Bordeaux

Nestled around the Garonne, Bordeaux has preserved its theatrical setting while opening up more to the river. In the north of the city, stroll through shopping districts like the "Triangle" with its majestic Grand Theatre, luxury shops and private mansions, or the "Chartrons" known for its flea markets and antique dealers... Along the alleyways, observe the "mascarons," famous Bordeaux figures carved in stone. The squares of Old Bordeaux share their love of local produce around fine tables while the terraces of the popular alleyways of Saint-Eloi and Saint-Michel are intoxicated with southern and Spanish flavors. On the right bank side, the Bordeaux belvedere offers a breathtaking view of the Port of the Moon as well as the Place de la Bourse and its golden facades.

Essential in the world capital of wine: tasting grand crus. A lover of Margaux, Pauillac or Saint-Emilion? Delight in Bordeaux excellence on one of the six wine routes or aboard a cruise on the Garonne. Extend your sensory experience at the "Cité du Vin," a place conducive to encounters and discoveries. Opening scheduled for June 2016.

Abundant and varied, the city's cultural offerings satisfy all curiosities. Art is exhibited in unique places such as the Bernard Magrez Cultural Institute with its 18th-century charm or the Museum of Contemporary Art, a former colonial warehouse. The Museum of Decorative Arts and Design relates the art of living of the Bordeaux aristocracy at the time of the French Revolution while the Aquitaine Museum traces the evolution of the old Bordeaux city, from prehistory to the present day.

Today, Bordeaux embodies the sweetness of life: a pleasant city center dedicated to gentle modes of transport and a metropolis teeming with green spaces. Parks, botanical gardens and urban paths are a great joy for walkers and sports enthusiasts...

Very close to Bordeaux, the Southwest coast reveals its sumptuous landscapes: oceans and Pyrenean peaks, Landes forests or vineyards as far as the eye can see... Treat yourself to a relaxing excursion in the old port of La Rochelle before embarking for the dream islands: Oléron, Ré and Aix. Unless you prefer to taste local oysters from the Arcachon Basin during a bike ride or surf on the best spots of the Basque coast in Biarritz. The Atlantic Ocean is just steps away for a well-deserved swimming break... Fans of water sports, you're in for a treat!

• Tour Pey Berland: 15th-century Gothic bell tower rising to 66 meters, offering exceptional panoramic views of the city after climbing its 231 steps.
• Porte Cailhau: Medieval triumphal arch built in 1495, marking the historic entrance to the city with its defensive architecture and slender turrets.
• Palais Rohan: Former 18th-century archiepiscopal residence, now City Hall, remarkable for its neoclassical facade and state rooms.
• Flèche Saint Michel: The city's tallest bell tower at 114 meters, separated from the eponymous basilica, dominating the popular Saint-Michel district since the 15th century.
• Museum of Fine Arts: Prestigious collection of European works from the 15th to 20th centuries, housed in the wings of the City Hall Garden with masterpieces by Rubens, Delacroix and Matisse.
• National Customs Museum: France's only museum dedicated to customs history, housed in the former Hôtel des Fermes du Roi on the Garonne quays.
• Museum of Outsider Art (Musée de la Création Franche): Space dedicated to art brut and spontaneous creation, presenting works by self-taught and marginal artists in a contemporary setting.
• Botanical Garden: Green haven of 5 hectares in the heart of the city, housing more than 3,000 plant species, tropical greenhouses and a water garden.
• Parc des Jalles: Vast natural area of 160 hectares north of Bordeaux, suitable for walking and cycling along preserved waterways.
• Parc des Coteaux: Panoramic promenade of 25 kilometers overlooking the right bank, offering spectacular views of Bordeaux and the Garonne through vineyards and natural spaces.

• Boeuf de Bazas: Breed of beef with smooth flesh with a subtle hazelnut taste, and delicately marbled with fat.
• Tricandilles: Pork tripe cut into strips, grilled over vine shoot fire then seasoned with garlic and parsley; the winegrowers' "snack."
• Cannelé de Bordeaux: Small baked pastry cake that combines vanilla and rum, both soft inside and crispy outside.
• Bouchon de Bordeaux: Local sweet shaped like a cork, made of almond paste studded with raisins cooked in Fine de Bordeaux.
• Macaron de Saint-Émilion: Sweet treat made with crushed almonds and egg whites.
• Sarments du Médoc: Thin chocolate twigs, dark or milk, resembling vine shoots.
• Fanchonnette bordelaise: Delicious oval-shaped candy, filled with almond, chocolate, coffee, or fruit pulp.
• Fine de Bordeaux: Eau-de-vie of great fineness, more or less amber in color, obtained by distilling white wines.

• Surf in a café: Bordeaux is close to the Atlantic and you can feel it. With the Wave Surf Café you feel like you're at the beach thanks to its indoor wave system. You can surf at any time of day!
• Visit the city in a 2CV: Bordeaux 2cv Tour offers several tour circuits, customized or not, day or night, and all in a yellow convertible 2CV! Romantic, isn't it?
• Paddle on the Garonne: The Garonne is emblematic of Bordeaux, so embark in a canoe and navigate along this river to discover the city from another angle, but also to encounter some World War II wrecks...