| Chateaux tours and wine tastings are de | | | | breathtaking scenery. |
| rigeur throughout Bordeaux this summer, as | | | | |
| France prepares to welcome its visitors to | | | | Bordeaux's port is a great place to relax, |
| what is arguably the largest and oldest fine | | | | while the city is divided into two halves by |
| wine producing region in the world. So, get | | | | the River Garonne, so there will be plenty of |
| ready to raise your glass to this beautiful, | | | | chance to find your romantic self with a |
| sunny city. | | | | stroll along the waterways. |
| | | | |
| The local tourist office, which arranges | | | | The riverfront is lined with 18th century |
| trips and introductory wine tasting courses, | | | | buildings dating back to the port's glory |
| claims there are 113,000 hectares of | | | | days and recalls a bygone era where |
| vineyards and 57 appellations producing 800 | | | | architecture was purely about opulence. Along |
| million bottles of wine annually, while the | | | | the walk, Time Out advises you to look out |
| region is home to seven of France's major | | | | for the Place de la Bourse, designed by |
| wine-growing areas. | | | | Paris' Place de la Concorde architect Jacques |
| | | | Ange Gabriel. And heading back from here are |
| It is world-renowned for its big reds, which | | | | the rambling cobbled streets surrounding the |
| have dominated the viticulture scene for | | | | Place de Parlement. |
| centuries, but visitors are advised to | | | | |
| remember there is much more to Bordeaux than | | | | In fact, the city's old town, with its |
| its grapes, so look beyond the dry and sweet | | | | charming gothic churches and cathedrals, is a |
| whites, roses, clairets and the cremant de | | | | must-see. Dominating the skyline of the old |
| Bordeaux to a port city that is also perfect | | | | religious quarter is the flamboyant basilica |
| for driving holidays. | | | | dedicated to the archangel Saint-Michel. |
| | | | Visitors lucky enough to be here on Monday or |
| Offering spectacular coastal views of the | | | | Saturday will find a morning market under its |
| vast Atlantic Ocean, many visitors to | | | | beautiful spire. And further exploration will |
| France's south-west coast drive down to the | | | | uncover the church of Saint Pierre and Sainte |
| Bay of Biscay and Biarritz or make their way | | | | Croix, also well worth a look. |
| up to La Rochelle - either way you can expect | | | | |