It's that time of year again! The annual European Heritage Days will be upon us on September 21st and 22nd and, as always, in and around Bordeaux there are tons of things to see and do. If you feel daunted by the sheer mass of events on offer, fear not because Invisible Bordeaux has been through the list so that you don't have to, and here are ten suggested outings, complete with all the pedantic information and links you need to make the Heritage Days dream reality. Enjoy!
Mériadeck quarter (pictured above)
A meandering stroll along the raised walkways and between the high-rise buildings of this much-maligned, unloved district, guided by local specialist Mathias, the man behind the authoritative Quartier Mériadeck website.
> Sunday 22 September, 16:00
> Full information here
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Bordeaux Inno Campus
If research, innovation, industry, healthcare and academia are your thing, the unusual 15-kilometre circuit dreamt up by the Metropole may be your thing. Winding through Pessac, Talence, Bordeaux and Gradignan, the circuit is best enjoyed on foot or by bike, and a number of events are scheduled to take place at set times, to keep you on your toes (or your saddle)! > Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September
> Presentation and itinerary > Programme of scheduled events
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Robert-Picqué hospital bunker
If you ever wondered how a wartime hospital operated, then wonder no more. To add to the slightly eerie feel of the place, a number of full-on uniformed volunteers (including local WW2 history expert Erwan Langeo) will be on site to make you think you really have traveled back in time to the early 1940s.
> Sunday 22 September
> Hôpital militaire Robert Picqué, 351 Route De Toulouse, Villenave d'Ornon> Full information here & registration here
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La Pergola theater
This art deco establishment in the Caudéran district started out as a versatile multipurpose building, and is now a familiar name on the local theater circuit. It includes a number of surprising features (such as traces of the pergola that gave it its name...).
> Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00
> Rue Fernand Cazères, Bordeaux
> Full information here
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Bordeaux Montaigne University library
The university librarians have dug out some of the hidden gems and promise to take visitors behind the scenes of this student institution, which boasts a collection of several hundred thousand books and documents.
> Saturday 21 September, 10:00 and 11:00
> Domaine Universitaire, Pessac
> Full information here
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Clair Logis, Cenon's "Castors" estate
A guided tour which will cover both the history and the architecture of this 1950s housing estate, built from scratch by the original homeowners as part of an associative structure based on the system rolled out by the "Castors" movement in Pessac. Some of the people who took part in building the homes will even be on hand to deliver their first-hand accounts!
> Sunday 22 September, 10:00
> Clair Logis 1 à Cenon (sur la place à l’angle des rues Guynemer et Mermoz)
> Full information here
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A ride on a vintage bus
Two vintage buses that belong to the APATBM association are being dusted down and put back into service on line 2 of the city's public transport network, between Quinconces esplanade and Mérignac Henri Barbusse. A third bus will be on static display at the Quinconces interchange and will serve as an unusual museum.
> Satuday 21 and Sunday 22 September 10:30-12:30 and 14:00-18:30
> Static exhibit: Saturday and Sunday, 14:00-18:00
> Esplanade des Quinconces and TBM line 2
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Lycée Montesquieu
A guided tour of this legendary establishment is being provided by some of the lycée's history students. They will be showing the school's historic buildings as well as the recent extension, which connects to the main building via a raised glass walkway on rue Le Chapelier.
> Saturday 21 September, 9:00, 9:30, 9:45, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00 and 11:30.
> 4-5 place de Longchamps, Bordeaux
> Full information here
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Trianon theatre
A chance to see behind-the-scenes at this Bordeaux city-centre theater which originally opened in 1913. It later became an arthouse cinema but since 2008 has been operating once again as a theater.
> Saturday 21 September, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00
> 6 rue Franklin, Bordeaux
> Full information here
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Cité Claveau
This is labelled as an "alternative" stroll along the Garonne waterfront, towards the northern flank of Bordeaux. All will be revealed about the Bacalan neighbourhood and the ongoing urban renewal projects in and around the Cité Claveau estate. The guided tour reportedly finishes off with a nice surprise!
> Saturday 21 September, 17:00
> Brandenburg tram station> Full information here
