Les meilleurs hôtels à Bordeaux

Bordeaux is a big, booming city on the French Atlantic coast, but in spite of its size, the capital of Southwest France is less ebullient than most French cities and even tends toward a British reserve. Nonetheless, oenophiles will find this elegant city delightful. Thanks to the region's soil and an early morning mist that promotes a perfect form of rot called pourriture noble, Bordeaux is surrounded by vineyards and renowned worldwide for its wines. The vineyards of Medoc, Sauternes, Graves, Entre-Deux-Mers and St-Emilion are all within a short drive of the city, but visitors needn't venture outside Bordeaux to experience regional wines. Wine shippers have long based their trade along the banks of the Garonne. Within a few blocks of the city's quayside, the CIVB-headquarters of the Bordeaux wine trade, the Vinotheque and the Cite Mondiale du Vin, all dedicated to the world of wine, dole out free samples and sell Bordeaux by the bottle to suit every budget. Non-oenophiles should be drawn to the quayside too, with its pedestrian streets, historical sights, boutiques and cafes. Two blocks from the river is the Grand Th??tre. Built between 1773 and 1780 to the plans of architect Victor Louis, the building inspired the design for the lavish Paris Op?ra. Nearby, the Mus?e d'Aquitaine is one of the city's best museums, with its collection of works spanning the 15th-20th centuries, including sculptures by Auguste Rodin. Once you've had your share of sipping Bordeaux, head south to the Landis forest, which stretches from the capital all the way to Spain, and the Silver Coast, where wanderers will find exquisite hiking, fishing, surfing and sailing.