Experience in Bordeaux, France by Estelle

How did you find living in the city of Bordeaux? Do you recommend it? How is the city?

The city centre is superb with very beautiful architecture. It's a good place to live (even if I don't personally live there). It's really pleasant to walk around. Then in terms of prices for accommodation in the city centre, it remains fairly expensive but it all depends on the student budget.

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How is student life in Bordeaux?

There are many students in Bordeaux but especially on the Talence and Pessac campuses with a few less in the city centre. From Thursday evening onward however, the atmosphere is in the city centre and there are students everywhere. The atmosphere really is very pleasant.

How are living costs in Bordeaux?

To give you some sort of idea, it's cheaper than Paris but it remains a fairly expensive bourgeois city all the same. Then, it will depend on the bars and brasseries you go to. The food in the city centre is very good but you can find really good and cheaper food slightly further out the centre and on Talence.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Bordeaux? Do you have advice to give?

There are many accommodation websites (notably le bon coin. This is how I found my accommodation). If you get a grant, you have to complete an application and you can reside in a student hall, which remains the cheapest option. Otherwise for shared flats, another website exists (lacartedescolocs), which is very well done. To give a piece of advice, the agencies are to be avoided. They easily take €200 just to inform you and give you a list of possible accommodation (of which the majority are already taken or unsanitary) so they are to be avoided except as a last resort.

A room at Résidence Universitaire Crous La Marne, Bordeaux

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How is the city's food? What are your favourite dishes?

The food of the South West is generally very good wherever you go. There is obviously duck but also rib steaks (I am a big meat eater, duck breasts, etc. ).

Which places do you recommend to see in Bordeaux?

The Hôtel de Ville (The Palais Rohan housing the City Hall) is found right in the city centre, where there also is the big Pey Berland cathedral. It's an absolute must see. You can't miss it! After you have to walk around the streets and go see the Porte Dijeaux. All that, without forgetting to go and stroll around the docks and to go see the Place de la Bourse and its mirror of water opposite.

Pey Berland Cathedral

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And to eat in Bordeaux? Can you tell us your favourite places?

Unfortunately with class and living in Talence, I didn't have too much time to go out to eat in the city. I know a very good Italian wine bar (the Wine Bar, next to the Place Camille Jullian in the city centre) and there is a Corsian brasserie right beside it with all of the region's specialities, which are really good.

Which places do you recommend to go out in Bordeaux?

Initially, there is the Place de la Victoire with student bars to begin the night and then to finish, you have to go on the docks to find the nightclubs. I know La Plage because it's Bordeaux's biggest nightclub with very affordable prices and good music (sometimes). It's free before 1am on Thursday evenings. Otherwise, it's €10 for entry with a drink. Otherwise, there are all the other bars next to it but I don't know them.

What advice do you want to give to future Erasmus students in Bordeaux?

I don't have too much more advice to give, other than you really have to do the city centre on foot, 'getting lost' in the streets in order to discover them. I haven't had the time to do it yet but as soon as my final exams finish, I intend on knowing Bordeaux like the back of my hand.