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This once-rural town has become one of France s leading business and tourism
destinations.
Bordeaux is the wine capital of the world, renowned for its rich history,
generated by 800 years of viticulture, commerce and trade. But these days,
there s much more to this city than lush vineyards and delicious grapes.
It s a great fusion of big city life but contained in a village-like atmosphere
Gordon Ramsay
In less than a decade, large-scale urban planning has transformed this
once-rural town in southwestern France on the Garonne River into a cosmopolitan
destination de choix. It is now one of France s leading hubs for both tourism
and business.
Gordon Ramsey outside his Bordeaux restaurant venture (Credit: Fr d ric Guy)
With more than 5.5 million visitors a year, plus 85 congresses and 400
professional events held in 2015, this city is humming with a new surge of
energy.
Voted European Best Destination in 2015, France s sixth largest city is also at
the epicenter of a culinary boom. With the recent arrival of prestigious
Michelin-starred chefs and young talent reinventing traditional southwestern
cuisine, innovative bistros are popping up all around town.
Bordeaux really has it all, so we re really spoiled, said chef Stephane
Carrade of Le Petit Commerce. Besides the vineyards, we re near the Atlantic,
the estuaries, the Pyrenees and the Perigord region, which means all the very
best variety local products. But what I like the most about living in the
centre of town is the atmosphere, the southwestern spirit. This city is more
vibrant than ever, but people still take the time they need to enjoy
themselves.
The spike in tourism has driven growth in jobs according to Amelie Dechenais,
director of business conferences at the Convention Bureau. The city now has a
brand new convention center (Palais des Congres) and is currently modernising
the 80,000-sq-meter Exhibition Center (Parc des Expositions), which represents
a 70m-euro ($77m) investment. By 2018, we also expect to have 800 more hotel
rooms for conferences and trade shows, she said.
Another draw is the climate, similar to northern California, which boasts 300
more hours of sunshine than Paris.
However, by 2017, Parisians will be able to hop aboard a morning train to
Bordeaux from the Gare Montparnasse and arrive only two hours later instead of
three, in time for lunch on a sun-dappled bistro terrace.
This high speed train service, the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique, means the city
will be even more accessible to the international rail network across Europe.
The project includes a rejuvenation of the train station, Gare de
Bordeaux-Saint-Jean, soon to be France s second-largest passenger terminus. By
2017, visitors will see complete transformation a new business center, office
spaces, homes, boutiques and a hotel complex.
But for now, the city s pride and joy is the long-awaited June 2016 opening of
the Cite des Civilisations du Vin, the Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum. Situated
in the newly revitalised Bassins a Flots district, the building will reshape
Bordeaux s skyline a shimmering undulating contemporary structure of wood,
glass and aluminum structure.
The appeal
The Mirror of Water (Le Miroir d Eau) the world s largest reflecting pool on
the 18th-century Place de la Bourse. (Credit: Thomas Sanson)
Beyond all the impressive urban expansion, the city s transformation, which
began nearly a decade ago, has contributed to Bordeaux s douceur de vivre, a
pleasant gentle rhythm of life.
Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, Bordeaux first underwent
a major facelift when the current mayor and former French Prime Minister, Alain
Juppe launched a campaign to clean and restore landmark architecture. Today,
there are more than 350 Unesco-listed monuments a mix of medieval,
Renaissance and impressive eighteenth-century gems making Bordeaux the
largest urban World Heritage site in the world.
Another draw is the climate, similar to northern California, which boasts 300
more hours of sunshine than Paris.
They did a fantastic job of renovating the old quarters like in the Grosse
Cloche neighbourhood, said long-time resident, Nadine Pocci, owner of the
Belair Saint-Georges vineyards in the nearby Saint Emilion region. When my
husband and I first moved to Bordeaux in 1979, all the buildings were covered
with black grime. It was sad and dark. But now everyone is realising what a
great city it has become all you need to do is look at the climbing prices of
real estate.
