Bordeaux's New Right Bank: Exploring Belvédère, Brazza and the City's Changing Waterfront

For years, many visitors have arrived in Bordeaux with a familiar picture in mind: pale limestone façades, elegant squares, monumental gateways and the broad curve of the river seen from the historic centre. That picture is still part of the city's appeal, but it no longer tells the whole story. Across the water, the Bordeaux Right Bank is changing quickly. Former industrial land, overlooked river edges and districts that once sat outside the usual visitor itinerary are becoming places to walk, cycle, look at contemporary architecture and understand how the city is growing.

The transformation is not one single project, nor is the Right Bank one uniform neighbourhood. It is a sequence of places with different histories and different levels of development. The established streets of La Bastide sit alongside the newer Deschamps-Belvédère district, while further north the large-scale development of Brazza is reshaping the waterfront around the lift bridge. Some public spaces and cultural destinations are already welcoming visitors; other parts remain active construction sites or long-term plans. That mixture is precisely what makes the area interesting, provided you know what to look for and do not expect every new building to be a finished attraction.

This guide explores the new neighbourhoods in Bordeaux from a visitor's point of view. Rather than presenting a property-development report, it looks at what a traveller can actually experience: a different view of the old city, green riverside walks, public art, creative spaces, sporting facilities and the contrast between the historic centre and the contemporary city taking shape across the river. It also explains how to reach the districts, how to connect them on foot, and where to allow extra time rather than trying to cover everything in a rushed detour.

If this is your first visit, it helps to understand the city's transport network before setting off. Our guide to Transports in Bordeaux explains the tram, bus, river-shuttle and cycling options that make it easier to move between the two banks. For the Right Bank itself, the most rewarding approach is often to slow down: cross one of the bridges, follow the water for a while, then turn inland to see how the new districts meet the older fabric of the city.

The Right Bank is not a replacement for the historic centre, and it does not need to compete with it. It offers something different: a sense of Bordeaux in transition, where the river is again a public space and the edges of the city are being rethought. For visitors who have already seen the main monuments, or who want to understand more than the postcard version of the city, it is a worthwhile addition to a stay.

Why Bordeaux's Right Bank is changing

The Rive Droite has always been part of Bordeaux's identity, but its role has shifted over time. The river was once a working edge as much as a scenic centrepiece. Warehouses, port activity, industry, railway infrastructure and large transport corridors shaped the land. As industrial uses changed and some sites became underused, large areas of the riverfront offered an opportunity to reconnect the city with the water and to create new neighbourhoods rather than simply extend the historic centre westwards.

That history is visible in the contrast between the banks. The left side of the river contains much of the monumental eighteenth-century city that visitors recognise. Across the Garonne, the built environment is more varied: older residential streets, broad open spaces, remnants of industrial activity, modern housing and new public landscapes. The view back towards the stone façades is one of the strongest reasons to make the crossing. The change in perspective is immediate, even before you reach any particular attraction.

The transformation also reflects a wider shift in how cities think about former industrial land. Rather than treating the waterfront only as a place for traffic, logistics or private development, recent projects have tried to combine housing, public facilities, green space, cultural activity and active mobility. The aim is to make districts that can be lived in throughout the day, not simply office zones that empty in the evening. For a visitor, the result is not always a conventional sightseeing attraction. Sometimes it is a new square, a waterside path, a public artwork or the experience of seeing a neighbourhood gradually come into use.

The tourism office now presents several of these areas as part of the city's changing visitor offer, including Deschamps-Belvédère and Brazza. Their development should still be understood as a process. A new neighbourhood can have completed streets and public facilities while other plots remain under construction. It is therefore worth approaching the area as a living urban landscape rather than expecting a polished historic quarter with a long-established sequence of shops and monuments.

The river itself is the thread that joins the districts together. Bridges provide the crossings, promenades make the edge more accessible, and parks create a green route through spaces that were once more fragmented. The Right Bank is best understood at walking pace, because its character appears through changes in scale: an old bridge, a broad lawn, a new residential block, a public sculpture and then an open view across the water.

Start with La Bastide: the established gateway to the Right Bank

For most visitors, the easiest introduction to the Right Bank is La Bastide, the established district immediately across the river from the historic centre. It gives the transition a human scale. Instead of stepping straight from the old city into a large development zone, you arrive in a neighbourhood with its own street life, everyday services and long-standing connections to the river. It is a useful reminder that the Right Bank did not begin with the latest regeneration projects; the newer developments are being added to an existing part of the city.

