Bordeaux, also known as the Port of the Moon, is famous for its historic centre, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this article, we invite you to discover this beautiful city by bicycle on four different itineraries. These rides will take you through the heart of the historic streets, along the riverside along the Garonne, and also through some of the green spaces that dot the city.

Your starting point for this adventure? Our Paulette bike hire branch, located at 13 rue Villedieu in Bordeaux. Take advantage of our quality bike hire services, and equip yourself with a VTC or VAE to enjoy these beautiful trips fully. Are you ready? The city is waiting for you, and the adventure begins as soon as you start pedalling !

1. The quays of Bordeaux by bike

Discovering Bordeaux by bike really comes into its own along the quays of the Garonne. This first cycle route is ideal for a first exploration of the city by bike. You'll be plunged into the heart of Bordeaux as you follow the course of the Garonne. 

To begin with, the route is relatively simple, forming a loop between the two rivers, linking the Pont de Pierre to the Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas. From our bike hire office, head for the quays of the Garonne to the Place de la Bourse, the starting point for this completely equipped itinerary. After passing the esplanade des Quinconces, the largest square in Europe. Walk along the Garonne through the Chartrons district, famous for its antique shops and chic restaurants, until you reach the Jacques Chaban Delmas lift bridge. Get off the bridge, turn right, and follow the quays again as far as the Pont de Pierre. On this stretch, you'll see the verdant Bordeaux countryside as you cycle past the Parc aux Angéliques and the Jardin Botanique. As you continue on your bike, you'll reach the contemporary and alternative Bordeaux, and it's time to stop and get off your bike to discover Darwin, an alternative venue on the right bank. To round off this wonderful cycling tour, cross the Pont de Pierre and finish your ride at the magnificent miroir d'eau, the largest in the world and an emblematic square in Bordeaux.

2. The long crossing of Bordeaux's bridges by bike

The second itinerary takes you to the next level. Having visited the heart of the city by bike, you can now embark on the long journey across the bridges of Bordeaux by bike! This thirty-kilometre circuit also forms a loop between the two banks of the Garonne, but this time it links the Pont d'Aquitaine to the Pont François Mitterrand, Bordeaux's two great bridges.

From our bike hire office at 13 rue Villedieu, head for the Pont de Pierre. Follow the quay along the left bank, passing must-see sites such as the Cité du Vin, a cultural landmark in Bordeaux, and the Bassin à Flots, a former port district. Then cross the Pont d'Aquitaine, France's second-largest suspension bridge, and reach the port of Lormont. You'll need to take a refreshing break as you approach the entrance to the Ermitage Sainte-Catherine park, a large riverside nature reserve. Continue your cycle journey along the quays of Brazza, on the right bank, and you'll discover the Darwin district as well as the old Orléans station, a listed historic monument. You won't want to miss the two magnificent bridges, the Pont Saint-Jean and the Passerelle Eiffel, a metal railway bridge built by Gustave Eiffel in the 1860s. Admire the city's scenery as you cycle across the François Mitterrand bridge. You'll catch a glimpse of the Ile d'Arcins. As you approach Bègles, a completely different landscape is revealed, despite the proximity of the city. 

Enjoy the fresh air before finishing the cycle loop by heading back to the centre towards Gare Saint-Jean. To get the most out of this cycle tour, we suggest you plan to take the whole day. This will allow you to take breaks to visit places that interest you. What's more, thanks to the 5 bridges crossing the Garonne, you can adjust the length of your tour to suit your mood !

3. A bike tour of Bordeaux Lac

Now we're ready to take you on a bike tour of Bordeaux Lac! This short, family-friendly ride takes you as close as possible to the natural areas and more contemporary sites of Bruges and Bordeaux. Exploring the new housing estates and the many cultural and recreational facilities on either side of the lake is the focus of this suburban itinerary.

Get on your hire bike from the Paulette branch and head for the Chartrons district. Take the avenue Cours du Médoc, then the allée de Boutaut to reach Bordeaux's modern districts. Start your cycle tour of Lac de Bruges via the Tasta and Villabois districts, which were created in the late 1990s to reconcile urban expansion with the preservation of a harmonious living environment. Continue your journey by bike, passing close to the Marais de Bruges nature reserve, before reaching the Bois de Bordeaux. The city's largest wood, covering 87 hectares, is a veritable green lung. Once you've immersed yourself in the heart of nature, you'll come across the Bordeaux Exhibition Centre, designed to host trade fairs and sporting competitions. Right next door are the famous Matmut Atlantique stadium and the Velodrome stadium, both of which are great places to visit by bike. As you reach the end of the itinerary, cycle through the Ginko district, with the Bordeaux Lac beach in sight, a refreshing stop to consider during the summer months. To complete this cycle loop, return to the

For this final cycle trip, we've chosen to take you on an excursion to the entre-Deux-Mers ! This semi-rural tour invites you to discover the Bordeaux vineyards, while getting up close to the region's typical heritage, with its majestic chartreuse houses, its "carrelets" on the river Garonne and the old railway line transformed into a greenway, the Roger Lapébie trail, which you'll use in part with your bike.

Start from our bike hire office and head for the Pont de Pierre, where Xavier Veilhan's Lion catches the eye. As you come down from the bridge, turn right and follow the Parc aux Angéliques greenway. Once you have passed the Eiffel bridge, turn left onto Chemin Richelieu. You will pass close to the Parc des Etangs and the Parc Castel, home to the listed Château de Castel de Floirac. Cycle on to the côte de Bouliac. If you wish, you can take another route, passing close to the Domaine de la Burthes.
Head for Carignan along the allée des châteaux. For wine lovers, you can visit the Château de Carignan. After this stopover in the vineyards, pick up your hire bike and pedal along the Roger Lapébie cycle path towards Latresne. Follow the peaceful waterside path past the Chartreuse de Valrose and along the Ile d'Arcins. The cycle loop ends at the starting point, the Pont de Pierre.

We hope these four itineraries have inspired you to plan your next cycling trip, whether as a family, alone or with friends. It's the perfect opportunity to discover the many faces of the city of Bordeaux. If you need a bike, think Paulette, and visit our bike hire shop at 13 rue Villedieu.

If you would like to discover another city, you've come to the right place! Paulette is also present in Toulouse, Nantes, Paris and Lyon. We specialise in touring bike hire and have many drop-off points on France's most beautiful cycle routes, including the Vélodyssée, Loire à vélo, Seine à vélo, Méditerranée à vélo, Véloscénie, Canal des 2 mers, Viarhôna, Voie bleue...

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