Campervan Hire in Bordeaux

The southern French city of Bordeaux is best known for its wineries. The region's friendly and sunny climate produces top quality wines. However, a trip to Bordeaux in a campervan is not only worthwhile for wine lovers, because the port city on the Garonne has much more to offer than wine.

The Gothic Saint-André Cathedral is Bordeaux's landmark. In the old town there are many wonderful buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries as well as first-class art museums. The Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux displays paintings by great artists such as Peter Paul Rubens, Auguste Renoir, Georges Seurat, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso.

After visiting the museum, take a stroll along the waterfront. The public gardens are in bloom from May to August. Another highlight is the impressive Place de la Bourse. There are many good cafés and restaurants here. In the middle of the square is a world-famous fountain, the Miroir d'Eau.

The best time to travel to Bordeaux in a campervan is from May to October. During these months, temperatures are very pleasant and there is little rain. The climate in the city is mainly determined by Mediterranean and oceanic influences. The best months for a beach holiday are June, July, August and September.

Temperatures for a camping holiday in Bordeaux

The season for a holiday with a camper van starts in May, when temperatures do not drop below 15 degrees Celsius. Spring is a very pleasant time of year in Bordeaux. It gets warm early in the city.

At 27 degrees Celsius, July is the warmest month of the year. Summers in the city are hot and dry, precipitation is rare. However, heatstorms are not uncommon in August.

In autumn, unfortunately, the weather becomes quite uncomfortable. Strong winds and grey skies are the order of the day. The winds come from the Atlantic and reduce the temperatures.

In contrast to other French cities, the temperatures are rather mild. It usually only gets cold in the evening. Snow falls very rarely however, as it is usually just too warm for that.

Rain in Bordeaux on a campervan roadtrip - What to expect

Rain falls in Bordeaux mainly in spring and autumn. In summer it is usually dry. The city owes its rain to its proximity to the sea; most clouds are driven over the city by the winds of the Atlantic.

In spring and autumn, you should therefore always pack rain gear. Rainproof camping gear is also very useful.

The city has a lot to offer visitors. It is guaranteed not to be boring here. Bordeaux Cathedral, the Place de la Bourse and the Jardin Public are the absolute highlights of the city.

Bordeaux Cathedral

Saint-André Cathedral has been a listed building since 1862. With a length of 124 m, it is the largest church in the city. The façades that can be seen today are mainly from the Gothic period.

The Tour Pey-Berland bell tower, which dates from 1440-66, towers over the roofs of the town. In 1863, the tower was raised by the statue of Notre-Dame d'Aquitaine. Romanesque influences are still visible on the nave.

The cathedral was consecrated as early as 1096 by Pope Urban II. Since then, several royal weddings have taken place here. In 1615, Louis XIII married Anne of Austria. The 14th century organ is a real rarity.

Place de la Bourse

The Place de la Bourse is one of the most interesting squares in the city. It was built along the river from 1730 to 1775. Many of the buildings in the square were designed by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel.

The square is located in the middle of the district that has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The sculpture of Louis XV was destroyed during the French Revolution.

A modern figure now stands in its place. The square is home to the largest fountain in the world. The Miroir d'eau is the largest reflecting pool in the world. The water surface is a proud 3450 square metres.

Jardin Public

After an exciting city tour, the Jardin Public invites you to relax. On 11 hectares of green space you will find everything you could wish for in a park: green lawns, old trees, a babbling brook, lakes and great pavilions.

Ducks and swans float on the water, while birds chirp in the treetops. Residents have been enjoying their weekends here since 1746. Numerous playgrounds and famous puppet theatres make children's hearts beat faster.

There are many old villas around the park. The streets around the park can be explored particularly well by bike.

Tip: Rent a bike: You can rent a bike at the Cool Bike bike rental at 77 Quai des Chartronsman. The bikes are colourful and unique.

In and around the city, you can easily find a nice place to park your campervan. In total, there are over ten different campsites in the region. These campsites are particularly recommended:

Camping Le Village du Lac

Due to its location, the site is an ideal starting point for excursions into the city. You are free to choose the pitch for your campervan. If you're lucky, you'll get a pitch right next to one of the small lakes.

The trees provide plenty of shade in summer. There is also a small pool to cool off in. The sanitary facilities are okay, but could be better maintained.

Caravan Beau Soleil

This small but nice campsite is located on the outskirts of the city. But it is very idyllic and quiet. The journey into town by bus takes about 30 minutes.

The owner is very helpful. At the reception, you can also get a free city map with marked parking spaces for a camper van. There is nothing to complain about regarding the sanitary facilities.

Aire camping cars et camping le Grain

This campsite is not in Bordeaux, but in nearby Ambarès-et-Lagrave. It's still worth the trip by campervan. The site is simply perfect.

It is very clean, quiet and located on a beautiful lake. The sanitary facilities are modern and well maintained. The campervan area has separate pitches with lots of wooden tables and seating.

By car/campervan: The town is easy to reach by car or camper van via the A10 motorway. The transport network around the city is very well developed.

By plane: The international airport is located ten kilometres west of Bordeaux. It is one of the largest airports in France. In 2019, 7.69 million passengers were handled here.

A holiday with a campervan in Bordeaux promises a lot of fun and variety. The port city on the Garonne has much to offer visitors. The city's most famous sights include Saint-André Cathedral, the Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d'Eau, which provides fascinating mirror effects. The cycle paths along the park and the river are excellent, so it's definitely worth hiring a bike. Around the city, you can easily find a nice place to park a camper van.