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You'll be raising your glass many times in Bordeaux, which is renowned for its wines, considered among the best in the world. It is the capital of the department Gironde in the region Aquitaine. After years of neglect, the former wet docks are the country's new hot spot, with some cafés, gardens, and museums springing up all the time. A lively university community of over 60,000, (Bordeaux Campus is the largest in France) establishes that Bordeaux is about more than just wine.
Bordeaux is considered a very tolerant and relaxed place - no one will bother you about your political beliefs, religion, or sexual orientation. The cultural, artistic, and music scenes are very vibrant. The city was ruled by the English for a long time, which is why Bordeaux seems to have an "English flair."
Bordeaux is often referred to as "Little Paris" and the rivalry between the "Bordelais" (people from Bordeaux) and "Parisiens"... Read more
You'll be raising your glass many times in Bordeaux, which is renowned for its wines, considered among the best in the world. It is the capital of the department Gironde in the region Aquitaine. After years of neglect, the former wet docks are the country's new hot spot, with some cafés, gardens, and museums springing up all the time. A lively university community of over 60,000, (Bordeaux Campus is the largest in France) establishes that Bordeaux is about more than just wine.
Bordeaux is considered a very tolerant and relaxed place - no one will bother you about your political beliefs, religion, or sexual orientation. The cultural, artistic, and music scenes are very vibrant. The city was ruled by the English for a long time, which is why Bordeaux seems to have an "English flair."
Bordeaux is often referred to as "Little Paris" and the rivalry between the "Bordelais" (people from Bordeaux) and "Parisiens" is a hot subject so that you may experience some heated arguments on the subject during your stay.
Bordeaux is quite a big city; however, most of the interesting attractions are in the town center. It is not recommended that visitors drive as it is always a hassle to park (and car parks are expensive), and there are often traffic jams in the narrow, old streets of the city.
The most interesting way to explore the city is by walking. As most of the town center is a 'pedestrian area,' this is easy to do. If you like sports, you can rent roller-skates or a bike (see below), or you can make your way in town using the various bus lines. A small ferry boat permits to go from the western shore of the river to the eastern shore, and vice-versa.
Three efficient tramway lines are also available (A, B, and C).
The bus network is organized around a few main places, where it is possible to take buses to almost every destination in the city :
Single fare tickets can be purchased from the driver on the bus although you shouldn't expect to receive change. The best thing to do is buy packages from TBC Agencies (French: Espace TBC) at Gare Saint-Jean, Gambetta, and Quinconces; all trips are good for one hour of unlimited transfers - you must validate your ticket each time you change buses/trams. You can also purchase these tickets from the automated machines at the tramway stops, all machines will accept coins, and some of them will accept chip debit/credit cards.
Avoid the buses during peak hours (8-10 AM, 4-7 PM) as the town center is usually totally jammed (and cars often block bus tracks), and buses are overcrowded.
Le Bus du Fleuve, as it is called, links the western and eastern parts of the city by a small cruise on the river. It is managed by the CGFTE, and you can, therefore, ride the ferry using a standard bus ticket. The bus goes from the Southern part of Quai Richelieu to the Place Aristide Briand, very close to the Aquitaine Bridge (one of the must-sees in Bordeaux).
As was mentioned previously Bordeaux is very flat and has lots of bike lanes, so it is very easy to get around the city by bicycle. The city added a city-wide bike-sharing program called VCUB 6(similar to Vélib in Paris), it is a cheap and easy way to see the city.
Bordeaux is a historic city with many tourist attractions. The main districts are briefly presented here, which are listed according to their distance from the railway station.
Touring the vineyards and sampling the local wines are one of the greatest pleasures when visiting Bordeaux. It is the second-largest wine-growing region in the world and produces over 800 million bottles annually. It produces some of the best and most prestigious wines in the world, some of the most famous being:
Tours are available through many operators. Alternately, call ahead for reservations. Note that Haut Brion and Mouton are closed for renovation in 2010, while Latour only accepts serious collectors and professionals.
The annual summer wine festivals are held in tandem with the "Bordeaux-fête-le-fleuve" celebrating the river, land, and international community.
There are many tour operators for this region of France. They can organize your complete tour (including travel to and from Bordeaux and France), or they can arrange visits to wineries and château for you.
Bordeaux Cricket Club play at Château Giscours in Labarde, 25 km north of the city; attendance is free.
Explore the city on wheels as Bordeaux is a good city for roller-skating (or roller-blading) and other "skating sports."
Gastronomy has a very important place in the city, which is full of restaurants of all kinds. French restaurants provide dishes from almost every part of the country, and there are a lot of Asian, African or Arabian restaurants.
Bordeaux is lively during the day and continues throughout the night. If you're looking for a bar to hang out with friends or to enjoy watching a football match, head for La Victoire, as most of the pubs and bars of the town are here. Virtually, all the shops in the surroundings of this area are bars, and you'll likely be able to find one that suits your needs.
If you prefer dancing or clubbing, most of the night-clubs are on the Quais, near the train station. From rock to disco, dance to techno, you also have a lot of choices.
Bordeaux has made its wealth out of the trade, and the local economic system relies heavily on shops and trading halls. The Pedestrian Center is full of stores of all kinds, from clothes to art, craftworks, food, and wine, etc. If you're looking for luxury items, head to Gambetta square and its surroundings.
Don't hesitate to buy some local music - Bordeaux music groups are on the rise! Check out Kap Bambino, an electronic music duo formed by singer Caroline Martial and beat-smith boyfriend, Orion Bouvier.
Clothing is less expensive than in Paris, so wear comfortable shoes and head to Rue Sainte Catherine, the longest pedestrian precinct in Europe and the best place for shopping. For some cheap second-hand and vintage clothes, check out a shop called KiloChic on 40 Cours de la Somme. There are also a few AMOS second-hand stores in the city that offer a nice selection of second-hand and vintage stuff.
Of course, you can hardly leave Bordeaux, without taking home some of its beloved wine. Make sure you're aware of the customs rules at the airport.
Bordeaux is not a city with a high crime rate. If you respect some simple rules, you shouldn't have any problems.
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10:42 am
January 17, 2021
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Our next port is Bordeaux . The ship moored in the city center, next to Esplanade des Quinconces with Monument aux Girondins and the column with Statue of Liberty. We went for a walk. We saw a wedding, the bridesmaids were in red. A guidebook that we bought ... |
Apparently, cruise planners know all the events along the route. Because we got to the
Bordeaux
Wine Festival for a reason, didn't we?
The action began right at the staircase of our ship. Tickets are sold in this tent. You don't have to pay if you just walk along the... |