Bordeaux or...
 

Hello fodors!

Travelling from Paris to San Sebastián .

My wife and I are considering spending a few nights somewhere on the way down. Would Bordeaux be the best stop over? Or is there somewhere more quaint, gorgeous, amazing and worth while visiting instead?

Bordeaux is not very quaint or indeed especially gorgeous.

You might look at Bergerac or perhaps Cahors both of which are.

Are you driving or taking the train?

It's a bit out of your way (adds abt 3/4 hr), but Arcachon is a very nice seaside resort town with really, really good oysters.

((I))

Nothing quaint about Bordeaux. Maybe a gorgeous spot here or there, but it's essentially a very conservative, uptight city with a lot of high-falutin' oenophilia.

Stop at La Rochelle and spend a couple of nights on the Ile de Ré.

I would probably stop in La Rochelle if you wanted a city - but it might be too similar to San Sebastian.

Arcachon is quite charming, as Ira noted. We visited it in 2012 & spent almost the entire day there. Interesting homes in the "winter resort" area.

We spent 4 nights in the Sauternes region in 2012 (where we did the day trip to Arcachon) and enjoyed that area. Many Chateaux & several "cute little villages". Quite scenic - and of course the wine. I would choose this if you wanted countryside. The B&B where we stayed was sold last year (owner moving to La Rochelle), and I don't know if it is still a B&B. If you are interested, let me know & I'll find out if it is still receiving guests. It was quite charming.

Stu Dudley

This was our itinerary for 4 nights near Sauternes. We then headed to Sare in the Pays Basque for 2 weeks - the same route you would follow.

The pg refers to the page in the Michelin Green Guide for the Atlantic coast where information can be found about the site.

June 12 Tues
Ar Bordeaux @ 5:15
Drive to B&B Les Acanthes 90E/night + 10% discount for 3 or more nights
16 route de Mounic, Fargues 05 56 63 05 33
Dinner in Sauternes
Saprien XX red man 25/37 05 56 76 60 87 view outside confirmed outside if nice

June 13 Wed
Mich Drive Cotes de Bordeaux pg 149
Cadillac/Chateau 9:30-12:30 2-6 Cad pg 197
Sadirac, Creon - market day in Creon Cad pg 193
Mich GG drive pg 150 Entre Deux Mers
Ch Cazeneuve** 2-6
Ch Malle* 2-6 Cl S, Su winery pg 153 gardens + 30 min guided tour/tasting may not be tour
05 56 62 36 86
Dinner in Langon Claude Darroze Confirmed
95 cours Gen Leclerc XXX* 42/85 05 56 63 00 48 outside

June 14 Thursday
St Macaire* pg 149 Cad 198
La Roel, Monsegur Cad 199, 195
Mich GG drive pg 153 Sauternes & Barsac Cad pg 204 – Excellent description
Ch Villandraunt 2-6 guided 1 hr – get there at 1:30
Ch Roquetaillade** tours @ 3 & 4 guided 1 hr - call to confirm pg 106 05 56 76 14 16
Bourideys Cad 207
Dinner in St Macaire
Abricotier RN 113 XX red man 20/40 05 56 76 83 63 confirmed

June 15 Fri
Sunny day
Arcachon & surrounds 1 ¼ hrs to get there pg 76 & 80 Get map at TI
Ch La Brede* 2:30-5:50 call to confirm
Dinner in La Cadillac
Du Chateau de la Tour ave de la Liberation 05 56 76 92 00 confirmed

June 16 Sat
Bazas* pg 105, Cad 207 market day
Labastide d’Armignac Pg 150 Cad Gascony
Bazas to Labastide – 3/4 hr, 2 hrs to Sare
Bazas to Gite in Sare 2 ½ hrs

Stu Dudley

I haven't been to San Sebastian, so don't know how it compares to La Rochelle, but I was mainly suggesting spending the bulk of the time on the Ile de Ré, which definitely has a lot of quaint and gorgeous spots.

Love Ile de Re but not in August. Not really "on the way" though is it?

I don't see where the OP mentioned August, but if it is August I would agree.

Sure it's on the way. A10 to La Rochelle, A 63 to San Sebastian. I don't see any point in going due south from Paris, then having to cut west to the coast. I suppose you could cut a few kilometers off choosing another route, but I don't think you could cut much.

This goes to show that different people interpret as quaint and gorgeous different things.
For me Bordeaux downtown IS quaint and gorgeous and to begin with has 4 UNESCO listed sites: Port de la Lune, Saint Michel Cathedral, Saint Seurin Basilica and Saint André Cathedral plus an endless list of other historic sites (exceptional if you love history). The city is also the center hub of the Bordeaux wine area with its famous chateaux - some of them worth visiting just for their architecture!
Bergerac, Cahors and Arcachon are charming little towns.
Ile de Ré and La Rochelle are alltogether another story and Ilé de Ré is definetelly to be visited!

Carla

http://southweststory.com/bordeaux