Bordeaux

Bordeaux is located in southwestern France. This port city is the capital of the Aquitaine region. It is also the prefecture of the Gironde departement. Bordeaux is popular as 'world's wine capital'. Bordeaux has been producing wine since the 8th century. The city also hosts Vinexpo, the biggest event of the wine industry. This French city also carries research in military, space and aeronautics. Bordeaux's wine trade with the British Isles and Germany flourished during the 18th century and it was the golden age of the city.

The city has about 1,17,000 hectares of vineyards and the annual production touches over 700 million bottles. The wine produce ranges from everday wine to most expensive ones. The varieties include both red and white wines. Saint-Emilion, Pomerol,Medoc and Graves are the subregions of the Bordeaux wine region. The city attracts many tourists every year. Special wine tours are organised to the wineries of Bordeaux and it is an experience in itself.

Area & Location: The city is located in the southwest of France, near the European Atlantic Coast. Since, Bordeaux is located on the bend of the river Garonne, it is divided into two parts: the right bank to the East and the left bank in the West. Bordeaux is located on 44º50'19?N latitude and 00º34'42?W longitude. The city occupies a total area of 49.36 square kilometer. The total population of the city as per 2004 estimate is 229,900 with a total density of 4,658 per square kilometer.

Transportation: The international airport serving the city is Aeroport de Bordeaux Merignac. The public transportation system of Bordeaux includes buses, trams, a trolley system and a water shuttle. The public transport system of Bordeaux is called TBC and is run by the Connex Group. TBC comprises of 3 tram lines, 75 bus routes that are connected to the tramway network, 12 night bus routes, an electric bus shuttle in the city center and a boat shuttle on the Garonne river.

Hotels: Chateau de Mirambeau, Chateau Lamothe, Hotel de la Presse, Hotel Burdigala, Chateau Cordeillan-Bages, Hotel des 4 Soeurs, Les Sources de Caudalie, Une Chambre En Ville, Hotel de la Tour Intendance, Chateau Camiac, Acanthe Hotel, Hotel Boulan, La Tupina, Quality Hotel St. Catherine, Victoria Garden, Best Western Grand Hotel, Hotel Continental, citea Residence Bordeaux, La Reserve and Amarys Royal Saint Jean Hotel are some popular hotels of Bordeaux.

Places of Attraction: The most popular attractions of Bordeaux are Gourmet Touring, Musee des Beaux -Arts, Les Sources de Caudalie Spa, Grand Theatre, museum of the New World (Musee du Nouveau-Monde), Rue Ste Catherine, St. Andre Cathedral, Notre Dame Church, Baptistere St-Jean, Cathedrale St-Pierre, Chateau Lafite, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Hotel de Ville (Paris City Hall), Musee St-Croix, Musee d'Orbigny Bernon, Socite Duboscq, Tour St-Nicholas, Chateau Maucaillou, Bordeaux Wine School, Musee des Chartrons, Musee d'Art Contemporian CAPC and Pont de Pierre.