Bordeaux Tourist Guide

The Aquitaine Region is one of the largest and in many aspects the most interesting of all the 26 regions of France, with its varied geography, fascinating history and inviting towns and countryside. Aquitaine is in the southwestern portion of mainland France, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and the Pyrenees.

This area encompasses the cosmopolitan and the prehistoric in a wonderful diversity of attractions for travelers with widely varying interests.  From surf to ski slopes, and from the most elegant and sophisticated urban delights to a countryside that time forgot, Aquitaine offers something for everyone.

The port city of Bordeaux, on the banks of the Gironde River, is the largest city and the capital of the Region.  Some of the greatest wealth in the country has been concentrated in this city since the early days of the wine industry.  Bordeaux is a mix of past and present to delight the senses, offering such architectural masterpieces as the Cathedrale St.-Andre and the pont de Pierre, the Grand Theatre in Bordeaux’s Golden Triangle and countless other attractions both historic and modern.

The Golden Triangle is a part of Old Bordeaux, with many buildings that date back to the 13^th century and earlier.  It is also one of the best places to shop in Europe, with easy access for pedestrians to a myriad of both local shops and world-famous chains.  Old Bordeaux has been placed on the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.

The area around Bordeaux and throughout the Aquitaine is probably the most famous wine-producing country in the world.  Bordeaux wine has been made here since the 8^th century, and its fame has grown to the point that the word Bordeaux is almost a synonym for the most exclusive and expensive red wine.  A good part of the tourist industry that helps to sustain the region is devoted to tours and samplings at the many great chateaux of Bordeaux and the Aquitaine.

Many other sites of interest are to be found in this lovely and temperate region of France.

The Dordogne was home to the oldest human inhabitants in Europe, and it is also the site of modern day second homes for a large number of the British population.  This is also part of the ancient Basque territory, with a culture and heritage that is still thriving today. The city of Biarritz on the southern coast of the region is a major tourist attraction for its beaches and casinos, and hosts an annual Surf Festival with participants from all over the world.