Long circular loop around southern Bordeaux through green spaces

Depart from Place Saint-Michel, in front of the spire of the Basilique Saint-Michel, which rises to a height of 114 m (higher than Notre-Dame de Paris).

(S/E) To the south-east of the square, walk down the pretty Rue Camille Sauvageau to Place Renaudel.

(1) Walk alongside the TNBA (Théâtre National de Bordeaux-Aquitaine), then turn left onto Rue Jacques d'Welles and cross the pleasant Square Dom Bedos on the right. Exit south of the Sainte-Croix Church and follow the tree-lined Rue Jacques Ellul, then turn left towards Parc André Meunier.

(2) Cross the park, then Cours de la Marne, and take the alleyway to the naval health school (no cars) until you reach the tree-lined Place Pierre Jacques Dormoy.

(3) Turn left onto Rue Vilaris, then take the first right onto Rue Montfaucon. At the end of the street, turn left onto Rue Billaudel. Take the first right, Rue Francin, walking alongside Bordeaux's first micro-forest. Turn right after 60 metres onto Rue Fieffé, then take the first left onto Rue Lefol. Walk past the square in front of the pretty Sacré-Coeur Church.

(4) Cross the tree-lined Place Cardinal Donnet and rejoin Rue Billaudel by going down Rue Pelleport for 40 metres. On the left, discover the magnificent, tree-lined Impasse d'Agen. Continue along Rue Billaudel to the end, cross Rue Amédée Saint-Germain, then go down the stairs or take the ramp, then follow the path between two buildings. Turn left, passing in front of the suspended cisterns, and take the stairs or the ramp that leads to Pont de la Palombe, overlooking the railway tracks, near Gare Saint-Jean.

(5) At the end of the bridge, cross Rue des Gamins and, after 25 metres, turn right onto Rue d'Armagnac (a tree-lined street with a square on the left between two buildings). At Place d'Armagnac, turn right onto Rue Carles Vernet (traffic), then take the third left onto Rue Agis Chety. At the end of the street, take the stairs leading to Rue du Professeur Princeteau. Turn right and cross Square Carle Vernet (1.4 ha).

(6) Follow Rue Émile Maurel to the right until you reach Rue Carle Vernet, then turn left. Turn left onto Rue Oscar et Jean Auriac. After 50 metres, enter Jardin Brascassat (1.4 hectares).

(7) Continue along Rue Auriac, then follow Rue Brulatour before crossing Boulevard Albert^1er (a short detour into the commune of Bègles). Continue straight ahead along Rue Pierre et Marie Curie.

(8) Take the first right onto Rue Anatole France for about 500 metres, then turn right onto Rue Thérèse et Laurent Puyoou (nice view of the Sacré-Cœur church). Turn left at the second street, Rue Roland et Marie Pichon, then right onto Cours Victor Hugo (traffic). After 50 metres, turn left onto Boulevard Albert^1er (heavy traffic). Walk 40 metres before turning left onto Impasse de la Fontaine Guillot and entering the pretty Jardin des Barrières, back in Bordeaux.

(9) Cross this garden and exit onto Boulevard Albert^1er. Take the first pedestrian crossing on the left to cross the boulevard and follow Rue de Vaucouleurs. Cross Rue de Bègles and continue along Rue Adolphe d'Eichtal, then quickly turn left into Rue Émile Pereire, which runs alongside the pretty little tree-lined Place Renée Seilhan. Go past Rue Bertin, continue straight ahead and take the path that leads to Rue de Bègles, at the railway bridge. Cross the bridge and continue along this street (traffic) for about 400 metres.

(10) Turn left onto Rue Pelleport (traffic). After 350 metres, enter Square Paul Antin.

(11) Leave the square and turn left onto Rue Pelleport, continuing until you reach the pretty Place Nansouty, which has recently been redesigned. Turn left onto Cours de la Somme (heavy traffic) and walk 40 metres. Turn right into Impasse Elvina Sivan, then follow the path alongside Sainte-Geneviève Church to Rue Bertrand de Goth (traffic). Turn right and walk 70 metres to visit the charming little Parc Bertrand de Goth.

(12) Continue along Rue Bertrand de Goth for about 500 metres until you reach Cours de l'Argonne, cross over and continue along Rue Duluc. Turn right onto Rue Saint-Genès for just over 50 metres and enter the very popular Jardin des Dames de la Foi and Maison Saint-Louis Beaulieu.

(13) Continue along Rue Saint-Genès and turn right at the first street, Rue Adrien Baysselance. Cross Cours de l'Argonne (a pretty tree-lined square belonging to the Frères Pouyanne) and continue along Rue Colette. After 50 metres, on the right, you will find the magnificent Square du Professeur Lasserre, which beautifully combines green space and architecture.

(14) Return to Rue Colette, then continue along Rue Georges Rioux, followed by Rue Jules Delpit. Cross Cours de la Somme, continue along Rue Lajarte and you will come out onto Rue Kléber.

(15) Follow it straight ahead to Cours de la Marne, an incredible tree-lined street in the heart of a working-class neighbourhood. Cross it and continue along Rue Leyteire, then take the second right, the narrow Rue Contrescarpe, until you reach Place des Capucins. Turn left and follow Rue Clare until you reach the Saint-Michel spire (S/E).

- Variation 1 at (1). When you reach Place Pierre Renaudel, walk along the right-hand side of the forecourt of Sainte-Croix Church, then follow Rue du Fort Saint-Louis and go straight to Place André Meunier.

- Variation 2 at (4). To shorten the circular route, you can walk down or up Rue Pelleport for 250 metres. Going directly from point (4) to point (10) allows you to avoid the more working-class neighbourhoods in the south of Bordeaux.

- Variation 3 at (14). Cross Square du Professeur Lasserre, then turn left onto the pretty Rue Grateloup until you reach Rue Pauline Kergomard. Turn right and walk 40 metres to discover the pretty, tree-lined Place Simiot, then return to Rue Kergomard and take the second left onto Rue des Sablières, then turn right onto Rue Jules Delpit.

(2) Parc André Meunier
(8) Jardin des Barrières, 1 hectare - toilets - open every day from 8 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. or later.
(10) Square Paul Antin, 1.7 hectares, open only on weekends from 8 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. or later.
(12) Maison Saint-Louis Beaulieu (Catholic house in a 1-hectare park, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.), please inquire at the reception desk.