I just lately had the prospect to go to the unimaginable metropolis of Bordeaux. The vigorous eating places, distinctive retailers, and type folks blew me away. And the town is extremely walkable. I spent a weekend touring the Bordeaux wine area at La Maison d’Estournel and a beautiful day wandering round downtown Bordeaux on the finish of my journey. These are the important issues to do in Bordeaux to profit from your journey to this iconic metropolis.
Identified for its world-class wine, Bordeaux is blossoming right into a youthful hub for artwork, tradition, and meals past the standard French fashion. From wine bars to boutiques and high quality eating, this metropolis has one thing new to attempt round each nook.
Listed here are among the prime locations I visited in Bordeaux and why you must also go to them.
1. Go to a Winery within the Countryside
The primary purpose I got here to Bordeaux was to expertise the wineries. I stayed at La Maison d’Estournel, about an hour’s drive from downtown Bordeaux. This boutique lodge is dwelling to the Cos d’Estournel winery that boasts fantastic wines.
It’s no secret that Bordeaux metropolis middle has unimaginable wine bars. However it’s essential to take a day journey, or a weekend, to spend on the vineyards to attempt the impeccable Bordeaux wines from the supply. You’ll be able to select between the precise and left banks, or attempt each!
I visited Cos d’Estournel, Smith Haut LaFitte (pictured above), and Chateau Léoville-Poyferré. My favourite by far was Chateau Léoville-Poyferré. There are such a lot of fantastic wineries within the area that you may’t go fallacious. Make certain to e book a tour of no less than one so you may see a number of spots and take a look at various kinds of wine.
In the event you can, plan your journey round harvest season in late September. Whenever you tour the vineyards, you may see how the wine is made in real-time. That is an absolute should when visiting Bordeaux!
2. Discover the Place de la Bourse & Mirror d’Eau
Now, I’ll present you there’s extra to visiting Bordeaux than only a good drop of vino. Framed by the Garonne River and the glistening Mirror d’Eau reflecting pool, the Place de la Bourse (or inventory alternate sq.) symbolizes Bordeaux’s distinctive grace. Acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage web site, this elegant 18th-century sq. is a good place to kick off your Bordeaux wine journey.
Surrounded by beautiful Neoclassical structure, this web site is widespread for taking photos, particularly from the Mirror d’Eau (or water mirror). This massive, shallow reflecting pool is walkable (and splashable) and superbly displays the buildings across the sq. from April to October, therefore the identify. It’s additionally a primary spot for unimaginable snaps, and it’s nice in summer season if you have to cool off.
3. Have a picnic within the Jardin Public
To see extra of Bordeaux, stroll across the Jardin Public, a beautiful English backyard within the metropolis’s coronary heart. Surrounded by lovely honey-hued homes of the 18th century and the Pure Historical past Museum of Bordeaux, this pretty public park is widespread with people in search of a spot to stretch their legs or get pleasure from a picnic lunch – washed down with some white wine, maybe.
Throughout 11 hectares of lawns, flower beds, and ponds, this historic park is nice for these with children who want some distraction. Kids can benefit from the playground, and everybody can benefit from the historic puppet reveals which were going down right here on the reg because the nineteenth century. It additionally options the beautiful, historic Bordeaux botanical backyard, subsequent on the checklist.
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4. Spend a day at Jardin Botanique de Bordeaux
One other great spot to get pleasure from nature’s magnificence is the Bordeaux Botanical Backyard, a thriving haven of native markets and world greenery in Jardin Public. This was the positioning of the town’s first medicinal backyard, the place sure botanicals have been cultivated and harvested by Bordeaux’s healers within the seventeenth century earlier than changing into a public botanical backyard within the nineteenth century.
Though comparatively modest, it’s crammed with vegetation from all over the world, with an estimated 3,000 species presently taking root and almost 90,000 preserved seed and herb specimens. However it’s strolling the backyard the place you’ll see all of the inexperienced selection. You will discover a cycad tree right here, watch lotus flowers open their petals to the world, and admire the bamboo grove or the Chinese language windmill palms.
5. Tour the Pure Historical past Museum of Bordeaux
If you wish to study concerning the space surrounding Bordeaux and the broader world, you must go to the Pure Historical past Museum of Bordeaux, also called the Bordeaux Museum. The museum is on the southwestern fringe of Bordeaux, close to Jardin Public.
It is without doubt one of the largest museums in France, with a group of over one million artifacts, with round 3,500 of them on show at any given time. The museum can be one of many oldest on this planet, having opened in 1791.
Regardless of its age, the museum just lately underwent an enormous restoration and nonetheless seems to be contemporary. It’s well-organized and accessible to all, making it a superb vacation spot for a household day trip, particularly for wildlife fans.
6. Go to the Pey Berland Tower
Put together for an unforgettable journey by means of time with a go to to Pey Berland Tower. This lovely tower, constructed in the course of the Center Ages as a bell tower for Bordeaux Cathedral, boasts beautiful structure that can depart you in awe. The tower was constructed individually from the cathedral to forestall any potential injury from the vibrations of the large bells that the builders deliberate to incorporate.
