Bordeaux

Bordeaux, in southwestern France, is best known as the heart of Bordeaux wine country and the capital of the Aquitaine region since Roman times. A port city on the Gironde River, Bordeaux has long had (barring occasional military and political impediments) easy access to Atlantic trade for its wines and other goods. Bordeaux was especially important in the late Middle Ages, after the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine with the future King Henry II of England, and flourished particularly in the 18th century. The city bears many fine architectural reminders of these periods — many an 18th-century costume drama has been filmed here. But Bordeaux ...

Bordeaux, in southwestern France, is best known as the heart of Bordeaux wine country and the capital of the Aquitaine region since Roman times. A port city on the Gironde River, Bordeaux has long had (barring occasional military and political impediments) easy access to Atlantic trade for its wines and other goods. Bordeaux was especially important in the late Middle Ages, after the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine with the future King Henry II of England, and flourished particularly in the 18th century. The city bears many fine architectural reminders of these periods — many an 18th-century costume drama has been filmed here. But Bordeaux isn't just about the past; today it's a leading center of aeronautics and optics research, and a city with a vibrant arts, music, sports, and nightlife scene. Not far away is the Aquitaine coast, popular among surfers. And, of course, it is still the heart of wine country.

About the Expert

Juliette Rogers is coauthor of the guidebooks Eating New England: A Food Lovers Guide to Eating Locally, Secret Providence and Newport, and two Thomas Cook guides on France.