Bordeaux for a week

November 18, 2006 10:08 AM

Bordeaux for a week, with my mother (~65 years old). What to do, where to go?

I read this thread, which was great, but I'm curious about the Bordeaux region specifically. Looks like it's going to be rainy while we're there.

If you could only go to one vineyard, which one would you go to? Would you go to Lascaux? Are there other good cave painting sites in that area? Any other quirky historical sites?

posted by cloudscratcher to travel & transportation (7 comments total)

Call the company Butterfield and Robinson (butterfield.com) and tell them you're trying to decide between a bunch of company's Bordeaux trips and that you'd like their traveler materials and any info they can share (trip planner, itinerary, etc). They'll send it for free. Should be some useful info in there.
posted by dobbs at 10:40 AM on November 18, 2006

I've never been to Bordeaux. I have been to Lascaux, though, and it was fantastic. The area around there in the Dordogne is quite beautiful and nice too. I have some notes about that trip on my blog; feel free to ask me any followups in email.
posted by Nelson at 11:31 AM on November 18, 2006

Lascaux is kind of cool, though you should know ahead of time that you're seeing a (well-constructed) replica. The original was degrading so quickly from tours that they no longer show it. There are a number of historic cave dwellings in the area, some still open to tourists.

I didn't spend much time in Bordeaux, but from my brief surveillance, it didn't seem that exciting, basically a port city. Definitely rent a car and get out into the countryside, especially the Dordogne region. Sarlat is a really picturesque medieval city, and Le Bugue is a really cute town, though really most villages in that area are lovely.
posted by j3s at 11:36 AM on November 18, 2006

Château Latour is an experience to remember. Despite Latour's reputation and ambience (24K gold sinks and fittings in the tasting room) our young guide was remarkably friendly and down to earth. We lucked out and went with a couple of good customers who had an appointment. Just four of us on the tour. You will want to set this up in advance--perhaps with a hand-written letter on some nice paper.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:40 PM on November 18, 2006

I can't help you with the châteaux, although there are plenty of them within a 30mn drive from Bordeaux (a few like Château Haut-Brion are even surrounded by the town).

You should know that although Lascaux II (the copy) is afantastic experience, it is still (at least) 90mn East of Bordeaux. Nelson and j3s are right about Sarlat and the Dordogne region: beautiful, charming villages, great cuisine.

Personally, I would go one hour West of Bordeaux, to the seaside, either in the charming town of Arcachon or even more to the Cap-Ferret, where I would find a charming hotel surrounded by pine trees, a few minutes away either from the Bassin d'Arcachon or the huge beach to walk by the sea. It is off season now, so it should be half deserted and the weather is generally sunnier than in Bordeaux.
posted by bru at 3:33 PM on November 18, 2006

In Bordeaux, go check out the wine selection at Cousin (Pl. de Parlement), catch a movie at the Jean-Vigo, and eat dinner at La Table 23 (23 Rue Neuve). Go to St-Emilion, Arcachon, and L'abbaye de La Sauve-Majeure, if you can.
posted by sixacross at 7:39 PM on November 18, 2006

There are, no doubt, many, many others equally worthy, but La Cave d'Ulysse in Margaux has a lovely selection of Bordeaux wines.

I recommend these particularly. : . )
posted by adamgreenfield at 3:08 PM on November 21, 2006