Stade Atlantique

5 1 review Bordeaux, France

Home club: Girondins de Bordeaux

About

Opened on 23 May 2015 in the Bordeaux-Lac district, the Stade Atlantique is the home of Girondins de Bordeaux. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, it is instantly recognisable for its forest of slender columns, inspired by the pine trees of the Landes, and for its two tiers of stands wrapped around the pitch. With a flexible capacity of 42,115 seats, it hosted five matches at Euro 2016.

The guided tour lasts around 1 hour 30 minutes. It takes you from the top of the stands down to the edge of the pitch, taking in the mixed zone, the players' tunnel, the Girondins de Bordeaux dressing room, the VIP boxes and the trophy room. It is only available at certain times of the year.

Did you know?

Chosen to design and then build the Matmut Atlantique, the Herzog & de Meuron practice is no newcomer to major sporting landmarks. Specialists in this kind of project, the Swiss architects are behind the magnificent Allianz Arena in Munich and Beijing's Olympic Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, one of the largest in the world. An excellent choice, judging by the result.