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Traveling to Bordeaux
Tour through Bordeaux and take in the sights of wine country.
By Claire Smith
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Enter here for your chance to win a fabulous Bordeaux dinner for you and your friends!
Whether you're a wine lover or not, Bordeaux, France, is guaranteed to delight. Thought to be the greatest wine region in the world, Bordeaux, located in southwest France not far from the Atlantic coast, is the capital of the Gironde region, and is revered for its 18th century architecture, fine gourmet cuisine, museums, forests, and, mais oui, semi-deserted beaches. (Expect a gorgeous summer and long, warm autumn.)
With a metropolitan population of about one million inhabitants, the city is also a UNESCO World Hertitage Site for its historical and cultural significance. In fact, Emporer Napoleon III used it as the model for his new, modernized Paris in the 18th Century. Oh, and garçon alert: Bordeaux's a university town. You know what that means: a youthful, boho vibe and plenty of hot guys and cool nightspots.
Bordeaux Proper
Built on a bend in the Garonne River, the original port city of Bordeaux is what the region as a whole is named after. Since the river runs through the town, there is a left bank and a right bank, with the former being more developed. And while wine has certainly played a major role in local commerce and traffic through the port (and been produced in the region since as early as the 8th century BC), the actual wineries are not in the city itself, but rather, the outlying regions though easily reachable by car.
What's in the city itself, you ask? Try jaw-dropping architecture, interesting galleries, great shopping, and wonderful wining and dining. If you go, be sure to hit these ElleCanada.com picks:
Shopping
• Hit Rue Ste-Catherine in the centre of Bordeaux for a long pedestrian-only shopping street. (No cars means you can dart across the street to get a better look at that dress in the window of Escada!) It's the longest shopping drag in Europe and has restaurants and cafés where you can take a breather in between browsing up a storm at Louis Vuitton, Kenzo, Longchamp, MaxMara and more, more, more.
Where to stay
• La Maison Bord'eaux (rates approximately 130-200 Euros per night) is a boutique hotel located in the heart of Bordeaux. All the rooms and suites overlook the beautifully landscaped garden, and channel a chic modern vibe. Owner Brigitte Lurton is an interior decorator and comes from a wine family. Besides hosting you in luxury, the hotel can set you up with wine tours, should you want a local opinion on what wineries are most worth your time and interest. The hotel also boasts a top notch restaurant.
Wine bars
Throw a stone and you'll hit a fab restaurant, whether your taste is swank or low-key. But in an area known for its wine, check out these wine bars.
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