Bordeaux Slave Trade Tour and Garonne River Cruise

Overview

This 2.5-hour walking and boat tour explores Bordeaux’s complex past as one of France’s main slave-trading ports. Explore how Atlantic trade, slavery and colonial commerce transformed Bordeaux into one of Europe's richest ports. Walk through the historic Quai des Chartrons, once the hub of slave ship expeditions, and explore luxurious merchant houses reflecting the wealth generated from this dark chapter. Visit significant landmarks, including the Place de la Bourse and the Memorial to Slavery, which honor the victims of the trade. Wrap up your journey with a scenic boat ride on the Garonne, gaining a unique perspective of the city’s architecture shaped by its colonial past. - 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