In the morning we take a taxi down to the nice classic train station in La Rochelle. Nice start and a train that delivers us directly into the Bordeaux city centre. We have booked a hotel some hundred meters from the station so we can leave our luggage after a short walk. Time to explore this new city! The promenade after La Garonne river has a line of buildings with exactly the same facades which gives a good-looking impression but somewhat conform. We take a good walk along a suggested walking route that takes us to different monuments, parks, buildings and churches. In the evening we stroll through the old town and although it is Sunday evening it turns out that Monday is holiday so restaurants and bars are filled with people. A very interesting surrounding and we have a nice dinner in old town.
Quai Richelieu
Old town
Cathédrale Saint-André
Inside the cathedral
Inside the cathedral
The clock tower next to cathedral
Monument aux Girondins
Old town
Old town
The morning after we go out to the Airport and Birgitta goes back home. Since I am not in a hurry, I go by the city bus back and get another view of the city since we do not go on the motorway. I stop off at Gambetta city gate with the intention to take a closer look at the Church and climb its separate clock tower. There are 233 steps and the view from the upper platform is very nice. I always love going to high towers in new towns. It gives you a good sense for navigating as well as providing stunning views.
View of the cathedral from the clock tower
View from the clock tower
Since I decided to move to an AirBnB in old town, I go back to the hotel and get my bag. I should meet the host at 15.00 so I have a lot of time to sit down and soak up the atmosphere, do some planning and have a Galette lunch nearby. Turns out that the flat is in the middle of everything, neat and in an historic building. Even if it was in the most crowded restaurant street, it was facing the yard and completely silent.
Cool staircase to the first appartment
The first appartment
The city is pretty compact and easy to walk around in so I stroll around and look at sights.
Pont de Pierre
The host recommended a wine bar and I like their concept where you can try a sip (3 cl, half glass or glass) and pay by a card. These bars are all over town and gives the opportunity to taste high quality wines to get a sense of their differences.
Choosing wine at Aux Quatrre coins du Vin
Sadly, the flat was occupied the next night, so I needed to move some hundred meters. But before leaving I decide to take a morning run and check out the marina north of town. On the entrance of the marina, there is another of these submarine bases that this coast is filled with. The marina turns out to be closed so I turn around and run over the modern bridge. As I am running over I see a row of Lagoons sitting by the river and decide to check it out. Is this a private club, a Lagoon dealer or someone else that you can see if they can provide a space one or two nights. It turns out to be a Beneteau Group production site and they could not provide space. But they were very helpful and emailed me some alternative options if I decide to sail up to Bordeaux. We will see. A better option is probably to stay in Pauillac in the middle of the Medoc wine country.
The closed marina and the submarine base
I meet the new host at 12 and it shows to be a very different but cosy apartment nearly at the “Place de la Bourse”. Interesting layout with a patio as you enter the door, a kitchen and living room after that. A French balcony to enjoy the perfect location where I actually can see both the Place de la Bourse as well as Place du Parlement. AirBnB is really a good solution to find a place to stay in the middle of everything.
Patio in the second appartment
View from the balcony out towards Place de la Bourse
View to other side towards Place du Parlement
Place de la Bourse
I decide to do a tour of the city and start by renting one of the city bikes that you find everywhere in the town. These self service bike rental stations should be a model for the rental car business cutting out the tedious experience to get a car. I go over to the other side of the river and get a nice view over the water and continue to pinpoint the activity tomorrow – the wine museum.
Self service rental bike. How can this be applied to Rental Cars?
As I like to learn more on the city, I go to the Aquitaine Museum. Since the wealth of this city is based on trade and winery, this view of history takes a large portion where the competition with La Rochelle as a centre for merchant shipping is described. The overseas trade was significant and brought a lot of capital to the city.
A map of old Bordeaux in the Aquitaine Museum
Nice ship model
Next day is put aside for “La Cité du Vin” – the wine museum. People have told me that you need at least one full day so I start early which turns out to be a wise decision. The museum is huge and with many interactive stations where wine production from all around the world is described. You can listen to stories of wine makers, watch films and even try out smells and colours. Extremely nice museum worth to watch. There is also a wine shop as well as a tasting area. A very good selection of fine wines in the same sip/half-glass/glass manner as in other wine bars. Included in the ticket is also a taste sample taken at the top of the museum overlooking Bordeaux. I thought I planned the day to cover all parts but my time budget turns out to be tight and I stay to the very last minute. Filled with impressions I take a slow walk back to the town.
La Cité du Vin – the huge wine museum
One of the many exhibitions
The tasting bar with a view
The wine shop
Station for smells
Another interactive station
Walking home by the river Garonne
