This World Heritage-listed citadel is one of the top attractions around Bordeaux. Designed by Sebastien Vauban, at the time France’s foremost engineer and military strategist, on the orders of Louis XIV, its aim was to protect the city of Bordeaux by blocking access further down the river – the city’s cannons did not have the range to cover its width. The citadel was one of three fortresses that formed the Vauban lock – fortifications that together fully protected the Gironde estuary; the others were built on the left bank at Cussac Fort-Medoc and in the middle of the estuary on Ile-Pate which is not open to the public. See more.
Access to the citadel is by foot through porte Dauphine to the south or by car through Porte Royale to the east. There are guided tours, which take you through the citadel tunnels, every day. They leave from the tourist office which is found in the citadelat rue du couvent de Minimes; tel 05 57 42 12 09.
For accommodation in the centre, check out: Logis La Citadelle de Blaye.