Bordeaux Favorites

Favorite thing: Arcachon has been already in XIXth century a renowned seaside and climatic station, centre of attraction of the European upper class. Nowadays numerous animation and sports activities enrapture the summer visitors as well as his marina and its ten kilometres of beaches of fine sand, next to Basin which carries its name.

Not far from Arcachon there is the Dune of Pyla - the highest of Europe... Arcachon is also famous by excellent oysters.

Favorite thing: I have found this so called "play-cafe" by luck during my walk in Bordeaux where I have spent a week visiting my friends. Actually it's not a cafe, but a boutique of games or better to say - a playroom.

In brief, you enter, you choose a game among hundred of them, you sit down comfortably and a superb play party is started.
People, who work there, recommend the game, explain the rules, offer you the drinks.

All the games you play in ze zem are also for sale there.

ze zem
12 rue saint James - 33000 Bordeaux
tél. : 05 56 51 00 21
mail : zezem@free.fr
tuesday - sunday 2pm - 2am

Favorite thing: Before going off to visit the vineyards, stop by the Maison du Vin de Bordeaux, which is situated in the heart of the city, just in front of the Tourist Bureau.
Here you'll find precise information such as maps, vineyard guides, information on each district or appellation, etc. in English, French, German, and many other languages.
Each week a tasting is planned at which the House Sommelier comments on the two wines being tasted. In addition, throughout the year wine classes are offered in-house at the Ecole du Vin in several languages and at two levels. The schedule for the tastings and the wine classes is also available from the Maison du Vin at the address above.

3, cours du 30 juillet, 33075 Bordeaux Cedex
Tel: +33 (0)5 56 00 22 88 / Fax: +33 (0)5 56 00 22 77
Hours: 9.00AM to 5.30PM all year long.

Favorite thing: If you have never being to Bordeaux before, I will advice you visit St Emilion if you really love French wines. You have the opportunity of tasting any type of wine for one Euros, or for free in some cases if you end up buying the particular wine.

Fondest memory: Just Wine everywhere.

Favorite thing: The Monument aux Girondins, a memorial 'to the Girondins and the Republic', is the one monument in Bordeaux I clearly remember. It stands in a large square called Esplanade des Quinconces, overlooking the Garonne.

Fondest memory: The Esplanade was hosting a petanque competition one evening during our visit. We walked out there after dinner and sat under the stars watching the locals play.

Favorite thing: The Musée des Beaux-Arts has a small but worthy selection of European fine art, featuring works by Reynolds, Titian, Rubens, Matisse and Marquet (a native of the city), as well as Delacroix's superb painting of La Grèce sur les ruines de Missolonghi.

Favorite thing: The Musée d'Art Contemporain on rue Ferrère occupies a converted nineteenth-century warehouse for colonial imports. The vast, arcaded hall provides a magnificent setting for the mostly post-1960 sculpture and installation-based work by artists such as Richard Long, Daniel Buren and Sol LeWitt. Few pieces from the permanent collection are on display at any one time, the main space being filled by temporary exhibitions, so it's hit or miss as to whether you'll like what's on offer. However, there's also a superb collection of glossy art books in the first-floor library and an elegant designer café-restaurant on the roof (lunch only).

Favorite thing: Les Places du Vieux Bordeaux ont été aménagées du XIIIe au XXe siècle pour répondre aux besoins économiques, administratifs et religieux des citadins.

Les vieilles dalles, posées lors des dernières rénovations, réactualisent le souvenir du nouveau marché royal voulu par Tourny vers 1750.

La place Camille Jullian fut la dernière trouée pratiquée dans la vieille ville, en 1935. Aujourd’hui, l’animation des marchés et des terrasses de restaurants redonne vie à ces espaces urbains.

The Place of the Old Bordeaux have been arranged of the XIIIth in the XXth century to answer the needs economic, administrative and religious of the city-dwellers.

The old tiles, calm at the time of the last renovations, actualize the memory of the new royal market wanted by Tourny toward 1750.

The place Camille Jullian was the last opening practiced in the old city, in 1935. Today, the animation of the markets and the terraces of restaurants gives back life in these urban spaces.