Bordeaux may have its faults, as all cities do, but it’s undeniably a peaceful and beautiful city! The people of Bordeaux may not feel safe at night, or the construction may go on a little too long, but it’s still the city where you can drink the best wine, find great restaurants, enjoy the best festivals and stroll to admire the architecture!
Where did Bordeaux fall in the ranking?
The 2025 ranking of the Association des Villes et Villages de France, published by Le JDD on February 16, does not feature Bordeaux this year. The capital of Gironde fell 8 places to 37th position among 34,795 towns! A significant drop after having occupied 29th place in 2024 and, even more surprisingly, 8th place in 2020! But why has Bordeaux dropped out of the top 10 and now the top 30?
This plunge obviously provoked reactions, such as that of Thomas Cazenave, president of the Renouveau Bordeaux group. He criticized the city’s inaction on urgent issues such as safety, cleanliness and transport. The city’s position in the rankings highlights the problems that affect the people of Bordeaux on a daily basis (we’re still waiting for the B streetcar).
Despite this 37th position, Bordeaux remains the leading city in Gironde, ahead of Mérignac (98th), Bègles (168th) and Talence (173rd)!
What is the ranking based on?
The ranking is based on 190 criteria divided into 11 categories, including quality of life, transport management, environmental protection, safety, access to shops and services and real estate attractiveness. To compile the ranking, the association uses data that includes survey results from the OpinionWay institute and official INSEE figures.
At a time when Bordeaux is facing multiple challenges (security, housing, transport), these results underline the importance of improving certain aspects of urban life. It’s clear that, despite its undeniable charm, the sleeping beauty must redouble its efforts to meet the expectations of its residents and preserve its status as a city where life is good.
And what’s the top 10?
You never know, if you’re planning to move, here’s the top 10 below. And you don’t have to go far, because 3 of the cities in the top 10 are in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region!
- Biarritz
- Angers
- Annecy
- Bayonne
- Rodez
- La Rochelle
- Lorient
- Cherbourg-en-Cotentin
- Anglet
- Brest
So, are we back in the top 10 in 2026?