Bordeaux Affair

Lana Yatsyuk takes a break from her love of Paris to explore a different side of France.

As those who’ve known me for a long time will confirm - I am so in love with Paris. Its outdoor culture, pastel houses with lace looking balconies, and endless museum collections of impressionists. So, it’s not difficult to guess where I usually travel when I need my French fix.

This time, however, I wanted to explore a different France, something that would complement my Parisian stories and discoveries. I was looking forward to exploring new places and a slower pace of life, and I knew I’d enjoy exploring the culture of wine, so, the next day I was on a flight to the wine capital of France - Bordeaux.

Bordeaux welcomed me with the sun shining, and beautiful streets full of blossoms. To kick off my discovery I headed to the most trendy neighbourhood - Chartrons. It was a good choice, as this is the place to experience Bordeaux “like a local”. Calm, full of wine bars, cafes and independent shops, it is the perfect spot to relax after the flight, and completely slow down.

As I walked the pretty streets, I noticed that the air was so sweet. Wherever you go, you see and smell jasmine flowers. Notre Dame Street is a paradise for antique treasure hunters, but make sure you also pop in to the Notre Dame Bakery to taste local bakery specialty, Canele.

For foodies, a place not to be missed is the daily Market de Chartrons, with its selection of restaurants and coffee shops. It’s perfect for lunch or dinner. I highly recommend trying Breizh Café, where chef Bertrand Larcher is aiming to build a bridge between Breton and Japanese cultures. Buckwheat crepes are a must - try one with lobster and avocado. It is a taste melody, a mouthwatering mix of traditional and modern flavors.

I’m already realising that the city has its own absolutely amazing pace of life. It’s an ideal slow travel destination, to get a genuine taste of life in France. Nice to meet you, Bordeaux.

A pleasurable 15 minutes walk from the Chartrons, and we are in the historic city centre. My next stop is Quinconces Square, with its impressive Monument aux Girondins. The fountain commemorates Girondists, a group of Legislative Assembly members who supported the French Revolution.

A little further and I reach the Place de la Bourse, the historic and most recognizable sight of the city, which belongs to Port of the Moon, and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007. The square was commissioned by French King, Louis XV, and designed by architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel. It took 45 years to finish the project, being built from 1730 to 1775.

While you are in the area, I would recommend visiting the Opera Theatre and walking to the Hotel de Ville - a charming historic building serving as a the town hall. There are plenty of restaurants around to rest after exploring the city centre, or places with enticing shops, including the Bordeaux branch of Galerie Laffayette.

Cite du Vin

The next day I am heading to a wonderful local wine museum – the Cite du Vin. Even before I go inside, I’ve stopped to admire the museum building - the shape with beautiful lines reminds me of a tilted wine glass.

Finish your visit with a tasty glass of wine in the Belvedere, and enjoy panoramic views over the city of Bordeaux. The wine cellar ‘Latitude’ shop has a breathtaking setting like a library of bottles, where you can find wine from all over the planet. It is the largest world wine shop in Europe with more than 14 000 bottles, 800 listings from more than 70 wine regions around the world.

Personal recommandations for Bordeaux

If your schedule allows, there is a lot to see and do within easy reach of Bordeaux. I recommend making a day trip to the village of St. Emilion. Located in the heart of the wine region, it is the perfect place to visit local wineries, and taste wine. Or, just one hour from Bordeaux, there is Arcachon Bay, famous for its oysters and Dunes de Pilat.

. I would highly recommend purchasing the Bordeaux Pass it if you want to make the most of your trip. It’s available for 24, 48, 72 hours, and covers all of your travel on public transport, and gives free admission to 15 museums including the Cite du Vin, the Contemporary Art Museum, and the Fine Arts Museum.

It is not just a museum, but a cultural venue too. This unique and dedicated wine hub opened its doors 7 years ago, and now welcomes 2.3 million visitors a year from all over the world. The ambitious project is a result of the close collaboration between the Parisian architecture firm XTU, and English museum designers Casson Mann. During construction 3165 glass and metal cladding panels, 925 glass panels and 2240 aluminum uniquely shaped and made to measure panels were used.

The Cite du Vin offers visitors an interactive permanent exhibition, various testing experiences, cultural events, shops and restaurants. At the heart of the experience, the 3,000 sq.permanent exhibition is very impressive, and based on digital technologies, and wine can be discovered in its many facets in 18 themed areas. At the beginning of the exhibition you will find vineyards from the skies, where you can journey to discover the diversity of winegrowing landscapes of wine regions of the world, across various climate zones. The buffet for the five senses is a discovery of the keys to wine tasting, through a fun and olfactory journey around the aromas and colours of wine.

One of my favourite areas is Action! Cult films on a big screen remind us that wine is at the heart of our social exchanges. And for a bit of fun, try the ‘Wine and Me’ test, to learn which wine you are! You can even play and make wine with your own feet - all possible due to the adoption of modern digital technologies.