Bordeaux, Aquitaine, Dordogne, Eyewitness Travel Guide, France

Bordeaux: Capital of Aquitaine, France, Bordeaux is famous for its various wines, which are considered among the best in the world. However, it is also a very nice place to visit... for other reasons. The city itself is one of the 5 biggest cities in France, with a population of about 660,000 people, including suburbs. It is a very lively place, with large student (Bordeaux Campus is the biggest in France) and foreigner communities.

Bordeaux is considered a very tolerant and relaxed place - no one will bother you about your political beliefs, religion, or sexual orientation. The cultural, artistic, and music scenes are very vibrant. The city was ruled by the English for a long time, that is why Bordeaux seems to have an "English flair".

People from Bordeaux sometimes feel jealous of people from Paris, and the city is often referred to as "Little Paris". This rivalry is a hot subject, so you may experience some heated arguments on the subject (who said "flame wars?") during your stay.

Source: wikitravel.org

France - Bordeaux and St. Tropez

Author: Rick Chapo

France and Paris, Paris and France. You'll have a great time exploring Paris, but you'll miss places like Bordeaux and St. Tropez if you don't get out of the city.

Bordeaux
Bordeaux is both a city and the center of the wine region in France. As a city, Bordeaux is surprisingly bereft of things to see. One can find unique statutes, fountains and the like, but there isn't really a particular location to mark of on your, "I saw that" list. The city is, however, a good place to relax, drink and eat. For relaxation, you can put around this low key town and take in food at the outdoor cafes in the Place de la Comedie. The specialty food of the region are canellas, which are very good. If you're with the wine and cheese crowd, Bordeaux is going to seem much more exciting. The surrounding region produces wine by the mega cask loads and you can visit locations such as Chateau Mouton-Rothschild to smell and taste the grapes. Moderation is suggested as you want to avoid the grapes of wrath the next morning!

St. Tropez
St. Tropez has gone through roughly three stages in its history. Originally, the town was a little fishing village no different than others dotting the coast of France. At some point, however, it became the place to be for artist who had given up on Paris. No less than the painters Matisse, Signac and Seurat lived and worked in the town. Fortunately or unfortunately, those times have passed. While artist still populate the town, St. Tropez is now the hangout of celebrities and the wealthy. While still a beautiful location, the over the top glitz of St. Tropez is a bit much.

Once you get out of Paris, your options are wide open when it comes to exploring France. Bordeaux is definitely worth a visit while St. Tropez tends to be a take it or leave it destination. I left it.

About the Author:

Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - makers of travel journals.

Writing journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for him or her.

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France Vacation Rentals

Near Bordeaux's Famous Vineyards

Author: Andrew Heaps

Bordeaux, the largest city in south west France, is the wine region of the Aquitaine area. Bordeaux wine is readily exported to countries throughout the world and there are many vineyards that help make this exportation financially rewarding for the region by producing popular tasty wines to suit all tastes.

Vineyards in Bordeaux cover hundreds of thousands of acres of land. Large quantities of wine producers in this area are independent wineries. Chateau Beychevelle is a Bordeaux winery that welcomes wine tasters from all over the world to sample its home grown produce. Visitors come and go daily, tasting and purchasing the fine product of the hard working vineyard's laborers.

Another area in Bordeaux that wine enthusiasts should visit is the Saint-Emilion village. In Saint-Emilion village one will find a number of friendly vineyard owners who are always happy to show off their wines. The difficulty many say is choosing the vineyards to visit. With so much choice you may need several days to get a full taste of the area.

A popular way to cover many vineyards in this region is by going on a wine tasting tour. There are usually many tours being offered and they are individually unique in their own right. Some tours will be by bus or bike via an independent tour agency and others will be provided by a specific Châteaux. In order to consider all the available options, your concierge or local tourist information office is a good starting point to making an informed decision.

When looking to visit the Bordeaux vineyards, one should consider booking a France vacation rental for a week or two in order to have enough time to leisurely visit the many wineries in the area. France vacation rentals can be easily booked through your travel agent or by using the internet to find vacation packages that cater to France vacation rentals. Whatever vineyard an individual chooses to tour or France vacation rental one chooses to book, that person is sure to be happy with his/her final decision regarding this wonderful touring opportunity.

About the Author:

TipTopVillas offers France vacation rentals - outstanding France villa rentals

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Things To Do and See in Bordeaux

Gourmet Touring, Bordeaux
Attraction type: Tour

Les Sources de Caudalie Spa, Bordeaux
Attraction type: Spa

Grand Theatre (Le), Bordeaux
Attraction type: Theater

Museum of the New World

(Musee du Nouveau-Monde), Bordeaux
Attraction type: History museum

Musee des Beaux-Arts, Bordeaux
A fine arts museum with a wonderful collection of

17th century Italian, Dutch and Flemish art.
Attraction type: Art museum