Car Hire Bordeaux - Mini guide to Bordeaux

Bordeaux attracts plenty of local and foreign visitors on the strength of its sunny Atlantic coast location, excellent local wine, vibrant atmosphere and 18th-century grandeur. It has a pleasant centre full of parks and museums.

Situated at the head of the Garonne estuary, Bordeaux is a good launching point to several seaside towns, the Dordogne region as well as the many vineyards that make the area famous.

Bordeaux’ town centre has a quiet an atmosphere to it, with a cluster of medieval buildings, most notably the Cathédral St-André, dating from the 12th century. The cathedral’s interior is far more appealing than the exterior and the 15th century belfry, Tour Pey-Berland, is open to the public.

Although Bordeaux largely attracts locals seeking sunshine and good wine, the city also has several notable museums. The outstanding Musée d'Aquitaine takes Bordeaux' history back 25,000 years, with some impressive prehistoric artifacts on display. Musée des Beaux-Arts is over 200 years old and includes Flemish, Dutch and Italian works from the 17th century. The museum is housed in the 18th-century Hôtel de Ville (city hall) complex. Also worth visiting is the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle (Natural History Museum) in the Jardin public.

The Jardin Public was established in 1755 and laid out in the English style a century later. It features the meticulously catalogued Jardin Botanique - founded in 1629.