The Chartrons was the neighbourhood where Bordeaux's wine trade was conducted for centuries — the great négociant families maintained their warehouses (chais) and offices here, and the quarter's architecture reflects that prosperity. Today it has become one of the most sought-after residential areas in the city, with antique dealers, wine bars, and the CAPC contemporary art museum occupying the old warehouse buildings along the river.
The Quai des Chartrons is the stretch of riverfront between the CAPC and the Jardin Public — one of the best walks in Bordeaux, particularly on a Sunday morning when the antiques market sets up on the quayside. The streets running back from the river — Rue Notre-Dame, Rue Borie — are full of antique shops, galleries, and wine merchants. The neighbourhood feels like a more adult version of the tourist centre: less posed, more lived-in.