BORDEAUX PRESS KIT
Transcription
BORDEAUX PRESS KIT
BORDEAUX PRESS KIT Press contact: Gwenaëlle TOWSE-VALLET Tel. +33 (0)5 56 00 66 15 g.towse@bordeaux-tourisme.com 1 CONTENTS BORDEAUX, FACTS & FIGURES 3 TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS 4 DISCOVER BORDEAUX 5 SAVE THE DATES! CULTURAL EVENTS 7 EXPLORE BORDEAUX AT WATER LEVEL 8 GOURMET HEAVEN 10 WHERE TO STAY 12 CITY PASS 13 BORDEAUX BOX 14 BORDEAUX – GATEWAY TO THE VINEYARDS 15 SAVE THE DATES! 2015 & 2016 WINE EVENTS 18 BEYOND BORDEAUX - HIGHLIGHTS 19 BEYOND BORDEAUX - GOLF 20 2 BORDEAUX FACTS & FIGURES A dynamic, attractive city • 5th-largest French city, regional capital of Aquitaine • 770,000 inhabitants • 4th city in France in terms of economic dynamism and employment • In the top 3 French regions for GDP growth • 2nd most attractive city in France (after Lyon) for new factories (source: CSA survey for BGI-2012) • 40% of new arrivals are between 24 and 40 years old • +14% new jobs in 10 years (12,000 jobs) • 12% increase in the number of firms in 6 years • Leading French region for R&D investment per capital Fast-growing tourism 5th French city for tourism: 5 million visitors per year 2nd favourite French city for quality of life (source: BVA survey-Avril 2013) The city centre is a 1,810-hectare UNESCO World Heritage Site Number of visitors to the Bordeaux Tourist Office in 2013: 725 000 Visitors’ origin: • 65 % French • 35 % foreign (50 % from Europe and 50 % from the rest of the world) • top 10 nationalities: 1. Great Britain (21%) 2. Spain (15%) 3. North America (14%) 4. Germany (11%) 5. Australia (5%) 6. Italy (5%) 7. China (4%) 8. Netherlands (4%) 9. Japan (3%) 10. Belgium (3%) Accommodation: 6,400 rooms and apartments Average occupancy rate: 64% (source: MKG) Tourist tax: number of guest nights taxed: 2,010,300 (all-time record: +55% since 2003) Airport: 4,600,000 passengers SNCF railway station: 11 million passengers through Bordeaux-St Jean station (expected to double by 2020) – 43 TGV / day on average Coach tours: 1,600 coaches used the Quinconces bus park (all-time record, compared to 529 in 2007) Cruise stopovers: 40, representing 30,000 passengers Yacht stopovers: 350 yacht stopovers in the heart of the city Number of Michelin-starred restaurants in Bordeaux and the surrounding area: 14 Number of cities twinned with Bordeaux: 18 Bordeaux will be only 2 hours away from Paris in 2017 with the TGV High Speed Train! 3 TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS Sightseeing: join the daily city tour… the visitors’ favorite! (p 6) THE new star of the city: the Water Mirror The new City Pass will open all the doors (p 13) The Fine Arts Museum reopens with 350 works of art and masterpieces (Delacroix, Matisse, Picasso, Braque…) Don’t miss out on a wine tasting course at the Bordeaux Wine School (p 5) Fancy an escapade in the mythical Bordeaux vineyard? (p 16) Have a gourmet meal and taste the famous Southwest specialties! (p 10) Treat yourself to a night out at the Opera www.opera-bordeaux.com 4 Escape the crowds and discover Bordeaux from the river Garonne on a relaxing river cruise (p 9) THE BORDEAUX WINE FESTIVAL (p 18) 23-26 June 2016: don’t miss the biggest wine event! DISCOVER BORDEAUX In February 2014, the famous French “Michelin” guide qualified Bordeaux as “the most beautiful French urban ensemble after Paris”! Centre of a legendary winegrowing region, this vibrant and sophisticated city is a top gourmet and culture destination. Synonymous with fine wines, Bordeaux is one of France’s most elegant cities. This UNESCO World Heritage site is ultra-resplendent after its recent makeover. Bordeaux’s setting on the River Garonne has made it an important port for centuries. It’s the ideal base for exploring the legendary names and wine châteaux of Médoc, St Emilion and Bordeaux. A gourmet’s paradise, the city boasts colourful markets, Michelin-starred restaurants and the pick of the region’s produce, such as Arcachon oysters and Aquitaine caviar. The Bordeaux Tourist Office is the starting point for all the city tours and vineyard excursions. It also offers a multitude of traditional or original tours all year round, in