We had always fancied the thought of visiting Bordeaux for some great wine tasting but it turned out to be so much more and a really great city break destination!
First off, it is very beautiful as the stone buildings with their smart grey slate roofs that line the river were grand and glowing in the sunshine!Β Then there are the criss crossing backstreets and cobbled lanes (we stayed away from the standard busy high street) and were rewarded with great street art, quirky cafes, independent shops, pretty boutiques and wonderful ice cream / gelato!
The river’sΒ promenade is perfectly landscaped for a long and interesting stroll or cycle where you will come across, watch and wonder over the magnificent Le Miroir d’eau (water mirror). The world’s largest reflecting pool in fact … and it is so much fun and magical when the water and mist settle and the giant water mirror appears reflecting perfectly its surroundings!
A very efficient tram system runs all over the city which was cheap, simple to use and very handy to get easily about! No end of tasty eateries, little squares with musicians playing, we also came across salsa dancers, ate some wonderful cheeses with some equally top notch wines of course and generally enjoyed this very walkable city.
There are wonderful and relaxing parks and many green spaces too if that is your thing or if you just want to get out of the hustle and bustle for a bit. On Sunday mornings there is an area of brilliant thrift and vintage shops which are perfect to browse before brunch – one of our favourite things to do!
This really was the best spot to have a few days before picking up our hire car and going off to explore the Dordogne region. Bordeaux for a weekend and/or a city break has it all and we would gladly go back as we’re sure there is still more to explore and discover – more delicious cheese and wine wouldn’t go a miss either!
Click HERE to see our post on the Darwin Project which is in Bordeaux on the other side of the river to the main city centre … well worth a visit for something completely different as it is an interesting set up of artists, alternative ideas, healthy food, reclaimed buildings and a fun atmosphere!
And here are more of our posts from FRANCE that might be of interest :
Brantome – walking in an oil painting!
