Parc des expositions de Bordeaux is an exhibition park installed on more than thirty hectares at Bordeaux-Lac. The site includes four main halls and faces the Palais des Congrès across the lake. Hall 1, built in 1969, is noted for its large dimensions and high capacity. Hall 2 comprises an exhibition space, three conference rooms, and a mezzanine, and is the subject of an architectural programme for renovation and expansion carried out with LAH/AT, BLP, and the Lyon agency Ducks scéno. Hall 3 contains meeting rooms with movable partitions.
The venue has hosted a range of major events, including the Foire internationale de Bordeaux in 1969, the Festival of Video Games, Web culture, and High-tech, and the annual Salons Vivons, which include Habitat and Leisure. It also hosted Conforexpo, originally created in 1960 and renamed in 1970, and the Salon du bâtiment, or AQUIBAT, a biennial professional fair for construction and public works.
Architecture and Main Facilities
The Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux is set on more than thirty hectares and is organized around four main halls with extensive covered spaces. Its layout faces the Palais des Congres across the lake, giving the site a clear relationship with the adjacent conference complex. Among its principal buildings, Hall 1 was built in 1969 and is noted for its large dimensions and high capacity. Hall 2 includes an exhibition space, three conference rooms, and a mezzanine, and its covered surface is defined by its stated length and width. Hall 3 contains meeting rooms with movable partitions, allowing the space to be adapted for different uses. The site is also engaged in an architectural program to renovate and expand Hall 2, developed with the architects LAH/AT and BLP, together with the Lyon agency Ducks sceno. This combination of large exhibition areas, conference facilities, and ongoing redevelopment underlines the site's role as a flexible event infrastructure.
Major Fairs and Exhibitions at Bordeaux Lac
Parc des expositions de Bordeaux has hosted a wide range of recurring fairs and specialist events linked to consumer life, leisure, and professional sectors. In 1969, the Foire internationale de Bordeaux was held at Bordeaux Lac, and the site also hosted the Festival of Video Games, Web culture, and High-tech as part of the Foire Internationale de Bordeaux. Each year, the Salons Vivons took place at the venue, offering Habitat and Leisure themes.
One of the most established events connected to the site was Conforexpo, which began in 1960 under the name Expo du confort menager at place des Quinconces. From 1969, it was renewed annually at place des Quinconces and Bordeaux-Lac, and in 1970 it was renamed Conforexpo and expanded into a fair devoted to house, decor, and leisure. It brought together consumer interests across 12000 square meters with about 800 exhibitors, including professionals in housing, decoration, creative leisure, wood construction, mountain activities, leisure vehicles, two-wheelers, and sports. In 2013, it was divided into four shows: Vivons Maison, Vivons Creation, Vivons 100 percent sport, and Vivons Evasion.
The venue also served the professional construction sector through the Salon du batiment, or AQUIBAT, held every two years in even years. This event gathered an average of 600 exhibitors and 20000 visitors, including project managers, architects, contractors, prescribers, SMEs, artisans, and technical services of communities. It was organized as a multi-specialist professional show divided into five sectors of activity.