Is the Submarine Base free to enter?

The building itself is a shell that you can see from the outside for free, but the Bassins de Lumières art exhibition and other temporary galleries inside the Base Sous-Marine require a paid ticket.

What is the best walking tour in Bacalan for architecture lovers?

This self-guided route is ideal as it covers the futuristic Cité du Vin, the industrial Wellman Crane, and the brutalist WWII Submarine Base, providing a full spectrum of 20th and 21st-century styles.

Can I do this walk on a rainy day?

Yes, this is one of the best rainy-day walks in Bordeaux. Most of the time is spent inside major attractions like the Cité du Vin, the food hall, and the Submarine Base, which are all covered.

Is the Bacalan neighborhood safe for tourists?

Yes, Bacalan has transformed from an industrial zone into a popular cultural and residential district. It is safe and vibrant, especially during the day and early evening when the museums and restaurants are open.

Where is the best place to eat during this walk?

Les Halles de Bacalan, located right across from the Cité du Vin, offers a wide variety of high-quality local food stalls ranging from seafood to tapas and pastries.

How do I get to the start of the walk?

Take the Tram Line B from the Bordeaux city center towards 'Berges de la Garonne' and get off at the 'La Cité du Vin' station.

Is the walk suitable for children?

Yes, children usually enjoy the immersive lights at the Bassins de Lumières and the interactive elements at the Cité du Vin. The walk is flat and easy for families to navigate.

Bacalan’s Modern Pulse: From Submarines to Sea | Self-Guided Walking Tour

About This Guided Walking Tour

Bordeaux is often celebrated for its 18th-century limestone facades and neoclassical elegance, but a venture north to the Bacalan district reveals a completely different side of the city. This self-guided walking route explores the 'Modern Pulse' of Bordeaux, where industrial grit meets futuristic design. Once a rugged maritime and industrial hub, Bacalan has undergone a stunning metamorphosis, transforming into a center for contemporary art, maritime heritage, and world-class architecture. On this neighborhood stroll, you will witness the architectural brilliance of the Cité du Vin, a shimmering structure inspired by the swirl of wine in a glass, before diving into the neighborhood's deep-rooted history at the Bassins à Flot. This area served as a vital port for centuries and still bears the scars and structures of its complex past. The journey takes you through the heart of Bordeaux's maritime identity. You will encounter the Musée Mer Marine, a testament to the city's relationship with the sea, and the iconic Wellman Crane, a silent sentinel of the district's industrial heyday. The highlight for many is the Base Sous-Marine, a massive concrete U-boat bunker from World War II. Today, this brutalist relic houses the Bassins de Lumières, the world's largest digital art center, where projections dance across the water of the former submarine pens. This walking tour Bordeaux offers a look at how a city can reinvent itself without losing its soul. You will move from the sleek, light-filled halls of modern museums to the somber, echoing chambers of wartime history. Along the way, the local flavors of Les Halles de Bacalan provide a perfect opportunity to pause and soak in the vibrant, local atmosphere of this rising district. Whether you are an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or simply looking to explore a more authentic, less-manicured side of the city, this self-guided walk provides the perfect roadmap to Bacalan’s unique urban landscape.

Tour Highlights & Things to See

The swirling, golden architecture of the Cité du Vin
Local gourmet tasting at Les Halles de Bacalan
The historic Wellman Crane at the Bassins à Flot
Immersive digital art within the WWII Submarine Base
The massive maritime collections of the Musée Mer Marine
The brutalist industrial atmosphere of the northern docks

Route Map

Numbers indicate the order of stops on the tour.

Tour Stops & Points of Interest (6)

1

Cité du Vin

Standing before the Cité du Vin, you are looking at a landmark of 21st-century architecture. Designed by Anouk Legendre and Nicholas Desmazières, the building's fluid shape is intended to evoke the soul of wine and the flow of the Garonne River. Its shimmering skin is made of glass and perforated aluminum panels that catch the light, changing color throughout the day. This isn't just a museum; it's a cultural center dedicated to the universal heritage of wine. Since opening in 2016, it has become the anchor of Bacalan’s regeneration. Take a moment to admire the curves and the way the structure seems to rise like a vine from the dockside. It serves as a bold statement that Bordeaux is as much about the future as it is about its prestigious past.

