To understand why Bordeaux looks the way it does, spend a morning at the Musée d’Aquitaine. Housed in the former Faculty of Sciences and Letters, built in 1886 on the Cours Pasteur, it reopened in May 2025 after six months of works that replaced its safety systems, improved accessibility and refreshed the lighting. Its permanent route, 400,000 years of history, moves from the prehistoric caves of the south-west, home to the celebrated carved Venus of Laussel, through Roman Burdigala and the Middle Ages, when Aquitaine was tied to the English crown, to the golden age of the port. The galleries on the 18th century confront the city’s role in the Atlantic trade and slavery with honesty. Later rooms cover the modern city, and the museum also holds the collections of the Centre national Jean Moulin on the Second World War. Inside, the free heritage interpretation centre explains the architecture of the UNESCO-listed city. This page links to the City of Bordeaux museum page.
How to visit: the museum is at 20 Cours Pasteur, a few minutes on foot from Place Pey-Berland and the cathedral. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00 and is closed on Mondays and on public holidays, except 14 July and 15 August. Tickets are modest, a little higher when a temporary exhibition is on, and entry is free on the first Sunday of the month except in July and August. It is also included in the Bordeaux CityPass and the city museum pass, and a free smartphone app offers guided routes in several languages.
What to expect: the collections are large, so do not try to see everything. Prehistory and the Roman galleries are the highlights for many visitors, while the 18th-century rooms explain the wealth behind the facades you have been admiring outside. Weekday mornings are quiet.
Making the most of it: start in the free heritage interpretation centre for an overview of the city, then choose two or three periods to explore. Combine the visit with a climb of the Pey-Berland tower and lunch in the old town.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided walk through permanent galleries covering 400,000 years of regional history, plus temporary exhibitions and a free heritage centre.
Best time
A weekday morning, or the first Sunday of the month for free entry outside July and August.
How long
About two hours for the highlights.
Tips
Remember it is closed on Mondays and public holidays, and download the free app before you arrive.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History lovers and anyone who wants to understand the story behind Bordeaux’s grand facades.
- Families
- The prehistory and Roman galleries engage children, and young visitors pay little or nothing.
- Couples
- A thoughtful rainy-day visit before lunch in the old town.
- Pair with
- The Pey-Berland tower and cathedral, a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- About two hours.
Good questions
When is the Musée d’Aquitaine open?+
It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00. It is closed on Mondays and public holidays, except 14 July and 15 August.
Is the Musée d’Aquitaine free?+
Entry is free on the first Sunday of the month, except in July and August. It is also included in the Bordeaux CityPass.
Is the museum open after its renovation?+
Yes, it reopened in May 2025 after six months of works. The refurbishment improved safety, accessibility and lighting.
What are the highlights of the Musée d’Aquitaine?+
Highlights include the prehistoric Venus of Laussel, the Roman galleries and the rooms on the port and the Atlantic trade. The free heritage centre is a good introduction to the city.
Where is the Musée d’Aquitaine?+
It is at 20 Cours Pasteur in the city centre. Place Pey-Berland and the cathedral are a few minutes away on foot.
