A visitors guide to Bordeaux, France – Part 1

Bordeaux is world renowned for its red wine and delicious regional cuisine; however, this French city offers much more than just wine, it also provides excellent nightlife, wonderful museums, and loads of history. In Bordeaux, visitors from all backgrounds and walks of life are sure to find something to eat, see, or do that suits them.

Get lost among the winding and narrow roads that comprise the cities different quartiers. These small neighborhoods usually maintain mom and pop restaurants, small churches, and fascinating architecture. If you are a history buff, you’ll definitely want to stop by the Musee d’Aquitaine, a cultural arts museum which houses many historical artifacts from the region, including prehistoric figurines.

Just north of central Bordeaux, you can take a relaxing lunch break at the Jardin Botanique, a masterfully landscaped botanical garden.

If you are considering taking a trip to Bordeaux, France, definitely keep the following suggestions in mind. When you are looking for a place to stay, remember that Bordeaux, like many other tourist-driven cities in France, will have a wide range of hotels that vary greatly in quality. Reasonably priced and modest rooms can often be found in the center of the town, but you can definitely find some lesser known bed and breakfasts and small family-run hotels on the outskirts of the town center.

If you love fashion, the Bordeaux’s Place de Grands-Hommes is for you. Jam packed with high-end boutiques and luxurious designer fashion shops, it’s easy to see why travelers run rampant among the plaza.

If you’ve decided on Bordeaux for its cuisine, then you’ll definitely want to be sure you schedule the mandatory tours of Bordeaux’s most popular wine chateaux. Bordeaux three regions, Gironde, Perigord, and Landes often produce some of the finest French cuisine imaginable. Give your taste buds a treat with the various delicious restaurants that line the street.

After dinner, it’s not just back to the hotel room for most Bordelaises. These people love to drink and have fun with friends and family. Visitors will find a plethora of English-style transplant pubs and chic techno nightclubs.

Although France is most enjoyable, weather-wise, in the spring, autumn is a good alternative season for visitors to flock to Bordeaux, which means tourists groups are rampant, so beware and book early if you plan on attempting to combat the masses during your stay. Wine loving travelers, however, should also keep in mind that most of the wine chateaux are closed for the harvest season, in October.

In addition, travelers should also keep in mind that Bordeaux is a popular local retreat, so many of France’s denizens will often flock to the small town to escape the larger city hustle and bustle of the tourist season which extends from after the winter holidays throughout the summer, peaking in August.