Artistic Bordeaux: 5 Ways to Experience the City Differently

Bordeaux is also a city to be discovered through the eyes. Beyond its stone facades and most famous monuments, the city boasts a vibrant arts scene: museums, galleries, modern architecture, photography, urban art, and contemporary creations.

When visiting Bordeaux, art can serve as a guiding thread. You don’t have to spend your days in museums: an exhibition, a building facade, a gallery, or a neighborhood can be enough to change the way you see the city.

Here are five ways to discover a more creative side of Bordeaux, combining heritage, contemporary art, and urban art.

‍

1. Start with the CAPC and contemporary art

To dive right into Bordeaux’s art scene, head to the CAPC, Bordeaux’s museum of contemporary art.

Housed in the former Entrepôt Lainé, the museum offers a program that brings together international artists, contemporary works, and the history of the site. In the fall of 2026, several exhibitions will be on view, including *Blackground: Murmurs of the Mornes* and *SomaSemaSoma* by Alexandra Bircken.  

In fact, the appeal of the CAPC lies not only in the works on display. The building itself is part of the experience. Its spacious interiors, columns, and industrial architecture offer a setting that is very different from that of traditional museums.

In October, guided tours are organized in conjunction with the exhibitions. On October 17, for example, the museum is offering a tour titled “Make Room for Art, Make Room for Yourself,” while tours of Blackground and SomaSemaSoma are scheduled throughout the month.  

If you want to experience Bordeaux in a different way, this is a great place to start: you get to know the city through contemporary art rather than by checking off a list of monuments.

‍

2. Look up: Bordeaux also has a rich architectural history

Bordeaux's art isn't found only behind museum doors.

Sometimes all it takes is a walk to discover another side of the city. Bordeaux boasts a wide variety of architecture, ranging from the classical heritage of the historic center to the modern buildings that have profoundly transformed certain neighborhoods.

The Mériadeck neighborhood is a good example of this.

Developed beginning in the 1960s and designed primarily around the work of architect Jean Willerval and landscape architect Jacques Sgard, the neighborhood features a distinctive urban layout, with separate pedestrian and vehicular traffic lanes and a strongly modernist architectural style. 

This part of Bordeaux isn't always the first place that comes to mind when thinking about tourist attractions. Yet it's well worth a visit if you're interested in architecture.

The Caisse d’Épargne de Bordeaux-Mériadeck, designed primarily by Edmond Lay, Pierre Dugravier, and Pierre Layré-Cassou, is itself designated as a historic monument. 

In other words: to experience Bordeaux in a different way, try sometimes to look at what others are going through without necessarily noticing it.

‍

3. Follow the trail of street art

Urban art offers another way to explore Bordeaux.

Here, there’s no set route confined to four walls: the artworks appear around a street corner, on a building facade, or in a neighborhood. Above all, street art lets you discover a city in motion, with artworks that change, disappear, or give way to new creations.

Le Marty offers a Street Art Tour designed in collaboration with Pierre Lecaroz, a gallery owner whose works are on display in the hotel lobby.

This approximately three-hour urban tour offers a chance to discover street art while exploring the architecture, lesser-known facades, and a more intimate side of Bordeaux. The tour starts at €80 for two people and can be booked at the front desk before or during your stay. 

The appeal of this type of tour is that it doesn’t completely separate art from exploring the city. You walk, you observe, you learn a few stories, and you see places in a new light—places you might otherwise have simply walked right past.

‍

4. Step inside the galleries and creative spaces

Another way to explore Bordeaux’s art scene: venture beyond the best-known institutions.

Galleries offer a different—and often more direct—way to experience art. There, you can discover artists, creative worlds, techniques, and sometimes local or emerging artists.

Le Marty is part of this initiative. The hotel collaborates with the MAGNETIC gallery and hosts artworks as well as artistic and creative events. Art openings, workshops, performances, and pop-ups can take place in various areas of the lobby.  

The presence of art in the hotel also changes the way guests experience their stay. A room is, of course, still just a room, but the common areas can serve as a first encounter with Bordeaux’s artistic scene.

For art lovers, this allows them to continue exploring even at their place of stay.

‍

5. Make art the central theme of your trip

After all, why limit yourself to just one way to explore Bordeaux?

An art-filled getaway can start with an exhibition at the CAPC, continue with an architectural stroll through Mériadeck, move on to a few galleries, and wrap up with a drink.

This is the approach you’ll find at the Marty: the hotel isn’t just a place to stay, but a destination connected to Bordeaux’s creative scene.

Its identity is closely tied to Mériadeck and the arts. The name “Marty” is a play on the “M” in Mériadeck and the word “arty,” reflecting the talented artists hosted at the hotel. The hotel has 61 rooms across several categories, all featuring a stylish and cozy atmosphere.  

The reception desk can also direct visitors to experiences that match their interests: street art, shopping, wine, sports, or more personalized experiences.  

‍

A 4-star hotel in Bordeaux to extend your exploration

Choosing a 4-star hotel in Bordeaux can therefore also be a matter of atmosphere.

At Le Marty, art isn't just decoration on the walls. It's part of the place's identity and the way it welcomes travelers.

Located in the heart of Mériadeck, the hotel lets you continue your artistic exploration as soon as you return from a stroll, thanks to the artworks on display in the common areas and the staff’s recommendations.

For a stay centered on creativity, choosing a hotel can thus become part of the experience—not just a matter of location.

Want to explore Bordeaux from a more creative perspective? Le Marty can help you plan a trip tailored to your interests, either before you arrive or once you’re here. 

‍