One of the simplest ways to cross is over the Pont de Pierre, the historic stone bridge that links the old centre with the eastern bank. The crossing is a destination in itself. From the bridge, the façades of the old city form a broad panorama, while the perspective on the river changes as you move away from the monumental squares. It is worth pausing to look both ways rather than treating the bridge as a route to be hurried across. The view is particularly rewarding when the light catches the stone buildings late in the day.

At the eastern end, Place Stalingrad acts as a recognisable arrival point. The square is a transport and movement hub, but it also helps visitors orient themselves. From here, the district opens towards the riverfront parks and the greener stretches further north. If you have limited time, do not feel that you must cover the entire Right Bank in one visit. A walk through La Bastide and along the waterfront can already provide a different perspective on Bordeaux, particularly if your previous time has been concentrated around the central monuments.

The neighbourhood's value is partly in its everyday character. It is not a museum quarter designed solely for visitors. People pass through it on their way to work, meet friends, exercise and use local services. That everyday rhythm can make a walk feel less staged than a route through a sequence of famous monuments. It also means that opening hours, street activity and the feel of the area can vary from one part of the day to another.

For a longer walk, continue towards Jardin Botanique and the riverfront rather than turning back immediately. The garden offers a quieter contrast to the broad streets and new construction, and it helps connect the older parts of La Bastide with the waterside landscape. From here, the changing waterfront becomes the main attraction: broad paths, views across the Garonne and a growing sequence of green spaces.

The Parc aux Angéliques: a green thread along the river

The Parc aux Angéliques is one of the most useful places for understanding the Right Bank's transformation. Rather than being a single enclosed garden, it is a long riverside landscape that links different sections of the bank. Its character changes as you move along it: open lawns, shaded stretches, planted areas and views framed by bridges. It gives visitors a route that feels continuous even though it passes through districts with different histories and development stages.

The park is also part of a wider urban project. The ambition is to create a greener edge to the city while improving public access to the river. Some sections are already established, while the larger landscape continues to develop, particularly towards the northern stretches. That distinction matters when planning a walk. You can enjoy the completed promenades and green spaces now, but should not assume that every planned section is finished or that every route will feel equally landscaped from end to end.

At the southern end, the stretch around Quai Deschamps gives a gentle introduction to the park's relationship with the city. The promenade opens up the river view and helps visitors understand how the old centre sits opposite the newer bank. Further along, Quai des Queyries offers a longer, more open walk, with mature planting and stretches where the river becomes the main focus. The landscape is not dramatic in the way a cliff or mountain viewpoint might be, but its appeal lies in the spaciousness and the slow change in perspective.

One of the pleasures of the park is that it can be enjoyed without a tightly structured itinerary. You can walk for twenty minutes, stop to look across the river, continue towards a bridge or turn inland towards a neighbourhood square. It works well for travellers who prefer to explore independently, and it is also a practical way to build some breathing space into a city break. The path can be combined with a visit to the districts further north, although the distance is longer than it may appear on a small map.

The park also reflects an important theme in the new Right Bank: regeneration is not only about new buildings. Reconnecting people with the river, protecting the banks and creating public green space are central parts of the transformation. For visitors, this means that some of the most interesting changes are not attractions with ticket desks. They are the spaces between destinations, where the city is trying to make a more usable and more open waterfront.

Deschamps-Belvédère: the new balcony over the old city

The district now widely referred to as Deschamps-Belvédère is one of the clearest examples of the new Right Bank taking shape. Set between the river, the railway infrastructure and the older fabric of La Bastide, it has moved from agricultural and industrial uses towards a mixed neighbourhood of housing, workplaces, shops, public facilities and cultural space. Its identity is still being formed, but it already offers a visitor something that the historic centre cannot: a contemporary public realm with open views back towards the older city.

The central reference point is Place Marie-de-Gournay. It is useful to think of the square as the neighbourhood's front room: a place where the surrounding streets meet and where the district's new public life becomes easiest to understand. The scale is different from the monumental squares across the river. Here, the architecture and public spaces are part of a developing residential district, and the atmosphere depends as much on local residents and daily routines as on visitors passing through.

