5 reasons to add Bordeaux to your bucket list
Almost everyone has heard of Bordeaux, thanks to the omnipresence of its namesake wine, but less is known of the city and region from where the world famous wine comes.
Below are 5 reasons why you should make Bordeaux your next destination.
First and foremost, Bordeaux is known for its wine.
The region is the undisputed wine capital of the world and Bordeaux wines are often amongst the most expensive in the world thanks to the famous terroir. That said, in Bordeaux’s bars and restaurants you can find great wines for as little as 3 euros a glass. With over 7,000 wine producing chateaux in the Bordeaux region producing 700–800 million bottles of wine per year it can be hard to decide which chateaux to visit and which wines to enjoy. Many of the wines produced in the area are not exported so you will have to travel to Bordeaux to enjoy them.
The city of Bordeaux proudly holds the title of the largest urban UNESCO World Heritage site anywhere in the world.
Covering 1,731 hectares, the city has the second highest number of protected buildings in France, second only to Paris. Many of the elegant facades you see in Bordeaux today were commissioned by Napoleon I and served as inspiration to Baron Haussmann when he was tasked with transforming a quasi-medieval Paris into a ‘modern’ capital that would make France proud.
One of the region’s biggest secrets is the pristine coastline.
Stretching from the Spanish border in the south up to medieval port of La Rochelle in the North, much of the coast is wild, totally unspoiled and dominated by sand dunes and pine forests. Around 30 miles south-west of Bordeaux you will find the stunning Bassin d’Arcachon, a large bay which is home to over 300 oyster farmers and 700 acres of oyster beds producing 8,000 – 10,000 tons of oysters per year, many of which are enjoyed by oyster lovers straight out of the water. For the cyclists among us, there are over 140 miles of cycling trails to be enjoyed all around the bay.
In addition to oysters, the Bordeaux region is the epicenter of French caviar production
The Bordeaux region accounts for 24 million of the 25 million tons produced in France each year. Six of the eight French caviar producers are located in the region surrounding Bordeaux, some of which can be visited for tours and tastings.
Over the last 15 years, a huge restoration project has taken place to clean up the city of Bordeaux’s streets and facades.
Many streets have been pedestrianized allowing locals and visitors alike to enjoy the cafes, bars and restaurants in relative tranquility. As a result of this clean-up, hundreds of new business have set up shop in Bordeaux to provide an exquisite assortment of retailers, from independent artisans to fashion houses like Hermes and Louis Vuitton. Chefs too have descended on Bordeaux in recent years, with the city and surrounding region now boasting 43 Michelin starred restaurants.