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Bordeaux is an appealing city that features dynamic, diverse activities throughout the area.

BORDEAUX & BASSIN D'ARCACHON - EN

Where should you go if you’re looking for an original, unique, eco-responsible gift for yourself or someone special? Specimen, of course! This collective of some twenty local craftspeople has set up shop in a pretty downtown boutique. It showcases ceramic objects, textile creations, engraving prints on paper, hand-crafted toys, jewelry, and more. The spot also features an art gallery where guest artists exhibit their works. For more information, please consult <https://collectif-specimen.info/> or call +33 (0)9.82.34.23.96 ©Istock by Gettyimages

Specimen

Just a 30-minute drive from the center of Bordeaux, this lake offers a refreshing change of scene! Nestled within a 44-acre woodland, the Lac Bleu of Léognan offers up crystalline waters to the delight of hikers. The white sand of its beaches brings the site a beautiful postcard-perfect appearance. Choose from a number of hiking circuits around the lake and in the area to explore this magical spot. For more information, please consult <http://www.randogps.net/randonnee-gps-autour-de-leognan.html>.  A 25-minute drive from Hotel Mercure Bordeaux Aeroport; 35 minutes from Hotel Mercure Bordeaux Centre-Ville and Hotel Mercure Bordeaux Lac. ©Istock by Gettyimages

The Lac Bleu of Léognan

Who’d have thought that an abandoned military barracks could become a not-to-be-missed alternative culture hotspot of Gironde? Located on the Right Bank, the Darwin Point Camp is a "small village" of skateboarders, lovers of street art, entrepreneurs of the green economy, aficionados of electronic music, defenders of biodiversity, and gourmets who come to enjoy Sunday brunch in an artsy atmosphere. The locals love this hip spot, which includes the largest organic bistro-cafeteria in Europe, a second-hand thrift shop, a bookstore, a wine cellar, and a roastery. For further information, please consult <https://darwin.camp>. ©Jefunky/Wikimedia Commons

The Darwin Point Camp

It isn’t surprising that Parc de Majolan is officially a “Jardin Remarquable” (“Remarkable Garden”) nor that it is listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historical Monuments. This romantic spot is located in Blanquefort, eight miles from Bordeaux, at the foot of a hill. These ten verdant acres reveal man-made caves, a rock garden bridge, and meandering paths that weave through rare, exotic plantations and decorative mock ruins. It’s hard to believe that before the park was established in the late 19th century, this place was just a swamp. Approximately a 10-minute drive from Hotel Mercure Bordeaux Lac and 20 minutes from Hotel Mercure Bordeaux Centre-Ville. ©Istock by Gettyimages

Parc de Majolan

Frescoes, graffiti, collages, tags, and more. The Chartrons neighborhood, located near the quays of the Bordeaux port, was historically a trading district. Today it is a headquarters for street art. While a number of guides can lead you through the urban works on these walls, we recommend those organized by the association Pôle Magnetic. The tour departs from the Magnetic gallery, where urban artists exhibit their work. The circuit can be conducted on foot or by bike. Ten people minimum. For further information, please consult <https://www.polemagnetic.fr/> or call +33 (0)7 44 82 59 54. ©Pixabay

Street art circuit in the capital of Gironde.

It’s hard to imagine that Palais Gallien was once filled with wooden bleachers to accommodate 20,000 sports spectators. However, its ruins – the oldest in Bordeaux – do hint at the city’s prosperity even in the 2nd century when it was called Burdigala. And yet, throughout the centuries, this former amphitheater became a refuge for crooks and prostitutes. Legend even has it that it was a meeting place for witches before it was taken apart as a public source of stones during the Revolution. Don’t miss an organized tour to learn about the Bordeaux of Gallo-Roman times. ©Istock by Gettyimages