Bordeaux Travel Information
Beautiful and sophisticated, Bordeaux is a truly cultured city. The city boasts magnificent 18th century architecture and a network of
narrow streets with fabulous boutiques and cafes in the Old Town.
Bordeaux
France
Rue Ste Catherine and adjacent streets are a shoppers paradise while
those with a taste for fine wines will be delighted to venture out into
the famous vineyards.
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Bordeaux Travel and Flight
Information
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An elegant, cosmopolitan city of vast, tree-lined squares and broad
avenues, Bordeaux is divided into 12 "quarters" over an area of 12½ miles
by 10½ miles. Most of tourist interest is found in the city centre, which
hugs the West bank on a loop in the river and boasts a wealth of historical
buildings and monuments, including those found in the medieval religious
quarter of St Michel and some of France's finest 18th-century
architecture (with over 5,000 examples); some of the most
picturesque buildings can be found along the river, near the Quai de la
Douane (Customs House Quay).
The city of Bordeaux was once a major European
centre for trade with the Indies, both East and West, and is still a busy
port, with important shipyards and related industries. Today, the
production of fine wines and spirits is a major commercial activity, and
the existence of a university contributes to the city's reputation as a
intellectual and cultural melting pot.
Area
Concentrated on the W bank of the River
Garonne. Surrounded by gentle countryside dotted with some of the
world's most famous vineyards. Commercial pine plantations in the
outlying areas.
In South West France, 40 miles East of the Atlantic coast. 360 miles South West of Paris. 140
miles North of the Spanish border. 8 miles East of Merignac airport.
Where to Stay
A wide choice,
mainly in 3 areas: the centre of town, close to the airport and by the
Exhibition and Congress centres.
What to Do
Daytime: a wealth of buildings and monuments including the 18th-century
Grand Theatre; various museums including the Musee d'Aquitaine, the
impressive Museum of Contemporary Art (CAPC) and wine museums; handsome,
historical churches, including 3 on UNESCO's world-heritage list (St
Andrew's Cathedral, St Seurin Basilica and St Michel Basilica); stone
bridge of Pont de Pierre with its sweeping view along the river side; 2
botanical gardens.
Guided tours (including wine tours) are
available, either by foot, bus or horse-drawn carriage.
Nightlife: what
you would expect to find in a large city; opera, ballet and classical
concerts; cinemas.
Must See
The impressive Esplanade des Quinconces with its splendid fountains and
the nearby Classical Grand Theatre, renowned for its extraordinary
acoustics.
Visit the lively Golden Triangle, a compact area of chic boutiques and
famous cafes.
Must Do
Climb the tower of the gothic St Andre Cathedral for impressive
views over the city.
Take an excursion from the Office du Tourisme to the famous vineyards
and taste some of the world's finest wines.
Collect a FREE Bordeaux card from the Tourist Office offering reductions
to many sites.
Visit the interesting Aquitaine and Beaux Arts Museums.
St Andre Cathedral, Bordeaux
Restaurants
A wide range of different options
offering mainly French and local cuisine and including a handful of
restaurants with Michelin stars. Specialities: numerous sauces based on
the glorious local wines (described as "bordelaise"), oysters, caviar
from local sturgeon, eels and small moulded cakes called "caneles".
Shops
Upmarket stores and designer boutiques
in the "Triangle" which is the area bounded by cours de L'Intendance, cours
Georges Clemenceau and allees de Tourny. Good quality comestibles,
beverages and clothing shops available.
Leading French department stores.
Tempting wine-tasting shops. Antiques along rue Notre-Dame in the
Chartrons district.
Excursions
Take a boat trip on
the river; a visit to a permanently docked modern warship; a tour of the
great wine-growing areas, with tastings; Gironde estuary tour.
Getting Around
There is a regular efficient local bus service around the city although it is
recommended to explore the Old Town on foot. Good, easy-to-understand bus system
radiates out from near the Grand Theatre and includes an electric bus
(navette electrique), which plies a route around the Old Town. A tramway
system opened in 2004 covering the city area.
Who is it
for?
Not exorbitantly expensive, but not for anyone on a tight budget either.
Getting There
Flights to Bordeaux can be booked with direct flights from
London. The flight time to Bordeaux is approx 1 1/2 hours.
From the airport you can get a shuttle bus to the train station in the
centre of Bordeaux which takes approx 30 mins.
To Relax
Walk out along the Quais by the Garonne river taking in the elegant
Classical facades of the waterfront.
Enjoy a delicious meal in one of the many fine restaurants and watch the
world pass you by.
Weather
Daily average temperatures (Approx) 'C
JAN 5 FEB 6 MAR 10
APR 12 MAY 15 JUN
18 JUL 20 AUG 19 SEP 18 OCT
13 NOV 8
DEC 6
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