United Kingdom to Bordeaux
February 25, 2009 by Tom Martens
Filed under Flights
You can reach Bordeaux from the United Kingdom on flights from London, Manchester or Birmingham. Bordeaux is located in southwest France and is that region?s largest city with a population of one million people in the metropolitan area. Its airport is the Bordeaux-Merignac Airport
The gentle climate makes Bordeaux popular with tourists from the UK. While summers may run hot and long, the rest of the year is quite mild. Bordeaux is a port on the Atlantic, and about nine million metric tons of cargo passes through each year. Visitors come to the port to enjoy the view and also to enjoy the mild weather. Bordeaux’s main rail station is the Gare de Bordeaux Saint-Jean. The station offers high-speed service trips to Paris taking about three hours. There is also extensive local tram, bus, and taxi service.
Ask anyone to name one thing they know about Bordeaux and most likely they will mention wine. Bordeaux is one of the top wine producing areas in the world, with almost 300,000 miles of vineyards. Its red wines are made from a blend of grapes, most commonly from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
Bordeaux’s red wine is usually called claret. Winemakers in the region also produce white wine and dessert wines, but these account for just 10 per cent of total production. Some of the world’s most expensive and extraordinary vintages are produced alongside everyday table wines of extraordinary quality. Almost all the wines of Bordeaux are blended wines.
Not just world famous for its wine industry, Bordeaux also is home to research centers for laser technology and a booming aeronautic industry. Both of these industries employ thousands of workers. Travel and tourism also serve as an economic engine, largely, of course, due to popularity of the vineyards and winemaking tours.
In addition, Bordeaux is a major architectural center, boasting one of the biggest collections of 18th century architecture in Europe. Some of its more famous buildings are the Place de la Bourse, the church of St. Pierre, the church of the Holy Cross, the Saint Andre Cathedral, the Saint Michel Basilica and the Saint Seurin Basilica.
Tourists also enjoy shops, restaurants, cafes, gardens, parks, and many festivals in Bordeaux. Home to the National Opera of Bordeaux, Bordeaux was the first city in France to found an architectural and research center.
The center is called Arc en Reve and it remains one of the most respected and popular architecture and research centers in all of France. Bordeaux is also home to a lively music, with plenty of live music venues located throughout the city for visitors to enjoy.
The climate, the architecture, the culture, and the wines make Bordeaux an outstanding place to visit and enjoy.