Bordeaux Tourist Guide

Article courtesy of Moneysupermarket.com

Situated in the sunny south of France, Bordeaux is perhaps best known for its verdant green fields filled with grape vines which go into the 900+ million bottles of wine produced there each year.

There are many chateaux dotted around the countryside which welcome tourists to taste their wines and hopefully take a few crates away with them.  What better way to spend a day than sampling the superb wines the region produces?

You might think the only reason to visit Bordeaux is for its wine (and this is definitely a good enough reason) but there’s lots more to see and do if you find yourself in the area for a few days.

Here’s my top 5:

1: Cathédrale Saint-André de Bordeaux

Originally built in the 11^th century (the majority of the cathedral was rebuilt in the 15^th century) and consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1096, this spectacular building is considered a national monument of France.

If you can cope with the many steps in the tower you can get great views of the entire city and superb photo opportunities.

2: Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux

In the centre of Bordeaux town is situated the Grand Theatre, built in 1780 to a design by French architect Victor Louis and one of the oldest wooden frame opera houses in Europe.

The interior was restored in 1991 which saw the original colours of blue and gold reinstated.  If you happen to be in town when a ballet or opera is being staged then make sure you don’t miss out on an amazing experience.

3: Jardin botanique de Bordeaux

Bordeaux’s botanical garden makes for a beautiful (and free) afternoon if you fancy taking a stroll through the 0.5 hectares and over 3000 plant species to be found there.

If this leaves you wanting more, the Jardin botanique de la Bastide (4 hectares in size) is just over the river.  Opened in 2003 to compliment the above botanical garden, entry here is also free and you’ll find 6 sections containing; an arboretum, alley of vines, water garden, fields of grain, greenhouses and wet grassland.

4: Le Calle Ocho

If you fancy something a little more upbeat then why not spend a night in Le Calle Ocho, a highly popular live music bar and nightclub which springs to life in the evening and on weekends (be warned it gets very busy).

If you like your mojitos, Cuban music or Mexican beer then this is the place to come for one of the best nights out in Bordeaux.

5: Musée d’Aquitaine

If you need to relax – and recover from your hangover – after a night out at Le Calle Ocho (or too much wine tasting) then why not spend an afternoon at the Museum of Aquitaine.

With 4 floors containing all you need to know about the local history and archaeology, you’ll soon be an expert on Bordeaux.