several languages, and for all types of visitors! Visitors appreciate both the monumental stone architecture and attractive nooks and crannies of this city, with its fascinating historic and cultural heritage around every corner. The past is intriguingly present everywhere in the city. This is how "sleeping beauty" reveals her treasures to those who make the effort to look carefully and take their time. Try Imayana and see Bordeaux as it was during the 18th century... in 3D! Bordeaux HeritageProd took up the challenge to create a unique, exciting show that would take visitors back into the past to experience 18th-century Bordeaux. It is now possible to experience the interior of the Bordeaux National Opera at the time of the courtesans or the atmosphere of the port when ships were loading cargo bound for the Americas. Bordeaux Tourist Information Office rents touchpads so visitors can test this revolutionary concept that has already attracted interest from other major cities. Prices: Standard price: 14 €, Concessions: 10 € 5 DISCOVER BORDEAUX Bordeaux World Heritage: ideally located in the heart of the city, Place de la Bourse, a new information center will open in March 2014 where one will discover all about Bordeaux’s heritage classified by UNESCO in 2007. One will also be able to bring back souvenirs from the gift shop! Bordeaux has plenty of attractions to do with the family Family holidays are a very special time for both parents and children. The Tourist Information Office offers a wide range of fun activities all year round. For those who enjoy a challenge, our quiz-walks and treasure hunts are an ideal way for families to explore Bordeaux and have fun at the same time. The mini-train, open-topped bus, Bordeaux city tour (www.tourism-citytours.com), and the famous red Visiotour London bus offer panoramic tours with commentary in several languages. Boat tours or Jet Ski rides along the river to admire the 18th century facades classified by UNESCO are other highly enjoyable family activities. The Tourist Office and its partners organise guided cycling tours of Bordeaux. For example, the "Guidon futé" association runs several themed tours by day and night, through the heart of Bordeaux and the surrounding area. These tours, accompanied by a professional guide, are organised all-year-round and open to everyone. Every day at 10 am, the Tourist Information Office organises a 2-hour classic tour of Bordeaux in FR/GB, to give you the keys to the city and its history. Price: 9€ History buffs are also sure to enjoy the UNESCO bus tour by night (April-September). Price: 16.50€ This year the sister cities Bordeaux and Los Angeles will celebrate their 50th anniversary. Many cultural Our guides public of the main sites the and monuments (Palais Rohan,(26-29 Grosse June Cloche, PorteThe Cailhau, attractions will also takelead place in tours the city and during Bordeaux Wine Festival 2014). etc.). Price: 5€ Contemporary Art Museum (CAPC) and the Aquitaine Museum will display an impressive collection to www.bordeaux-tourisme.com discover. 6 SAVE THE DATES! CULTURAL EVENTS # 1 Discover the big T.Rex exhibition at Cap Sciences (15th February 2014 – 4th January 2015) Learn all about the excavations of the T.Rex in the library, observe its skeleton in the lab, contemplate animated full-scale dinosaurs in the green-house, in the armory room: was the T.rex a great hunter? This exhibition had been designed by Cap Sciences and with loans of animated dinosaurs from the London Natural History Museum! www.cap-sciences.net #2 For the first time, Bordeaux will organize a full night marathon on Saturday 18 April 2015! www.bordeaux.fr/e104354 #3 The Bordeaux River Festival (22-31 May 2015) will host for the second time the Solitaire du Figaro race. www.bordeauxfetelefleuve.com #4 Every summer, Jazz at Botanic invites famous jazz artists to perform at the Caillou restaurant in the Botanical Garden on the right bank in Bordeaux. www.lecaillou-bordeaux.com/jazz-a-bordeaux/ And do not forget to look regularly at the Bordeaux cultural events planning www.bordeaux-tourism.co.uk/offre/recherche/events/3/~/(page)/2 7 EXPLOREBORDEAUX BORDEAUXAT