Only on Sundays: Marche des Quai
If you are visiting Bordeaux, don’t miss the Marche des Quais, the once-a-week outdoor Sunday market on the left bank of the Garonne River.
Our “Chateaux, Rivers & Wines” cruise on Viking River Cruises’ Forseti embarked from Bordeaux, France. Although the itinerary for our first two days visiting this port city was jam-packed with excursions, one of the crew urged us to wake up early on Sunday morning to visit the Marche des Quai. As market lovers, even though totally jet-lagged, we couldn’t resist.
“Sleeping Beauty” re-awakened
As part of a broader effort to beautify a city whose porous limestone buildings had turned dingy gray from pollution, the entire waterfront area has been revamped. Indeed, the city once nicknamed “Sleeping Beauty” has re-awakened. Now recognized as a model of 18th century urban design and architecture, Bordeaux was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. It boasts more protected buildings than any other city in France besides Paris.
Creating a welcoming and pedestrian-friendly river walk was part of this highly successful urban renewal effort. The river walk offers breathtaking views of the right bank of the Garonne.
On weekends especially, the path is filled with walkers, runners and joggers; young couples pushing strollers; adult cyclists and toddlers learning to ride a tricycle; and older couples strolling arm-in-arm, soaking in the sun and fresh air. The quay also houses a vibrant roller skate park. Semi-enclosed behind graffiti walls, children and teens on skates, skateboards and scooters leap off ramps and jumps.
To market we go
Like any proper market, this one is frequented predominantly by locals. Regulars come with shopping carts to select fresh vegetables, fruits, cheese, meats, fish and seafood and regional delicacies (like mushrooms and truffles) to prepare at home from some 60 different vendors. Locals and tourists alike succumb on the spot to the wafting smells of the stalls and food trucks with baked goods and cooked foods served sizzling hot.
Selection of freshly baked breads
Falling in love with caneles
We made the mistake of arriving right after a full breakfast onboard. Yet we couldn’t resist sampling several types of freshly-baked caneles from one of the pastry stands and from a free-standing cart that exclusively sells the branded Canelés Baillardran (in red boxes with multiples of 8) that are ubiquitous throughout the city (as well as at the Bordeaux airport).
A specialty of the Bordeaux region, these small pastries have a soft inside and caramelized outside, flavored with rum or vanilla. They come in a variety of sizes, making them suitable for breakfast, a snack or dessert. Made with egg yolks, sugar, milk and flour, they are baked in fluted copper molds. Tradition says these sweets were first baked by winemakers in the monasteries who had an excess of egg yolks after using the whites to purify wine.
Other stands offered tastings of “Gruff,” new wine (Vin Nouveau – not to be confused with Beaujolais Nouveau) made of grapes that have just been harvested and allowed to ferment in the bottle.
If you have the time, be sure to order a plate of fresh oysters with a glass of white wine from the stand with tables and chairs closest to the skate park.
Also nearby
- Quai des Marques is located close to Marches des Quai (note the similarity in names, perhaps designed to confuse non-French speaking tourists) At the former, abandoned warehouses have been transformed into 33 eco-friendly modern shops and 13 restaurants, many with patios offering outdoor seating. The shops also include factory outlets.
- We were fortunate to visit Bordeaux during the fourth weekend of October, when dealers set up stands only blocks away in the same Chartrons neighborhood to host a new wine festival and flea market (Fete du Vin Nouveau & De La Brocante).
- For runners, the city has marked a 4.3-mile course around both banks of the river and past two bridges (Le Pont Chaban Deimas and Le Pont de Pierre (the highest lift bridge in Europe).
IF YOU GO
- Quai des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux
- Sundays from 7AM to 1PM
- If you arrive in Bordeaux on a riverboat, the Marche des Quai is located adjacent to the skate park, only a short walk from your vessel. If you are staying in the city, it is easily accessible (just across the street) from the Chartrons stop on the B tram.
Viking River Cruises: Chateaux, Rivers & Wine
Tips
- Go early in the morning to avoid crowds and to get a seat at the oyster cafe.
- Do not eat before you go. Repeat: Do not eat before you go.
- Bring small change/local currency.
- As in most crowded places, watch your pockets.
- On the river walk, pay attention to the bike lane that seems to have the right-of-way over pedestrians.
Disclosure: Although our Viking River Cruise was sponsored, this was an independent shore excursion. Any opinions expressed in this post are our own.
Previously on MoreTimeToTravel.com
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- Tips for visiting public markets
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- Market visit – Carnot Market in Lyon, France
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On Google Maps (the market is to the left of the Skate Park shown on the map)
