The ‘Bordeaux Fête Le Fleuve’ festival will take over the city docks from 20-23 June, marking the opening of the cultural season ‘Liberté! Bordeaux 2019’. On the programme are free concerts, sailing boats, nautical activities, food stalls and a white wine festival, exhibitions and a firework display over the Garonne.
Legendary ships will be docked for the occasion, including the world’s two largest sailing ships: Kruzenshtern and Sedov. This is one of the highlights promised by the organisers of Bordeaux Fête le Fleuve, in the heart of a rich program of events on the banks of the Garonne.
Sailboats to visit on the banks of the Garonne
Other famous rigs are expected at the pontoon of honour, including the 7th Continent, supporting the fight against marine plastic pollution, and the Zenobe Gramme, the only sailboat of the Royal Belgian Navy. All these vessels can be boarded during the festival.
Numerous waterborne activities will take place from the docks of the Garonne over the four days: a rowing race, the arrival of regattas and water rides. For athletes, a new edition of the Traversée de Bordeaux swimming will be organised.
During the festival you can also board barges, yachts and ‘daycruisers’ to enjoy the entertainment on the river and admire the tall ships close-up. A dozen small sailboats will travel from the mouth of the estuary to the heart of Bordeaux.
‘Liberty Bordeaux 2019’
For its eleventh edition, Bordeaux Fête Le Fleuve will be coupled with the launch of the cultural season ‘Liberté! Bordeaux 2019’. On the programme of the opening weekend: private views, exhibitions and large-scale installations. For the exhibitions at city museums and other cultural venues, world-renowned artists will interpret the notion of ‘freedom’ through original artistic works: sculptures, design and installations.
‘Group F’ is set to return to Bordeaux with its Fire Dragon and an original pyrotechnic creation, which will take over the Miroir d’Eau and illuminate the Garonne and its banks with a spectacular installation.
Tasting at the heart of the Botanical Garden
Within 13 ‘Customised Shacks’, the ‘Alimentation Générale’ taste culture platform invites chefs from Bordeaux, New Aquitaine and elsewhere to invent and revisit local recipes, inviting the public for a tasting in the Botanical Garden. Each plate served will be inspired by the plants of the region, to recreate a real edible landscape.
Introduction to the local white wines
For the occasion, local winemakers and traders will present the area’s white wines. In the open-air festival village, visitors will be able to meet the brains behind the 31 white Bordeaux appellations. The festival PASS (priced at €10) includes tastings of dry whites, sweet whites and Crémant.
Music on the docks
Throughout the four days of celebration, ‘bandas’, sailors’ choruses, orchestras and quayside dancing will bring to atmosphere to life. Bordeaux Fête Le Fleuve will take over the Place des Quinconces for four nights of fabulous free concerts.
- Thursday 20 June – opening concert;
- Friday 21 June – music festival;
- Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June – concerts including Carmina Burana (Orchestre National Bordeaux-Aquitaine accompanied by 380 choristers), Arthur H and Guests with the Bordeaux Concert Band, Odezenne, Jeremy Frerot and Zazie. Other artists to be announced.