Why You’ll Love: Bordeaux, France
Where I went
I dashed off for a long weekend in Bordeaux, a rejuvenated city in the south-west of France, to imbibe some local culture (quite literally at times!).
It’s a city of two halves, comprising both one of the world’s largest urban Unesco World Heritage sites, and a more recently developed area with buildings designed by modern architects, such as the Herzog & de Meuron stadium (built 2015).
What I did
Although there’s plenty to keep you busy in Bordeaux, I couldn’t resist the temptation of an hour’s train journey to saint-emilion. This medieval village and surrounding vineyards are world-famous for their beauty and, as one of the most celebrated sources of claret, the wine’s not bad either.
I opted to visit the château La Dominique vineyard, where €12 gets you a
‘classic’ tour of the house, grounds and wine cellar, followed by a guided tasting of two different wines. Make sure you book in advance, I chose the 6pm tour, as the village is known for its golden colour in the low evening sun and I wasn’t disappointed.
Back in Bordeaux, I visited
La cité du Vin, a modern architectural marvel dedicated to all things wine from around the world. Your visit is topped off with a wine sample along with a spectacular view from the top-floor bar.
Where I stayed
Any city centre can be exhausting and staying in it for the entirety of the trip isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. I found my oasis of calm in Le saint-James Hotel (00 33 55 797 0600; saintjames-bouliac.com) in Bouliac, just outside of Bordeaux.
nicknamed the ‘balcony of Bordeaux’ due to its panoramic views, Bouliac has long been the destination of those looking to enjoy the finer things in life.
The hotel itself is beautifully decorated in a contemporary style, with a range of rooms available. I stayed in a standard room, but with such fabulous views it scarcely matters which you choose.
What I ate
Food (and wine, obviously) is central to any trip I take to France, and Bordeaux was no exception. It isn’t short of great places to eat, but I also took a cooking class in the hotel’s côté cours cooking school. The sessions are built around a star ingredient – ours was the artichoke and includes preparation of a starter and main, followed by tasting, wine and coffee.