Bordeaux - shopping street © Christian Bauer

Rue Sainte-Catherine, the longest pedestrian street in Europe

Where

Located in the southwest of France near the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux is the sixth largest city in France and attracts more than 2,5 million visitors each year. The city has a busy and creative atmosphere with festivals, events and other culture happenings. Because of its important seaport, twenty cruise ships tie up opposite Place de la Bourse in the centre of Bordeaux every year.

What to Do

Bordeaux certainly lives up to its name as the “City of Art and Culture”. Lovers of art prefer the museums with outstanding collections of artists such as Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Verones, or the major modern art festival Novart Bordeaux each November. On the first Sunday of every month, Le bus de l’art contemporain (The modern art bus) tours all over the city to promote contemporary art. At each stop, passengers can listen to commentary by an art expert, and artists and gallery owners display their works.

Bordeaux has a lot to offer, but it’s for the wine the city is most recognized. In June, thousands of people come here to attend the Fete le Vin (Wine Festival) and Fete le Fleuve (River Festival). Lovers of film should postpone their visit to the autumn when the “Festival International du Film au Feminin” honours women in cinema and acts as a major event for national and international directors and screenwriters to present their creations.

Although the high-tech tram and the cruises departing from Quai Louis XVIII offer enjoyable sightseeing, the best way to explore Bordeaux is on foot. Stroll along the redeveloped waterfront by the river Garonne and stop for lunch at one of the excellent restaurants lining the river walk. Shoppers will like the pedestrian Rue Sainte-Catherine, Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping street starting at Place de la Victoire.

The city’s neighbourhoods all have their own personality. Visit the vibrant Saturday market in Saint-Michel, saunter along the narrow streets in Saint-Pierre (old Bordeaux), admire the chic boutiques and townhouses in Grands Hommes (the triangle), or enjoy the dynamic ambiance at the Colbert Sunday market by the quays in the Chartrons district. The afternoon is best spent in the gorgeous Jardin Botanique, Parc Bordelais in the residential district Bordeaux-Caudran, Bois de Bordeaux next to the Bordeaux Lac, or the neighbouring Floral Park.

At night, several of the Bordeaux’s remarkable historic monuments are floodlit to show off their beauty. Many of them are highlights along the pilgrim road to Santiago de Compostela and listed as World Heritage Sites.

What to Eat

Don’t miss the delicious green asparagus from the Landes or Mauve asparagus from the Blaye region. Ceps (wild boletus mushrooms) cooked with garlic and parsley, or the garlic soup “Tourin” with egg yolk are also worth a try. For dessert, don’t miss the “canel”, a cake that is soft on the inside, but crisp on the outside.

Where to Live

With its 154 hotels in all categories, nine bed and breakfasts with 20 rooms and one youth hostel with 108 beds, Bordeaux cater for all needs and budgets.

How to Get There

Flights depart to Bordeaux from French cities and international destinations several times a day. Shuttle buses from the airport to the city centre (Place de la Comedie) and the SNCF Saint-Jean train station leaves every 45 minutes, seven days a week.

Bordeaux is located less than 3 hours from Paris by TGV high speed train, 45 minutes from the ocean and 2 hours from Spain.