Traveling about France in June. I will be staying in Bordeaux for four nights. I like wine, historic places, scenic (gardens/parks)and shopping. No museums (I have seen enough to last a lifetime). Any suggestions? Ira??

While I am certainly not Ira, I have been to the city a few times. Will you have a car? The Bordeaux tourist office offers a number of wine tours:



http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/pl/...=uk&itm=57

parisnow wrote: "No museums (I have seen enough to last a lifetime)"

Pity. The Musée d'Aquitane is particularly good.

Hi P,

You can drive or train to Arcachon and the ocean, and to St. Emilion.

In Bordeaux, there is a nice Sunday market where the Cruiser Colbert is docked.

Enjoy your visit.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Definitely will take in a wine tour. St. Emilion was already on the list as well as Bayonne for daytrips. Also the markets. I prefer to hit the markets for meals instead of restaurants. Any suggestions on what else to do in Bordeaux itself? No car, will be taking trains (my preferred method of travel in Europe).

Hi P,

>Any suggestions on what else to do in Bordeaux itself?

Did you look up Bordeaux under "Destinations"?

Hi I:
Nope... I was being lazy. Assumed you would supply all the answers!

The Colbert left Bordeaux last year for a shipyard near Brest.

If you are there on a Sunday, you could go on this walk in the hills:

http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com/pl/...=279&c2=10

Thanks for the update, Josh.

Do they still do the Sunday market in the same place?

Bordeaux is very much a turn of the century (18th to 19th) town worth just wandering around. Here are some pictures:

http://tinyurl.com/44jlfy

For shopping, go to the rue Ste. Catherine, which is the walking spine of downtown Bordeaux.

My trip report has a large section on Bordeaux:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34523592

Thanks Michael for the trip report.

> I prefer to hit the markets for meals instead of restaurants...

Pity, I had great experiences with restaurants that provided good price/quality (that went to wine too) prix-fixe menus in Bordeaux city center...

HI

I am originally from Bordeaux ( but live in Paris, hence screenname). The market on Quai des Chartrons ( opposite Cité Mondiale du vin) is nice, but quite posh and expensive. If you want a more lively and representative market, you should go to the market on saturday morning Place Saint Michel. Farmers from the Bordeaux area are there. My family has been going to this market for decades, and it is definitely more colorful and typical of the 'populaire' Bordeaux than the market on Quai des Chartrons.

My favorite places in my hometown:

1-Jardin public
2-Musée des Beaux Arts
3-the perspective on the quais, seen from the other side of the river
4-Le vieux bordeaux ( historical center )
5-Place du Parlement


My favorite restaurant: La belle époque.


Have a nice time in Bordeaux

Marie

Google the Dune du Pilat, the highest sand dune in Europe, and see if that may be of interest. It is an easy drive from Bordeaux. As mentioned by someone else, Arcachon is a beautiful seaside town. We were there on a lovely, sunny day and the whole place seemed to glisten. I loved it.

Thanks MarieParis (and everyone else). Love to hear from natives regarding good restaurants. Do you have any recommendations for Paris. I will be there for 5 days. Nothing fancy. Looking for quiet family run style. Staying in the 7th arr. I like markets because I am traveling solo. But I will be having some of my meals in restaurants.

bookmarking for possible end of june visit