Rue des Vignes in Bordeaux: History, Shops and Property

Where is the Rue des Vignes?

The Rue des Vignes is a short street of just over 200 metres in the Saint-Michel quarter, close to the Place Saint-Michel and facing the Quai de la Monnaie on the Garonne. It connects the Rue Camille Sauvageau, between the Passage Saint-Michel and the Eglise Sainte-Croix, to the Rue du Hamel, which runs past the CROUS student services building towards the Place des Capucins. The Porte de Bourgogne is 400 metres to the north, and the Gare Saint-Jean fewer than 1,000 metres to the south.

The origins of the Rue des Vignes

The street sits at the heart of the Saint-Michel quarter, a neighbourhood that grew up around the imposing Gothic basilica dedicated to Saint Michael. The basilica's soaring detached spire, the tallest structure in Bordeaux, has signalled the neighbourhood from a distance for centuries. Populated by artisans and fishermen during the Middle Ages, the area developed outside the original city walls before being incorporated into the third ring of ramparts in the fourteenth century.

At that time, vineyards and gardens still covered much of the ground, and it is this landscape that gave the Rue des Vignes its name. The artisan character of the neighbourhood deepened over the following centuries, and by the seventeenth century the parish of Saint-Michel was the most populous in the city.

Shops and local life

The Rue des Vignes itself is a quiet, residential street, yet its surroundings are among the liveliest in Bordeaux. The Marche des Capucins, the city's principal food market, is steps away, and the Passage Saint-Michel is home to antique dealers and bric-a-brac sellers. Along the Rue des Vignes, a French restaurant, an African restaurant and a bar at the corner of the Rue du Hamel make up the street's own modest offering.

The wider Saint-Michel neighbourhood is a cosmopolitan village within the city, drawing residents with its atmosphere, its proximity to the quays and its transport links. Tram lines C and D serve the nearby Quai de la Grave, and the Gare Saint-Jean is within easy walking distance.

Property on the Rue des Vignes

Apartment prices on the Rue des Vignes average more than 5,100 euros per square metre, among the higher figures in the city centre. The most sought-after properties can reach 5,800 euros per square metre, while apartments in need of renovation may be found for less than 4,400 euros. The variation reflects the mixed condition of the housing stock in this historic quarter, where period character comes at a range of price points.

The Rue des Vignes offers the character of one of Bordeaux's oldest quarters, where period apartments in stone buildings come onto the market regularly alongside the bustle of the Capucins market and the quays. A full selection of properties is available among the properties for sale in Bordeaux.

The consultants at BARNES Bordeaux know the city centre street by street and can advise on the best opportunities in this area, from the initial property valuation to the final signature. The team is available via the contact page.

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