Take, for example, the hip northern section of the city, Les Chartrons, where
the streets are now lined with trendy vintage boutiques, cafes and antique
shops: over the past three years, prices have risen 20% for new residential
developments, and now sell anywhere between 4,500 euros to 6,500 euros ($4,890
to $7,060) per square metre.
Research opportunities in aerospace, optic lasers, pharmaceuticals and
cutting-edge biotechnology may also be one reason why the city attracts more
than 10,000 new residents each year, with 40% between 20 and 40 years old.
What is particularly appealing about Bordeaux, home to 80,000 students, is the
relaxed vibe. Visitors should take full advantage of the intensive greening of
the leafy flower-lined quays on the left bank, now a veritable haven for
joggers, cyclists and strollers. Aside from the future Cite du Vin, the
ambitious reinvention of the Bassins a Flots district a 700,000- sq-mile
stretch of docklands includes the transformation of disused warehouses into
riverside cafes and restaurants and the construction of more than 5,000 new
apartments.
What makes Bordeaux so unique is pretty much indescribable. The weather, the
culture, the food, the football all high marks in my book, said
Michelin-starred British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who recently took the
helm of the one Michelin-star restaurant, Le Pressoir d Argent, at the
InterContinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel. It s a great fusion of big city
life but contained in a village-like atmosphere.
Getting there
The ultra-modern tramway crossing the Pont de Pierre in Bordeaux. (Credit: Fran
ois Poincet)
Merignac airport offers flights to more than 80 worldwide destinations
including Rome, Barcelona and Lisbon, and is served by 26 airlines, including
low cost flights from London. The 30-minute shuttles to the city centre run
every hour, seven days a week, starting at 06:00 for a fare of 7.20 euros.
With three ultra-modern tramway lines, numerous buses, and bicycles for rent,
Bordeaux s sights are easily accessible.
Visitors can purchase city passes that include three days of transport, plus
museum visits for a variety of packages from 23 euros-33 euros ($25 to $35)
Where to stay
Across from the Opera House, on the Place de la Comedie, the newly branded
Intercontinental Bordeaux Le Grand Hotel is an elegant five-star
18th-century hotel with historic interiors and a recently opened spa. Located
in the heart of the city, the rooms have river views and are a 10-minute stroll
from the pretty pedestrian cobblestone streets of the vieille ville and
restaurants. Or, for business on a budget, the lakeside 166-room Pullman
Bordeaux Lac Hotel is a mid-range hotel located in the Bordeaux Lac district
near the conference centre (and for sports fans, Bordeaux s brand new stadium),
a 15-minute tram ride from the city centre.
Dinner for one
On a narrow street in Old Town, popular ultra-fresh seafood institution, Le
Petit Commerce, was recently taken over by Michelin-star chef Stephane Carrade.
The menu features everything from fish soup (12 ) and platters of local oysters
(a dozen 20-27 ) to grilled lobster (35 ) and squid (28 )with homemade creme
brulee or rice pudding (8 ) for dessert. If you re looking for an all-day
rapid-service but moderately-priced gourmet meal, head to the newly opened
80-seat brasserie, Quatrieme Mur at the Opera House, where French TV celebrity
chef Philippe Etchebest dishes up simple regional specialties like duck
parmentier a southwestern version of a shepherd s pie.
Special attractions
In June, Bordeaux will host UEFA Euro 2016 football, followed by the city s
annual 10th Wine Festival (La Fete du Vin), held on the grassy banks of the
Garonne, an event that attracts more than 400,000 professionals and visitors.
Among the most beguiling museums is the Institute Culturel Bernard Magrez,
hidden away in a quiet residential neighbourhood, featuring cutting edge
contemporary art housed in elegant eighteenth-century stone mansion. You can
also spend the day on a riverboat cruise, or escape to one of the most dazzling
white sand beaches in Europe, Dune du Pilat, near Arcachon, which has 10 metre
dunes and a panoramic view, and is only an hour s drive by car or bus.