 16th century
• From Baroque to classicism, 17th century
• Man in 18th century

But the most impressive work is with no doubt the “Vue d’une partie du port et des quais de Bordeaux dits des Chartrons et de Bacalan”, a painting by Pierre Lacour of a part of the commercial port in Bordeaux in the beginning of the 19th century.

See how busy was the port of Bordeaux at that time! Possibly one of the busiest in Europe! See the huge american boat, anchored offshore.

See the massive Hotel Fenwick, fisrt american consulate in the world, named after Joseph Fenwick, first american consul ever!

In the second wing, arts are from 19th to 20th century:

• From Romantism to impressionism, 19th century
• From Symbolism to Cubism, 20th century

including this amazing painting by Alfred Smith of the Pey-Berland square, from 1893.

Where to find the museum:

CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art (Musée d’Art Contemporain)

Housed in a former warehouse built in 1824 to store food coming from French colonies, this museum showcases modern and contemporary art from the 1960s to today.

The place, symbol of colonialism and slavery in Bordeaux, was turned to a cultural place.

It features temporary exhibitions, large installations, and thought-provoking displays.

The industrial setting, with its high ceilings and exposed stone walls, creates a unique atmosphere.

The main exhibition was named “Breathework”, 70 works from 28 artists on breathing and air, reminding us of the vital connection between humanity, nature, and well-being in an era of environmental and health challenges.

You can anticipate a 2 hour visit.

Where to find it:

Museum of Natural History (Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle)

Recently renovated, the Museum of Natural History is a family-friendly destination with interactive exhibits and fascinating displays of animals, fossils, and minerals.

It provides insights into biodiversity and environmental issues, making it both educational and entertaining.

Where to find it:

List of all the museums in Bordeaux

Here is the list of the main museums in Bordeaux with their contact details. I plan to visit most of them in 2025 and will write proper reviews.

• Museum of Bordeaux – sciences and nature
  Address: 5 Place Bardineau, 33000 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 24 57 65 30
• Museum of Fine Arts of Bordeaux
  Address: 20 Cours d’Albret, 33000 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 56 10 20 56
• CAPC Museum of Contemporary Art of Bordeaux
  Address: 7 Rue Ferrere, 33000 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 56 00 81 50
• Museum of Wine and Trade of Bordeaux
  Address: 41 Rue Borie, 33300 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 56 90 19 13
• Institut Culturel Bernard Magrez
  Address: 16 Rue de Tivoli, 33000 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 56 81 72 77
• Musée de l’Illusion Bordeaux
  Address: 4 Rue Bonnaffé, 33000 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 57 30 74 83
• The Wall from Bordeaux (street art museum)
  Address: 2 Place Paul et Jean Paul Avisseau, 33300 Bordeaux7
• Musée d’Aquitaine
  Address: 20 Cours Pasteur, 33000 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 56 01 51 00
• Musée des Compagnons du Tour de France
  112 rue Malbec – 33800 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 57 54 23 80
• Cité du Vin
  134 Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 56 16 20 20
• Bassins des Lumières
  Imp. Brown de Colstoun, 33300 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 35 00 00 90
• Mer Marine Museum
  89 Rue des Étrangers, 33300 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 57 19 77 73
• Cap Sciences
  Hangar 20, Quai de Bacalan, 33300 Bordeaux
  Phone: +33 5 56 01 07 07