Camera and drone rental in Bordeaux: where to film

Where to film in Bordeaux

Seven places sum the city up well, from the river to the lanes of the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Place de la Bourse and the water mirror: the façade is reflected in a thin film of water, with mist on some mornings and sharp reflections at sunset. An Insta360 X6 captures the reflection and the passers-by all around without having to choose an angle in advance, a real asset on such an open square.
• The Garonne quays: a long promenade between the Pont de Pierre and the Chartrons, with joggers and cyclists from morning to night, good walking ground for a shot that follows the river for several kilometres without a break.
• The Pont de Pierre: seventeen arches, an open view of the city and the river, especially at sunset when the stone takes on a golden tint.
• La Cité du Vin: contemporary architecture shaped like a twisted decanter, in strong contrast with the stone of the historic centre, especially from the quays opposite.
• The Grosse Cloche and Rue Sainte-Catherine: a medieval gate, then one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe, with crowds and tightly packed façades from morning to night.
• The Jardin Public: large lawns, a bandstand and shady paths, a calmer spot to catch your breath between two takes, away from the bustle of the quays.
• Saint-Michel basilica: one of the tallest spires in the south of France, a working-class neighbourhood and a flea market around it, a different atmosphere from the commercial city centre.

Drone in Bordeaux: what is allowed

Recreational flying remains prohibited over built-up areas and gatherings of people. Bordeaux and its metropolitan area fall under this ban, as do the surroundings of Bordeaux-Mérignac airport. National parks and nature reserves are also closed to flying. The maximum authorised height is 120 metres, and the drone must stay in direct line of sight, never flown solely from the images sent back by its onboard camera.

The Géoportail map is the reference before every flight: it alone says what is open that day. Around Bordeaux, head for open spaces outside the built-up area rather than the quays or the centre. Our drones, a DJI Mini 5 Pro or a DJI Mini 4 Pro, weigh less than 250 grams, but they carry a camera: before the first flight, the renter registers free of charge as an operator (on AlphaTango if resident in France) and displays their own operator number on the drone.

What equipment to rent for Bordeaux

For Rue Sainte-Catherine or the paths of the Jardin Public, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P steadies the image as you walk without weighing on your shoulder, even after several hours of shooting. For the water mirror and Place de la Bourse, the Insta360 X6 or the Insta360 X5 film all around and let you choose the framing afterwards, a real time-saver in the field. On the quays, on a scooter or for a bike ride along the river, the GoPro Hero 12 Black mounts easily and takes knocks, with no worries about splashes. For a fuller overview of the equipment available in the city, the page on audiovisual equipment rental in Bordeaux details the whole offer.

When to film: events and seasons in Bordeaux

Summer brings long, bright evenings on the quays, handy for filming late without artificial light. The grape harvest sets the pace of late season in the nearby vineyards, with rows of vines changing colour almost every week, an atmosphere that the Cité du Vin extends all year with its wine exhibitions. In winter, morning mist on the Garonne gives a special look to the water mirror and the deserted quays. The quayside market regularly livens up the centre, with people crowding the cobbles from the morning, a good chance to film local life.

Getting your equipment in Bordeaux

Delivery is by Chronopost, to your home or to a pickup point, anywhere in the Bordeaux metropolitan area. The parcel arrives the day before the first day of your rental, so you can start filming first thing in the morning. The return is done with the prepaid label supplied in the parcel. In-person pickup exists only in Lyon, for those who prefer to collect the equipment by hand.

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