Answer a Wine and History Lover’s Prayers with Bordeaux France Travel
For wine lovers and history buffs, you won’t find a more rewarding vacation destination than Bordeaux, France. Travel to this major wine center on the French Atlantic coast puts you right in the middle of where several hundred million bottles of wine are produced each year. Both red and white wines are made in the wineries surrounding Bordeaux, and it’s been that way for several hundred years. In Bordeaux you can find everything from inexpensive table wine to some of the most expensive wines in the world, including Chateau Lafite Rothschild.
Visiting the chateaux and estates where glorious French wines are made is an enchanting way to spend anywhere from one day to a week or more. With several distinct wine regions you can arrange for tours of some of the world’s most famous wine producing estates and meet the hospitable wine makers and tour guides who are happy to tell you all about the area, not to mention who proudly offer sampling of their wines.
Bordeaux itself is a city of about a quarter million people in a metropolitan area of nearly a million. The city is surrounded by fertile vineyards and rolling hills of agriculture, and it is bordered on the west by a quaint, seaside resort area that includes beach communities like Cap Ferret on the Atlantic Ocean.
Bordeaux is known throughout Europe for its fabulous 18th century architecture. More than 5000 historic buildings were erected between the late 1400s and the late 1700s. The large scale gothic estates, cathedrals, and public buildings grace large public squares and lead to narrow streets full of boutiques, shops and restaurants. The city is a sightseer’s delight.
The oceanic climate of Bordeaux blesses the area with mild winters warmed by westerly winds off the Atlantic Ocean. Summers in Bordeaux are long and warm, and definitely beach time Bordeaux-style. Be sure not to miss the highest sand dune in France at the Dune Du Pilat, where you can climb a 154-step staircase and ride down to the beach from the top of the dune on a sand board. Quiet beaches for families, like the Plage du Nice, and active ones for water sports (Biscarrosse Plage) are available.
Accommodations in Bordeaux range from comfortable boutique hotels in the heart of the city to incredible chateux and estates in the wine regions. Because tourism is a major industry in this area, you won’t find anything but welcoming, friendly inn keepers. American hotels, including Holiday Inn and Best Western, as well as a variety of inexpensive hotels and youth hostels can be found. No matter what you’re looking for, you can find it here.
As with any major city in France, the food alone is worth the trip. As a seaside metropolitan area, Bordeaux boasts a wealth of excellent culinary experiences, from five star seafood restaurants to quaint beachfront cafes. Traditional travel guides like Frommers are a great place to look for information on eating out in Bordeaux. Many hotels feature restaurants with traditional French cuisine. Continental pastries and fast food are also available in the city.
While in one of the world’s most successful wine producing regions, you might as well learn a little about the industry. The Vinorama de Bordeaux is a museum dedicated to wine making and the history of the area. Other museums in the city are also worth a visit.
The Musee des Beaux Arts has an impressive collection of European works from the 15th through the 20th centuries. For contemporary art, don’t miss the Musee d’Art Contemporain. The museum’s more than 1000 works make it one of the most important contemporary art museums in France.
Bordeaux is a major transportation center, and from Bordeaux you can get to Paris in just three hours aboard France’s high speed train, the TGV. In Paris you can transfer to Amsterdam, Brussels, Geneva, London and many other major European cities. Regular train service is also available to other areas of France direct from Bordeaux, including Nice, Marseille, and Toulouse.
If you’re into sports, you can join the locals for a major contest, such as football (soccer), rugby, or Cricket. Bordeaux is home to professional teams in all three sports, and its Cricket team is one of the most respected in France.
It’s easy to get around Bordeaux. You can fly direct to the city from most major airports, and whether you choose public transportation or a car service, it’s easy to get around. The region is, however, quite large, so if you’re planning to stay outside the city center and yet visit the busy inner city, you’ll need to rent a car or plan on long public transportation journeys in and out of town.
No matter what time of year you go, you’re sure to enjoy Bordeaux France Travel. It’s definitely one of the many jewels of France.
Thank you to Connie Holubar for this "Bordeaux France Travel" article.
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