A notable feature of the square is the large-scale artwork by Leandro Erlich, known as 'La Carte, à l'ombre de la ville'. The work uses shadow to draw the plan of Bordeaux, turning the idea of a city map into a public artwork. It is an especially suitable piece for this location because the district itself is about rethinking how the city connects across the river. It invites visitors to look at the old centre from a different angle and to see the river not as a boundary, but as a link between two parts of the same city.

The surrounding area includes the Jardin sportif Suzanne-Lenglen, a landscaped sports garden designed around outdoor activity. It is not a formal historic garden, and visitors should not expect a traditional ornamental park. Instead, it combines sports facilities and open space in a way that makes the district feel active. The design gives the public realm a practical role for residents, while also offering a different kind of urban landscape for people exploring the area on foot.

Another green element is the Allée des Abeilles, part of the planted routes that help structure the neighbourhood. These green corridors soften the transition between buildings and public space and provide a more comfortable walking experience. They also show how the development is being organised around pedestrian movement rather than only vehicle access. For a visitor, the details may be less immediately spectacular than a famous monument, but they are part of what makes the neighbourhood feel different from a conventional extension of the city.

Deschamps-Belvédère has a cultural dimension as well. Bien Public is a multi-use venue in the district, with a programme that can include concerts, exhibitions, talks and other gatherings. It adds a reason to visit beyond looking at the architecture, although the programme changes and should be checked before making a special journey. A useful way to approach the area is to combine a walk through the public spaces with a cultural event if one happens to coincide with your visit.

It is worth remembering that this is a neighbourhood first and a visitor destination second. The buildings are homes and workplaces; the squares and gardens are daily public spaces. The most respectful way to explore is to stay on public routes, avoid treating residential courtyards as attractions and allow people to use the spaces as they normally would. That approach also makes the walk more rewarding, because it lets you observe the district as a functioning part of Bordeaux rather than a staged development showcase.

Brazza: a much larger urban experiment

Further north, Brazza is a much larger and more complex project. It occupies a broad stretch of the riverfront near the major lift bridge and is being developed on land that included former industrial and port uses. The scale is important: Brazza is not a compact historic quarter that can be covered in twenty minutes. It is a multi-phase urban project with housing, workspaces, public facilities, cultural uses, sport and new public landscapes planned across a large area.

The scale also means that the district should be approached with realistic expectations. Some public spaces and facilities have opened, while other parts remain under construction or are scheduled for later phases. The masterplan includes several thousand homes and a substantial amount of new public space, but those figures describe the overall project rather than what a visitor will find complete on any single day. Construction boundaries, temporary diversions and unfinished plots can all be part of the experience as the district evolves.

The Pont Chaban-Delmas is the most recognisable landmark in the area. Its vertical lifting structure is designed to allow large vessels to pass along the river, and it has become a powerful part of Bordeaux's modern skyline. From the river edge, the bridge provides a visual marker that helps visitors understand the scale of the waterfront. It also connects the newer districts on both sides of the river, making it a useful reference point when planning a walk between the north of the Right Bank and the docklands opposite.

Brazza's design places considerable emphasis on landscape and pedestrian movement. A system of planted corridors, squares and routes is intended to connect the area to the river and to the green network along the bank. The official development programme describes a network of wooded strips and public places, with a strong emphasis on soft mobility. The result is a neighbourhood that is meant to feel open and permeable, rather than a collection of sealed private blocks.

The Quai de Brazza is one of the obvious places to appreciate this shift. The riverfront offers views back towards the centre and towards the bridge, while traces of the area's former industrial character remain part of the wider landscape. There are stretches where the relationship between new buildings, open ground and the river is still being negotiated. That can make the experience feel less finished than a traditional promenade, but it also makes clear how urban change happens over time.

Brazza is particularly interesting for visitors who enjoy architecture and contemporary urban design. The new residential buildings vary in form and scale, and some have been developed around the idea of adaptable or flexible living spaces. Rather than listing every building as an attraction, it is better to notice the broader approach: how the project tries to balance density with landscape, how streets meet green corridors and how new uses are being introduced into former industrial land.

Sport, culture and creative spaces on the new Right Bank

One of the most visible destinations within Brazza is UCPA Sport Station, a large indoor sports and leisure complex. It brings a different type of visitor activity to the district, with facilities that can include climbing, fitness, racket sports and other recreational options. It is not a monument or a museum, but it shows how the new neighbourhood is being designed around everyday recreation as well as housing and work. For families or visitors staying nearby, it can provide an indoor activity that is less dependent on the weather.

