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5dina.y..s Emanuele Bastoni / www.turismoroma.it
This picturesque, 18th century city inspired the great architect,
Baron Haussmann, when he was asked to transform Paris into a
modern and charming capital. A UNESCO World Heritage Site,
the Old Town intoxicates all visitors and guests, including Victor Hugo
who once mused: “Take Versailles, add Antwerp, and you have Bordeaux”.
DAY ONE
Bordeaux-Mérignac airport, exit 11: the shuttle bus will take me to Saint
Jean train station in 30 minutes, and from there I hop on the tram to the
new Mama Shelter hotel, which boasts the design touches of Philippe
Starck. My first impressions of the renovated industrial gas tower are
excellent, much like rooms dressed in powder pink and the blackboard
ceilings. From the hotel I head to the Golden Triangle, otherwise known
as the heart of the historic centre, a canvas of neoclassical charm that
stretches from the luxury boutiques along the Cours de l’Intendance to
the dazzling Opera (opera-bordeaux.com). A brief stop for French cui-
sine at nearby Café Napoleon II (cafenapoleon3.com) before entering
the world of fine wines through a two-hour seminar at CIVB (bordeaux.
com). I cross Place-des-Quiconces and go to the new Belle Campagne res-
taurant for a taste of slow-cooked local lamb served with creamy mashed
potatoes (belle-campagne.fr). My first day ends with a glass of red wine,
a delectable Château Grand Corbin-Despagne, at Aux 4 Coins du Vin
(aux4coinsduvin.com).
DAY TWO
Following my initial foray into the wonderful world of wines, I decide to
explore the wine routes of Médoc and Saint Emilion. Médoc is where I am
introduced to classic reds such as Margaux and Saint Julien, as well as to Le
Pont Bernet restaurant for fresh seafood (1160 Route de Soulac, +33 5 56 70
20 19). Saint Emilion, also known as the Valley of 1000 Castles, is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site popular among wine aficionados who recommend bi-
cycles as the preferred mode of transportation for discovering the medieval
town and its surrounding vineyards. And they are right. Back in Bordeaux
and exhausted from my wanderings, I head to the hotel’s pizzeria for dinner.
DAY THREE
I indulge in a big dose of culture at the Fine Arts Museum (musba-
bordeaux.fr) and the Decorative Arts Museum (39 Rue Bouffard, +33
556101400), before getting a breath of fresh air at the nearby Town Hall
gardens (Palais Rohan). After a brief stop for chips and beer at the his-
toric L’Apollo (apollobar.fr) I take out my camera and set about captur-
ing every picturesque alley and intricate church façade in the St. Pierre
district. Lost in my thoughts, I lose track of time and twilight greets me
outside one of the oldest restaurants in the city, Le Chapon Fin, frequent-
ed by many celebrities and politicians (chapon-fin.com). Still in the ar-
ea, I head to the baroque setting of La Comtesse for yet another glass of
wine (25 Rue Parlement Saint-Pierre, +33 556510307).
DAY FOUR
I hop on the tram for a ride around the bohemian Chartrons district, as I
have heard much about its famous Sunday seafood market. But first, I stop
by the Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum (museeduvinbordeaux.com).
After indulging in a steaming bowl of fresh bouillabaisse at the market,
I swing by the public gardens and then on to the Centre of Contempo-
rary Visual Arts, CAPC (capc-bordeaux.fr). I continue my exploration of
the city along the docks towards the open-air market around St. Michel
52
This picturesque, 18th century city inspired the great architect,
Baron Haussmann, when he was asked to transform Paris into a
modern and charming capital. A UNESCO World Heritage Site,
the Old Town intoxicates all visitors and guests, including Victor Hugo
who once mused: “Take Versailles, add Antwerp, and you have Bordeaux”.
DAY ONE
Bordeaux-Mérignac airport, exit 11: the shuttle bus will take me to Saint
Jean train station in 30 minutes, and from there I hop on the tram to the
new Mama Shelter hotel, which boasts the design touches of Philippe
Starck. My first impressions of the renovated industrial gas tower are
excellent, much like rooms dressed in powder pink and the blackboard
ceilings. From the hotel I head to the Golden Triangle, otherwise known
as the heart of the historic centre, a canvas of neoclassical charm that
stretches from the luxury boutiques along the Cours de l’Intendance to
the dazzling Opera (opera-bordeaux.com). A brief stop for French cui-
sine at nearby Café Napoleon II (cafenapoleon3.com) before entering
the world of fine wines through a two-hour seminar at CIVB (bordeaux.
com). I cross Place-des-Quiconces and go to the new Belle Campagne res-
taurant for a taste of slow-cooked local lamb served with creamy mashed
potatoes (belle-campagne.fr). My first day ends with a glass of red wine,
a delectable Château Grand Corbin-Despagne, at Aux 4 Coins du Vin
(aux4coinsduvin.com).
DAY TWO
Following my initial foray into the wonderful world of wines, I decide to
explore the wine routes of Médoc and Saint Emilion. Médoc is where I am
introduced to classic reds such as Margaux and Saint Julien, as well as to Le
Pont Bernet restaurant for fresh seafood (1160 Route de Soulac, +33 5 56 70
20 19). Saint Emilion, also known as the Valley of 1000 Castles, is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site popular among wine aficionados who recommend bi-
cycles as the preferred mode of transportation for discovering the medieval
town and its surrounding vineyards. And they are right. Back in Bordeaux
and exhausted from my wanderings, I head to the hotel’s pizzeria for dinner.
DAY THREE
I indulge in a big dose of culture at the Fine Arts Museum (musba-
bordeaux.fr) and the Decorative Arts Museum (39 Rue Bouffard, +33
556101400), before getting a breath of fresh air at the nearby Town Hall
gardens (Palais Rohan). After a brief stop for chips and beer at the his-
toric L’Apollo (apollobar.fr) I take out my camera and set about captur-
ing every picturesque alley and intricate church façade in the St. Pierre
district. Lost in my thoughts, I lose track of time and twilight greets me
outside one of the oldest restaurants in the city, Le Chapon Fin, frequent-
ed by many celebrities and politicians (chapon-fin.com). Still in the ar-
ea, I head to the baroque setting of La Comtesse for yet another glass of
wine (25 Rue Parlement Saint-Pierre, +33 556510307).
DAY FOUR
I hop on the tram for a ride around the bohemian Chartrons district, as I
have heard much about its famous Sunday seafood market. But first, I stop
by the Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum (museeduvinbordeaux.com).
After indulging in a steaming bowl of fresh bouillabaisse at the market,
I swing by the public gardens and then on to the Centre of Contempo-
rary Visual Arts, CAPC (capc-bordeaux.fr). I continue my exploration of
the city along the docks towards the open-air market around St. Michel
52
