Bordeaux: Slave Trade Walking tour + Garonne Excursion

This 2.5-hour walking and boat tour in Bordeaux explores the city's historical role in the Atlantic slave trade and suits visitors interested in history and architecture.

Highlights

• Discover Bordeaux's role in the Atlantic slave trade
• Explore the historic merchant district of Chartrons
• See Place de la Bourse, built on slavery-linked wealth
• Pause at the Slave Memorial honoring 150,000 victims
• Cruise the Garonne to view Bordeaux’s grand 18th-century façade

Description

This tour begins in the Chartrons district, once the center of Bordeaux's merchant activity. Learn how local trading families built wealth through commerce connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Walk among impressive townhouses and former merchant residences, uncovering the economic networks behind Bordeaux’s prosperity.

Continue through the historic center to visit monuments, squares, and institutions shaped by colonial trade. At Place de la Bourse and along the riverfront, discover how wealth from the Atlantic trade influenced the city's architecture and layout.

Your guide will discuss the realities of the Atlantic slave trade, highlighting the experiences of thousands of men, women, and children forcibly deported through systems linked to Bordeaux. Visit sites of remembrance and reflection that preserve the memory of this difficult history.

The tour concludes with a cruise along the Garonne River. From the water, observe Bordeaux’s UNESCO-listed waterfront, gaining perspective on the river’s role in the city’s commercial growth.

Includes

• Live tour guide
• Boat tickets

Excludes

• Personal expenses

Important Information

• Wear comfortable shoes suitable for moderate walking and muddy conditions.
• Bring rain gear and a waterproof camera to capture the sites in all weather.

Cancellation Policy

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.