Bordeaux Travel Guide

The city regained its importance in the 16th century when it became the center of the distribution of sugar and slaves from the West Indies along with the wines that the Dutch, English, and Germans had developed such a taste for. It was officially annexed to the Kingdom of France in 1653 when the army of Louis XIV entered the city and claimed it as their own. Bordeaux enjoyed a relatively quiet time until the 18th century when a new golden age was entered into and the city once again prospered.

The foundations for this great era were laid in the late 17th century when Dutch traders began to drain the marshland around the Médoc and encouraged the planting of vineyards. The Dutch would also open new distribution channels to the Bourgeois which helped usher in the second era of prosperity. However, the War of the Spanish Succession broke out in the early 18th century which made navigation along the French coastline and the English Channel very risky. You have to admire the resolve of the Bordeaux Château and Merchants, who managed to ship their wines to markets such as London despite the wartime politics of the period.

Many famous buildings and monuments, including those on the quays, were built in this period. Victor Hugo, the famous French writer found the town so beautiful he once said: “Take Versailles, add Antwerp, and you have Bordeaux”. Baron Haussmann, a long-time prefect of Bordeaux, used Bordeaux’s 18th-century big-scale rebuilding as a model when he was asked by Emperor Napoleon III to transform Paris into a “modern” capital that would make France proud. It was a great time to call yourself a Bordeaux citizen.

he city enjoyed a relatively stable and prosperous existence until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. Bordeaux escaped reasonably unscathed from the conflict, the French government even relocated from Paris to Bordeaux very briefly during the beginning of the War. The same thing happened during World War II when it became apparent that Paris would soon fall into German hands. The Nazis enjoyed the Bordeaux wines very much indeed, Commander-in-Chief Hermann Göring even took control of the Château Mouton Rothschild which served as a military headquarters and continued to produce wine throughout the war.

Bordeaux also served as a base for Italian Royal Navy submarines, and as a major base for German U-boats as headquarters of the 12th fleet. The massive, concrete U-boat pens have proved impractical to demolish and are now partly used as a cultural center for exhibitions. A great example of this city using its darker times to its advantage.

The city has continued on an upward trajectory since the 1940s and has always welcomed visitors worldwide in search of its wonderful wine, rich history, and beautiful countryside. Whether you prefer to leisurely explore its great stately Château at your leisure, explore the UNESCO World Heritage center, or are drawn to more active pursuits such as horse riding or sailing, the region is home to a range of interest and wines which suit all tastes and pockets. No matter where you start or finish, you are sure to be fascinated and delighted along the way. Now let’s crack open some good Bordeaux!

Bordeaux is quite simply the most famous wine region in the world. It is astoundingly packed full of thousands of wine estates of all shapes and sizes and is home to some of the most sought after wines on planet earth- from the likes of Yquem in Sauternes to Petrus in Pomerol, Angélus in Saint-Emilion and Château Margaux in Margaux. The name “Bordeaux” evokes images of the fairy tale Châteaux of the left bank (or “rive gauche”), the picture-perfect medieval hamlet of St Emilion, and of course of the handsome city of Bordeaux itself which is considered to be a mini version of Paris.