Bordeaux: from south to north: the best of architecture in Bordeaux

The redevelopment of Bordeaux’s tram network at the end of the 1990s marked one of the first visible steps in the city’s renewal, and today tram line C offers an excellent way to explore its most emblematic contemporary architecture. Beginning in the south at Terres-Neuves, the route introduces former military barracks and striking new constructions by LAN and Xaveer de Geyter, then moves toward the vast Euratlantique district whose development is closely tied to the Saint-Jean train station. This area showcases an extensive range of architectural styles and urban strategies, and after understanding the ambitions and challenges of this major project, the journey continues toward one of Bordeaux’s contemporary icons: the MECA building by BIG, standing as a cultural gateway before reaching the station area.

After a pause at the centrally located Water Mirror, the second part of the visit highlights the major transformation of the Garonne riverfront, redesigned by Michel Corajoud with an emphasis on generous public spaces and large-scale urban renewal. The route then heads to the Grand Parc, a vast post-war housing estate listed within the UNESCO perimeter for both its original qualities and its potential for reinvention, notably illustrated by Lacaton and Vassal’s impressive renovation of over 500 social housing units while residents remained on site. Continuing north, tram C finally leads to one of Bordeaux’s most significant contemporary sports venues: the Matmut Atlantique stadium, designed by Herzog & de Meuron in 2015, an elegant structure located near Parc de Bordeaux that can host more than 40,000 spectators and stands as another defining symbol of the city’s modern identity.