The project also includes a broader sports and cultural focus. Public information about Brazza describes a planned mix of sporting and community facilities, with additional elements delivered in phases. Visitors should distinguish between facilities that are open and those still described in development documents as future phases. Before travelling specifically for an activity, check the operator's current timetable and booking conditions rather than assuming a planned facility is already available.

A different kind of cultural destination is Fabrique Pola, a creative hub dedicated to visual arts and the professional communities around them. It brings together artists, creative organisations, exhibition activity and public-facing events. It is an example of the way former industrial or working spaces can be adapted for cultural uses without losing all traces of their previous character. For visitors interested in contemporary art and independent cultural initiatives, it offers a more locally grounded experience than a conventional museum visit.

Fabrique Pola's public opening hours and exhibition access can vary, especially between weekdays and weekends. It is sensible to check the current programme before setting off, because the opportunity to visit may depend on whether exhibitions or public events are taking place. The organisation's own information describes visiting the current exhibitions and public events, but not every part of the working space should be assumed to be open as a visitor attraction at all times.

Close to Brazza, Darwin Ecosystem and the historic Caserne Niel have already helped change perceptions of the Right Bank. Darwin is an established alternative cultural and social hub, created within a former military barracks and associated with creative organisations, street art, events and a strong environmental identity. It is not a newly opened development in the same sense as Belvédère or Brazza, but it provides important context: the contemporary Right Bank has been developing for years, and recent projects build on an existing creative scene rather than appearing in isolation.

The relationship between these different places is what makes the area worth exploring. A visitor might see contemporary housing in Brazza, walk along the river, visit an exhibition at Fabrique Pola when open, and then continue towards Darwin to experience a more established creative hub. The contrast is more interesting than any one building on its own. It reveals a city that is not simply replacing industrial land with apartments, but trying to create a wider mix of cultural, recreational and public uses.

The older landmarks that give the new districts context

The new Right Bank is easier to understand when it is connected to older landmarks. The Caserne de la Benauge, designed by Claude Ferret and built in the 1950s, is an important part of the district's architectural history. Its inclusion in the area's cultural story reminds visitors that the Right Bank has layers of modern heritage as well as new construction. It is not necessary to enter or tour every building to appreciate how the neighbourhood has developed; sometimes the value is in noticing how different periods of architecture sit alongside one another.

The Maison Calixte Camelle is another element of the area's heritage. Such historic buildings can be easy to miss when attention is drawn to the new public spaces, but they help prevent the story of regeneration from becoming a simple before-and-after narrative. The Right Bank was not empty land waiting for a new identity. It had residents, institutions, industrial activity and local memory long before the current projects began.

The older Jardin Botanique also provides a useful point of reference. Its presence helps connect the urban landscape to a more traditional public garden setting, while its surroundings open towards the river and the modern districts. If your visit is focused on architecture, it is worth looking at the transition between the older urban fabric and the newer developments rather than treating the two as separate itineraries.

This combination is important for visitors because it keeps the walk from becoming a tour of new buildings alone. Bordeaux's appeal comes from the way different periods overlap: historic stone structures, post-war civic architecture, industrial remnants, contemporary housing and public art. The Right Bank makes that layering especially visible because several kinds of development are happening within a relatively compact stretch of the river.

You do not need an expert understanding of architecture to enjoy the contrast. Look at the materials, the scale of the streets, the amount of open space between buildings and the way a square frames a view. Notice whether the ground floor is active or quiet, whether the route leads naturally towards the water and how the older city appears across the river. Those simple observations make the walk more rewarding and help explain why the Right Bank is becoming a significant part of Bordeaux's contemporary identity.

How to plan a Right Bank walk

For a first visit, it is better to choose a manageable route than to attempt every part of the Right Bank in one afternoon. A practical walk can begin in La Bastide, continue through the established riverside green spaces, pass through Deschamps-Belvédère and then extend north towards Brazza if you have the time and energy. This approach gives a sense of the different stages of development without requiring you to retrace your steps constantly.

One option is to start near Place Stalingrad, cross the river via the Pont de Pierre if you are coming from the historic centre, and then make your way towards Jardin Botanique and the riverfront. From there, follow the public paths through the park towards Quai Deschamps and the Belvédère area. This is a relatively gentle way to see the transition from the established neighbourhood to the newer district. Allow time to stop at the public spaces rather than treating the walk as a simple route between tram stops.

