Monday, 23 December 2024

In the port city of Bordeaux, located on the Garonne River in southwestern France

 "Burgundy makes you think of silly things; Bordeaux makes you talk about them, and Champagne makes you do them." -- Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

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(in the largest city in southwestern France) Only a two-hour high-speed train ride from Paris and about the same to Toulouse; in Bordeaux, while the spotlight is on the area’s wine production, Bordeaux is a proper all-seasons destination, perfect for wine lovers and culture fans alike.

+ While Bordeaux wine has always been famous, the city itself has been revitalized, thanks to a 1990s regeneration project that spruced up the historic city. This new lease of life led to UNESCO status for the city in 2007, and now Bordeaux is the largest urban heritage site in the world.

+ Winter season is unsurprisingly quieter in Bordeaux than summer, but that is a bonus! Without the crowds, you can navigate the city more easily at this time of year, gaining entry to museums and historic sites without the lines, and generally getting to enjoy having a laid-back time.

+ Only a two-hour high-speed train ride from Paris and about the same to Toulouse, Bordeaux is the largest city in southwestern France. While the spotlight is definitely on the area’s wine production, Bordeaux is a proper all-season destination, perfect for wine lovers and culture fans alike. Indeed, it seems that Bordeaux in winter has as much going on as the summer months do, with a fraction of the crowds. With travelers to Europe always on the lookout for new and exciting city stays, the city of Bordeaux keeps growing in popularity — so skip the crowds by coming in winter. You won’t miss much of anything, and its red wines will be all the more satisfying!).

+ Just as Paris has the Seine around which Parisian life emanates, Bordeaux has the River Garonne. One of the best ways to experience the beauty of this river is by a river cruise aboard a vintage yacht. And don’t worry, there’s a heated interior, so it’s still a good thing to do in Bordeaux in winter. While you cruise, you can enjoy a hot beverage or a glass of wine and a canelé (a local favorite sweet), as you share a luxurious hour-and-a-half cruise through the heart of Bordeaux.

+ In winter, this cruise departs at 3 PM and ends at 4:30 PM, so you’ll get to enjoy the late afternoon light (the sun sets at around 5:30 PM in Bordeaux in winter!).

+ No matter the time of year, you can’t miss visiting La Cité du Vin, a state-of-the-art museum dedicated to the history of wine. It opened in 2016 and has since become one of Bordeaux’s most visited attractions. It offers a wonderfully immersive wine experience, with a focus not just on local vintages, but wines the world over.

+ Every December, a two-day Bordeaux Tasting event takes place in the Palais de La Bourse, a magnificent 18th-century building originally housing a royal palace. This wine-tasting experience gathers together winemakers of the grands wines, or most prestigious Bordeaux wines, for amateurs to come along and taste.

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In the port city of Bordeaux, located on the Garonne River in southwestern France

 "Burgundy makes you think of silly things; Bordeaux makes you talk about them, and Champagne makes you do them." -- Jean Anthel...