The beauty of a Lingoo language experience is that at the same time as improving your chosen language, you can also discover a new and exciting destination, all in the most authentic way possible for being with the locals. Lingoo hosts are dotted literally all over the world so make the most of our location search facility to pinpoint your preferred location.
Unlike most trips, there’s no great need to plan in advance or even to head to the tourist office for a town map; with your host at the helm to guide you, you’re guaranteed to be shown around the very best features of your destination, without the hassle.
The grand French city of Bordeaux, not only a UNESCO World Heritage site but also Lonely Planet’s number one city to visit in 2017, is our Destination Focus du jour, as rich in history as it is young, dynamic and culturally vibrant.
And wherever you’re from in the world, Bordeaux is easy accessible, with a well-served international airport just out of town and the TGV high-speed train dropping you at the heart of Bordeaux in a remarkable 2 hours 4 minutes from Paris. We have hosts who live either in or within easy day-trip distance of this fabulous city so here’s our insiders’ guide to the must-see aspects. On y va !
1. Bordeaux en: cafés!
French cities are renowned for their café and brasserie culture and as you’d expect, Bordeaux has no shortage of eateries. From high-end bonnes adresses to hipster hangouts, eating out is just about the best way to observe the French joie-de-vivre, sample the local goodies and try out your français on the friendly Bordelais natives at the same time. Not just renowned for its wine culture, be sure to ask your host to point you in the direction of a Canelé cakelette, a spongey delight that ranks highly on Bordeaux’s list of specialities.
2. Bordeaux en: quartiers
Where to begin? Bordeaux has everything from grand city squares to hip residential side-streets and despite the size of the city (France’s sixth largest), it’s not too hard to get your bearings.
Running parallel to the Garonne river, Rue Sainte Catherine – incidentally Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping street - sweeps all the way from the most gentrified and boutiquey district in the north (this is where you’ll find the emblematic theatre and the grandiose 18th century townhouses) to the edgier, more youthful vibe of Place de la Victoire in the south.
Nestling between these parallels is the Vieille Ville –the medieval hub of the city – with the imposing Cathédrale St André overseeing the town a few steps to the west: if you’re feeling energetic, you can climb the 231 steps to the top of the Pey Berland tower to survey the city from on high.
3. Bordeaux en: transports
Refreshingly almost traffic-free, the centre of Bordeaux is clean and green and so it’s easy and most pleasurable to get from A to B à pied. At some point though, go native and jump aboard a tram. Many hosts also recommend a river trip downriver to Chartrons: arguably Bordeaux’s hippest neighbourhood.
If you want to head out of town, you’ll find Bordeaux extremely well placed for days out. To whet your appetite, search up Arcachon, the Dune de Pyla (Europe’s tallest sand dune) and of course, the Medoc and Saint Emilion wine estates, all within about 45 minutes’ drive of the city.
4. Bordeaux en: images
Keep your phone charged up as the photo opportunities in Bordeaux are in no short supply. Dotted around the town, the historic archways or portes – a little like Bordeaux’s answer to Arcs de Triomphe – are particularly instagrammable as is the Miroir d’Eau interactive water feature by the river and the imposing fountain-monument at Place Quinconces, Europe’s largest square.
5. Bordeaux en: musées
Dip into one or two of Bordeaux’s museums and you’re likely to go home feeling as intellectually stimulated as linguistically enhanced! Reflecting its status as a centre for the arts, culture and history, there are no less than 11 museums in town, from those in the traditional sense (Musée d’Aquitaine: one of the largest French history museums outside of France) to the brand-spanking new and interactive (Cité du Vin) and the niche (Jean Moulin French Resistance Museum).
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So, what’s not to love à Bordeaux? With a host showing you around these best-of features, a Lingoo homestay is more likely to give you a truer taste of city life and show you the hidden elements that may otherwise be missed. Bordeaux-based hosts the Grigorious are one of our featured families. Read more about host families in France.