If you want to add Brazza, continue north along the river or use the public transport network to avoid turning the day into a long walk. The access information published for Belvédère and Brazza lists tram and bus connections, including tram A stops and several bus routes. Services and routes can change, so check live information on the day rather than relying on old screenshots or timetables saved before your trip.

The district is suitable for independent exploration, but not every street is equally interesting to walk along. Construction sites and broad roads can interrupt the flow in places, so use the riverfront paths and public spaces as the main thread. If a section feels unfinished, do not assume you have missed a hidden monument; some parts of the project are simply still in progress. A flexible itinerary works better than a rigid list of stops.

Comfortable shoes are useful, and it is worth checking the weather because the riverfront can feel more exposed than the narrow streets of the historic centre. In warm weather, plan for water and breaks; in windy or rainy conditions, you may prefer to use the tram for one leg and focus on a shorter walk. If you want a longer cycling route, look for designated cycle infrastructure and keep pedestrians in mind on shared paths.

Visitors who like to see a city on foot may want to begin their stay with a guided introduction to the historic centre before exploring the newer districts independently. A Bordeaux Free Walking Tour can provide the historical context that makes the contrast between the old city and the new Right Bank easier to appreciate. The central walking tour and the Right Bank walk are different experiences, and they work well together rather than competing with one another.

Getting there: trams, buses, bikes and river crossings

Public transport makes the Right Bank relatively straightforward to reach, although the best stop depends on which part of the district you want to see. For Deschamps-Belvédère, the tourism information lists tram A to Galin, alongside bus routes and a public bike station. For Brazza, the published access information points to tram A at Jardin Botanique, several bus routes, a bike station and pedestrian access via the Pont Chaban-Delmas. These are useful starting points, but live service information should always take priority.

Walking across a bridge is part of the experience, but it is not the only way to cross the river. The older stone bridge provides a direct link into La Bastide, while the larger modern bridges connect different stretches of the waterfront. The Pont Chaban-Delmas is a particularly strong visual landmark and a practical reference point for the northern Right Bank. Its lifting structure is designed to accommodate river traffic, so the bridge has an engineering role as well as a visual one.

Cycling can be a good way to cover more ground, especially if you want to combine the green corridors with the longer riverfront stretches. Bordeaux has a wider network of cycle routes, and parts of the Right Bank connect to dedicated cycling infrastructure. Still, the area is not a single uninterrupted leisure path. There are streets, junctions and areas where construction may affect the most direct route, so follow signs and use the designated lanes rather than improvising through work zones.

If you are unfamiliar with the network, the easiest approach is to plan the journey as two separate questions: how to reach the first district, and how to return from the last one. A linear walk ending further north may be more enjoyable than walking all the way back to your starting point. Check the nearest tram or bus stop before setting off, especially if you are travelling with children or anyone who may not want to walk several kilometres.

For a wider overview of getting around the city, the public transport guide on the site covers the main modes of public transport and regional connections. Use it as a starting point, but confirm current fares, service changes and disruptions with the operator before travelling.

What to expect from food, shopping and everyday life

The new Right Bank is not yet a fully established shopping district with a continuous high street. Its everyday offer is still growing and varies considerably from one area to another. Belvédère has a growing mix of local services and places to meet, while Brazza is developing a more varied pattern of workshops, workspaces, leisure facilities and neighbourhood services. For a visitor, this means that it is better to treat food and drink as part of the day's practical planning rather than assume that every stretch will have a large choice of places to stop.

The cultural venues and sports facilities add activity, but the district is also designed for residents. Its cafés, restaurants and small businesses are part of an emerging neighbourhood economy rather than a tourist strip. If you want to eat during the walk, plan a flexible break around the areas with established services and check current opening hours. Avoid assuming that an attractive new building automatically contains a public café or that a ground-floor space is open to walk-in visitors.

This is also a good area to observe how new neighbourhoods create public life. A square becomes useful when people have reasons to spend time there; a green corridor works when it links places people need to reach; and a cultural venue becomes part of the district when its programme draws people back at different times. These details may seem modest compared with a famous monument, but they are central to whether a regenerated area becomes a genuine part of the city.

Visitors who enjoy independent urban culture may find that the Right Bank offers a different rhythm from the central shopping streets. There are spaces for sport, exhibitions, creative work and community events, but the offer changes through the year. Before making a dedicated journey for a specific event, check its programme and whether the venue is open to the public at that time.

