On a historical note, Bordeaux actually became an English town in the 12th century, following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine, former wife of Louis VII. And the town remained thus for three centuries, becoming prosperous during the 13th century due to commerce with England. Its second period of prosperity began in the mid 17th century up until the French Revolution - due to the importance of its port for international commerce.



Because of its climate, Bordeaux is often considered to be a bit of a turning point, being both in the north and the south at one and the same time. And from her former English domination, the town has cultivated a certain composure, or class, and an air of cool professionalism with its regular trading with Hanse and Holland. From the period of Louis XIV the town has maintained a certain upright, aligned, classical style of architecture, which you encounter in the innumerable castles made of white stone.

But that's not all there is to Bordeaux... beneath the sophisticated surface of professionalism lies a heart which beats to a rhythm altogether different... a Latin tempo. Doubtless this is due to its close proximity to Spain. And in this lies the other side of Bordeaux one given over to festivals and all manner of frivolity. You've been warned!

The climate of Bordeaux is considered to be Oceanic, that is to say with no great difference between summer and winter temperatures. Here the summers are hot and the winters relatively mild, even warm. However the region does get its fair share of rain spread throughout the year, due to it being on the Atlantic coast. However, extreme periods of dryness can also be a problem from time to time. In Bordeaux, only one thing is certain, and that's the wine!

The majority of the city of Bordeaux is located on the left bank of the Garonne, an area of wide and marshy expanses. There are a few hills, but they aren't high, and they are ideal for wine growing. It is here that you will discover the famous Medoc and Grave wine varieties.

However the right bank of the river is very different, being almost completely made of chalk. It's on this bank that the world famous vineyards are located... those such as Saint Emilion, Pomerol and Fronsac - some of the most expensive wines in the world.

Bordeaux is the world wine capital. In the Bordeaux region, a major wine grower will produce several wines, a number of them being amongst the most prestigious in the world, designated collectively as "Vins de Bordeaux", or simply "Bordeaux". Around Bordeaux there are in fact about 14000 wine producers with an annual production of about 700 million bottles. These are both white and red wines, the latter being the origin of the Bordeaux color.

And as for the local Bordeaux cuisine? Indeed Bordeaux cuisine, as the cuisine of the whole of the Gironde department, is justly celebrated throughout the country as one of the finrest local French cuisines. You won't have to go far without savouring the delights of well-known regional dishes such as the local wood pigeon speciality, palombe, or dishes made from the equally famous cepe mushroom. Then of course there are the famous shallot sauces. All of this, obviously, needing to be accompanied by a fine Bordeaux wine!

On the sweeter side of things, how about the well-known little "canele" cakes, a local speciality made from light tender pastry, a lacing of vanilla and rum, topped off with a thick tasty caramelised crust. Indeed this Bordeaux delicacy has its origins with a group of 16th century nuns who made them regularly to give to the poorest people of the town. However, these are sme of the most exotic delicacies, even more so when accompanied by a glass of famous Bordeaux white!

Another unforgettable encounter in Bordeaux is with the "lamproie" (lamprey, in English), a very unusual fish. This fish possesses neither scales, nor jaws, nor bony backbone. You could compare it with a large eel. And don't forget "la sauce d'escargots" (snail sauce), known jokingly as the "Bordeaux truffle", which includes chocolate, grape and alcohol. Not to mention the famous Tome d'Aquitaine, a goat's cheese refined with a Sauterne wine, and the delicious "foie gras".

So I hope you spend a wonderful and delicious time in and around Bordeaux, meeting the many colourful Bordelais characters!