2

Les Halles de Bacalan

Just across from the futuristic Cité du Vin sits Les Halles de Bacalan, a modern food hall that captures the gastronomic spirit of the region. This is where the neighborhood comes to eat. Unlike the historic markets in the city center, this hall is a product of recent urban renewal, featuring over 20 local producers and artisans. It’s a sensory experience of smells and colors, from fresh Arcachon oysters to Basque cheeses and Bordeaux canelés. The hall reflects the conviviality of the 'new' Bordeaux—social, high-quality, and deeply connected to the land. It’s an ideal spot to observe the local lifestyle and perhaps grab a quick bite or a coffee before continuing deeper into the industrial heart of the district.

3

Musée Mer Marine

As you walk further north, you encounter the Musée Mer Marine. This monumental building, designed by Olivier Brochet, houses a vast collection of maritime artifacts, from ancient navigation tools to contemporary marine art. The museum tells the story of the sea not just as a resource, but as a mythical and historical force that shaped Bordeaux. The architecture itself is meant to reflect the hull of a ship, blending into the surrounding wet docks known as the Bassins à Flot. The museum is a private initiative that showcases the passion of its founder, Norbert Fradin, for maritime history and ocean conservation. It stands as a bridge between the old port activities and the modern cultural identity of the Bacalan district.

4

The Crane of Bassins à Flot

Look up at the towering silhouette of the Wellman Crane. This 'Grue Wellman' is one of the last remaining vestiges of the intense port activity that once defined the Bassins à Flot. Built in 1947, it was used to unload coal and heavy goods, serving the city during the post-war reconstruction era. It was designated as a historical monument in 2014 to ensure that the industrial heritage of Bacalan was not completely erased by new luxury apartments. The crane serves as a reminder of the thousands of workers who once populated these docks. In its shadow, you can feel the transition of the area from a place of hard labor to a place of leisure and culture.

5

Bassins de Lumières

Step inside the massive concrete chambers of the Bassins de Lumières. This is the world's largest digital art center, occupying four of the eleven submarine pens of the Base Sous-Marine. The experience is immersive; giant projectors cast high-resolution images of classic and contemporary art onto the raw concrete walls and across the surface of the dark water in the pens. The music and light transform this once-grim military site into a cathedral of color. The contrast between the heavy, oppressive history of the bunker and the ethereal beauty of the light shows is profound. It is a masterful example of 'adaptive reuse,' where a site of war is reclaimed for the purpose of beauty and public education.

6

Base Sous-Marine

To conclude the walk, take a closer look at the exterior and the accessible interior corridors of the Base Sous-Marine itself. This gargantuan block of reinforced concrete was built by the German navy between 1941 and 1943 to house U-boat flotillas during the Battle of the Atlantic. It is 235 meters long and was designed to be indestructible, with a roof several meters thick. The sheer scale of the structure is a chilling reminder of the Nazi occupation of Bordeaux. After the war, the city struggled with what to do with such a massive, indestructible eyesore. Today, it stands as a cultural powerhouse, hosting exhibitions and performances, proving that even the darkest monuments can be given a new, peaceful purpose in the modern city.

Start Free on iPhone

Start your private guided tour now

Explore “Bacalan’s Modern Pulse: From Submarines to Sea” with your very own Private Tour Guide with Zigway. Start free on iPhone, skip the large group and the fixed routes, and hear the city come alive as you go.

Start free on iPhone

Your Private Tour Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

The walk itself takes about 30-40 minutes of active walking time. However, if you visit the museums and the digital art center, you should allow between 2.5 to 4 hours in total.