Regardless of being initially used as housing for almost 300 years as a result of finances constraints, the tower now serves as a church tower, standing tall with no church hooked up. In 1851, bells have been lastly added and have been ringing ever since.
Climb the 231 steps to the highest of this lovely tower for breathtaking views of Bordeaux that can amaze you. Don’t miss out on this chance to go to Bordeaux and witness the distinctive view of the town’s magnificence from above.
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7. Tour the Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux
A brief stroll takes you to the Bordeaux Cathedral, the Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux. Comparatively small and unassuming in comparison with many Catholic cathedrals round France, this venerable church’s roots stretch again to no less than the ninth Century.
It’s advanced from a typical Medieval Romanesque church to a Gothic cathedral, with its final main additions accomplished within the nineteenth century, together with the neighboring belltower.
Containing 4 chapels, the cathedral’s nave and vaulted transept are significantly spectacular. The identical might be mentioned for the cathedral’s mighty pipe organ and radiant stained glass home windows – some originals from the Center Ages.
8. Try the Grosse Cloche
Bordeaux is understood for its wine, however one attraction stands out: the Grosse Cloche, or Huge Bell. This bell is housed in a Fifteenth-century city gate that later grew to become Bordeaux’s city corridor and is an impressive sight to behold. With its gilded clock face and beautiful conical roofs, the tower and belfry are charming and a key a part of Bordeaux’s skyline.
However the bell can be spectacular, weighing round 7,800 kilos and measuring about 2 meters throughout. It was used to sign communal occasions or emergencies, corresponding to fireplace and assaults on the town.
Right this moment, it solely rings on the primary Sunday of each month at midday and 6 extra instances per 12 months to indicate key dates on the French calendar, corresponding to Bastille Day and VE-Day. Test the schedule to see should you can witness a couple of strike. I do know there’s a joke someplace about France and strikes, however let’s admire the wonder and historical past of the Grosse Cloche for now.
The streets main as much as the Grosse Cloche are lined with retailers and eating places. It’s a fantastic stroll to see the bell, and you’ll simply proceed to the subsequent cease.
9. Tour the Basilique Saint-Michel
Not like many church buildings in France, Bordeaux’s Basilica of Saint Michael was constructed within the Flamboyant Gothic fashion, and it’s a sight to behold. It is without doubt one of the three essential church buildings on the town, together with the Basilica of St Severinus and the Bordeaux Cathedral.
In comparison with Bordeaux Cathedral, a historic landmark, the Basilica of Saint Michael is a comparatively younger church constructed within the late 14th century. The separate tower, La Flèche, was added to the church within the Fifteenth century.
Regardless of its standing as a minor basilica, the church boasts awe-inspiring structure inside and outside. La Flèche is equally spectacular and might be climbed from April by means of October.
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10. Go to the Monument aux Girondins
You’ll be able to witness the town’s previous at virtually each flip in Bordeaux. The church buildings showcase the affect of Catholicism on the area, and the Grosse Cloche bears symbolism that factors to England’s non permanent possession of the world. Nevertheless, the Monument aux Girondins is among the many most important historic landmarks that can be utilized to relate the story of Bordeaux and France.
The Monument aux Girondins is within the metropolis middle’s historic middle, within the lovely Place des Quinconces. It was constructed within the late nineteenth century as a tribute to the Girondins. This was one of many essential anti-monarchist teams lively in the course of the revolution. Apparently, it was championed by one of many revolutionaries’ grandchildren.
The Monument takes the type of a towering column topped by the Spirit of Liberty, surrounded by a putting array of bronze sculptures that inform an allegorical story of “The Terror” and the hard-won liberty earned by the French. It’s a stirring monument that gives an excellent alternative for some nice photos. I loved sitting on the steps and soaking within the solar throughout my go to!
11. Expertise the La Cité du Vin
Bordeaux is a dream vacation spot for wine lovers! And should you’re in search of the last word shrine to the artwork of wine-making, La Cité du Vin, aka The Metropolis of Wine Museum, deserves your time. This beautiful glass tower is a real masterpiece of latest artwork structure and one of the crucial spectacular museums in France, attracting round 500,000 guests yearly.
When you step inside, you’ll be transported right into a world of wine, the place you’ll study the whole lot there’s to know concerning the alchemy of fermentation, the historical past of wine manufacturing, and the artwork of wine tasting. The reveals are organized logically and engagingly, taking you on a journey from the vineyards of Bordeaux to the wine cellars of the world’s most celebrated wineries.
The museum additionally affords wine tastings and a variety of wine-tasting workshops, the place you may pattern among the best wines from across the area. And should you’re feeling peckish, you may head to their in-house wine bar, the place you may get pleasure from a glass of wine with some scrumptious native cheeses and charcuterie.
In brief, La Cité du Vin is a must-visit vacation spot for anybody who loves wine, artwork, and tradition. Don’t neglect to purchase a bottle or two from a wine store from their spectacular wine cellar as a memento of your journey!
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