Bordeaux
 
Corsica

Cannes
 
Dijon 

Dordogne

French Riviera

Loire Valley

Lyon

Nice

Paris

Provence
 
Rhone Valley

Bordeaux Luxury Vacations, Tours, Travel Packages and Bordeaux, France Vacation Guide

 
Place de la Bourse, Photographer: D. LE LANN; Bordeaux Vacation Image Provided by the Bordeaux Tourism Board

First time visitors to Bordeaux are certain to be awed and amazed. Many, upon hearing the well known name, Bordeaux, are likely to envision sprawling hillsides of endless vines, rather than a richly enchanting and entertaining city. Upon arrival to Bordeaux, visitors, however will be genuinely surprised and pleased to realize the latter exists, as well as the former.

Offering exquisite art galleries, architectural treasures and some truly divine shopping, Bordeaux is a cultural haven. Thanks to the city itself being both compact and very pedestrian, its quarters make for great exploring. One can visit narrow streets of the St. Michel quarter, with its unique and flamboyant spire or the Saint Pierre quarter that can be found in Bordeaux’s very heart, the historical center of the town made up of darling, small streets and known as the city’s culinary capital.  The Saint Eloi Quarter offers the Grosse Cloche as well as Bordeaux’s main shopping street that is 2 kilometers long. One must be sure to view the lovely and dramatic Place de la Bourse, one of Bordeaux’s most remarkable monuments.

Finally, in terms of the aspect of Bordeaux that comes to mind first: wine, expressions of the importance of this trade can be observed throughout the city- in numerous ways. Monuments, such as the Monument des Girndins and the Fontaine Art Nouveau display the city’s appreciation and admiration for wine. Museums, such as Vinorama are devoted solely to wine. In addition, Bordeaux is one of the few places in the world that proudly claims “vinotherapie” or spas incorporating wine therapy. The ultimate symbol, however that exclaims Bordeaux’s dedication is the boat Ville de Bordeaux that takes both Bordelais and Bordeaux visitors on trips via the river from the city to the vineyards, with the playful image of Bacchus adorning this boat.