The absence of a long-established tourist strip can be a strength. It allows visitors to see a part of Bordeaux that is still being shaped by local use rather than one organised entirely around sightseeing. The best approach is to remain curious, plan one or two definite stops and leave room to notice the spaces between them.

Is the Right Bank worth visiting?

The Bordeaux Right Bank is worth visiting if you want to see how the city is changing beyond its famous historic centre. It may not be the first place to send someone who has only a few hours in Bordeaux and has not yet seen the main monuments. But for a longer stay, a return visit or anyone interested in contemporary architecture and urban regeneration, it adds an important dimension to the city.

The strongest experience is not necessarily a checklist of attractions. It is the contrast between the old centre and the newer riverfront, the shift from stone façades to open landscapes, and the way public spaces are being stitched into districts that once had very different uses. Belvédère offers a relatively clear focus around its central square, artwork and landscaped spaces. Brazza offers a wider sense of an urban project still unfolding, with sport, culture, river views and new public routes.

The area also rewards visitors who are comfortable with places that are not completely finished. Some routes may feel quiet, some plots will remain under development and the mix of shops or services will keep changing. That is not a reason to avoid the area, but it is a reason to approach it with realistic expectations. The Right Bank is a living part of Bordeaux, not an open-air museum with every stop arranged for visitors.

If you have already explored the historic centre, the Parc aux Angéliques, the neighbourhood squares and the river crossings can make a refreshing half-day. If you have more time, continue towards the creative spaces and sports facilities around Brazza. If you prefer a shorter visit, focus on La Bastide and Deschamps-Belvédère, then return to the centre by tram or bus.

The important thing is to see the Right Bank as part of Bordeaux rather than as a separate city. Its new buildings, green corridors and cultural venues are changing the shape of the riverfront, but they remain connected to the old centre by bridges, public transport and the everyday movement of residents. Once you have crossed the river and looked back at the city, the relationship between the two banks becomes much easier to understand.

Connecting the Right Bank with the rest of Bordeaux

A visit to the Right Bank can also help you plan the rest of your stay. The bridges and waterfront routes make it easier to think of Bordeaux as a city that can be explored across both sides of the river, rather than a historic centre with a few distant excursions. You might spend a morning in the old streets, cross to La Bastide for an afternoon walk, and then return for an evening event. Or you could begin on the Right Bank and use the view across the water as a way to decide which historic landmarks to visit next.

The northern part of the riverfront also connects visually and practically with the districts around Bacalan and Bassins à Flot, although they are on the opposite bank. If you enjoyed the contrast between industrial heritage and new cultural spaces here, our guide to A Day in Bacalan offers a complementary look at another waterfront district. It explores how former dockland spaces have been adapted for visitors, culture and everyday use, providing a useful comparison with the changes taking place on the Right Bank.

For a balanced city break, combine the historic centre with one or two newer districts rather than trying to see every regeneration project in a single day. The city is more interesting when you give each area time to reveal its character. The Right Bank's appeal is not that it has suddenly become another version of the old centre. It is that it offers a different way to experience Bordeaux, shaped by river views, green space, modern architecture and cultural activity.

If you would like a guide to the main historical landmarks before exploring the newer districts, consider joining a Bordeaux Free Walking Tour. It is a useful way to understand the older city, after which you can cross the river and see how Bordeaux's contemporary story continues on the opposite bank.

A different view of Bordeaux

The new Right Bank does not ask visitors to forget the Bordeaux they came to see. Instead, it expands the picture. The historic centre remains the city's most recognisable face, but across the river a different story is taking shape: former industrial land becoming public space, new residential districts developing around squares and green corridors, and cultural venues bringing new activity to the waterfront.

Belvédère and Brazza are not finished stories. Some places are already part of daily life, while other parts of the wider projects will take years to complete. That gradual change is worth understanding because it is what makes the area feel contemporary. The Right Bank is not simply a new attraction added to a tourist map; it is a part of Bordeaux's future being built in public view.

Walk it slowly, look back across the river, notice how the parks and public spaces connect, and give the neighbourhoods room to be themselves. You may not find the same density of monuments as in the historic centre, but you will see a city adjusting its relationship with the water and with the land on which it grew. That is a different kind of sightseeing, and one that can make a return visit to Bordeaux feel much more complete.