Spring Break in Bordeaux
Whilst Paris may be the classic destination for a spring break, if you look a little further south you will increase your chances of finding the warmer weather. The city of Bordeaux in the Aquitaine region of France has a lot to offer – and it’s not just quality wines.
Much of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site with beautiful classical and neo-classical architecture. Many of the facades have been recently cleaned and the quays along the banks of the Garonne river have been developed offering restaurants, cafés, shops and riverside walks.
So where should you start? The obvious starting point is “Bordeaux Monumental” Described by the Tourist Office as a showcase of Bordeaux’s heritage, this amazing exhibition is housed in the old town at 28, rue des Argentiers. Here you can trace all the stages of Bordeaux’s history and development from the original gallo-roman port, through the middle ages to the grand era of the 18th and 19th centuries, when many of the beautiful boulevards came into existence, and finally to the modern city. The exhibition is open every day except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. There is easy wheelchair access and information available in Braille.
Not particularly interested in museums and exhibitions? How about a wine tour? In an area so famous for its wines, its hardly surprising that here you can indulge in all things wine. There are wine tastings, visits to vineyards, wine museums and wine exhibitions. The easiest way is to book through the Tourist Office who will tailor a tour to suit you.
A good way to see the city is on a walking tour. Again, organized by the Tourist Office, you can either take part in a group walk with a guide or “do your own thing” with a printed itinerary. The city abounds with beautiful buildings and monuments. In the Quartier de St Eloi is the bell tower known as Grosse Cloche which at one time housed the town hall. As you walk around the city, round almost every corner is an architectural treasure. On the Esplanade des Quinconces is the tallest monument in the city – Monument des Girondins. At the foot of this column are two magnificent fountains which rival the Trevi Fountain in Rome. The city is dotted by any number of other squares and fountains, each one a delight for the visitor.…