ATWATER WATERLEVEL LEVEL EXPLORE A PORT OF CALL Today, Bordeaux is the 2nd busiest cruise-ship port-of-call after Le Havre on the French Atlantic and Channel coast. Every year, around twenty ships dock in the city, between the Place de la Bourse and the Quinconces. Berths in the historic city centre offer direct access to restaurants, shops, and cultural activities. It is noteworthy that very few cities offer facilities of this quality for cruise ships. RIVER CRUISES: Bordeaux, also called the Port of the Moon, because of its « croissant » shape, is a departure for cruises on the Garonne and Dordogne rivers. In 2014 four boats from three different companies will offer cruises to discover in 4 or 8 days everything Bordeaux and its vineyards have to offer. UNIWORLD VIKING RIVER CRUISES River Royale Viking Forseti 87 66 95 174 132 190 French, English, others on request English only English only March to November April to Novembre March to December Duration 4 to 8 days 8 days 8 days Websites www.croisieurope.com www.uniworld.com www.vikingrivercruises.com Companies CROISIEUROPE Princesse d’Aquitaine Cyrano de Bergerac Staterooms 69 Guests 138 Ships Languages Periods 8 EXPLORE BORDEAUX AT WATER LEVEL SIGHTSEEING CRUISES: BORDEAUX RIVER CRUISE This company is specialized in wine cruises and stopovers on the islands of the Bordeaux estuary (half-day, full day, evening cruises). Idyllic Islands Cruise This is an original cruise in the heart of the archipelago of the Bordeaux River, running from March until October. The speedboat will take you to the island of Margaux where a family makes wine in rhythm with the tide. After sailing around the Verrou Vauban, you will stopover on the island of Patiras for a finger local food cocktail. The tranquility of this place allows you to take a rest under the shadow of the old lighthouse before climbing its 129 steps to enjoy the panorama. Departure from the Tourist Office at 10 am and return at 5:30 pm. Price: 135 €/pers including transportation, guide and lunch. 12 pers max. www.croisiere-bordeaux.com CROISIERES BURDIGALA Croisières Burdigala represents a fleet of three boats (17, 74 and 150 places) in Bordeaux, in front of the most beautiful facade of the quays. Running in July and August, the “bateau mouche tour” is a guided cruise along the façade and under the 7 bridges of Bordeaux. Every day from 3:30 pm to 5 pm and every Friday from 9 pm to 10:30 pm. 15€/pers. www.croisieresburdigala.fr 9 GOURMET HEAVEN Our food and wine tips The new gourmet melting pot "Fine French cuisine" is now recognised by UNESCO as part of our world heritage and Bordeaux is becoming a star-studded attraction: no fewer than 5 Michelin stars in the city and another 8 within an hour's drive are well worth a detour! In the past few years, Bordeaux has once again become a hub of fine cuisine and every new edition of the Michelin guide has brought increasing recognition. The numbers alone impress! The Bordeaux Region has more than 7,000 wine chateaux open to the public and more than 1000 restaurants. One can discover all the local specialities strolling through the Sunday local market along the waterfront in the Chartrons old wine merchant district. Don’t miss the local tradition: a plate of Arcachon oysters served with a chilled glass of white Bordeaux wine! Delicacies also include the grenier médocains (cold cuts of porc with garlic and pepper) and Aquitaine caviar. Meat lovers will order the Pauillac lamb or its beef from the Bazas region whereas vegetarians will discover the famous lamprey in bordelaise red wine sauce, the Blaye asparagus or cèpes mushrooms in a garlic sauce. As for desert, order a canelé: the local pastry delicacy - both creamy and crunchy. 2014 GOURMET ATTRACTIONS IN BORDEAUX # 1 - Wine & Dine in Bordeaux Joël Robuchon, the famous French starred chef, will open a gourmet restaurant in October 2014. Bernard Magrez, also known as "the man with 40 châteaux", will open a boutique hotel of 5 high-standard rooms and a suite with a view on the garden, next to the “Bernard Magrez Cultural Institute”. # 2 - From the kitchen to the wine cellar Côté Cours is the cooking school at the Saint-James Hotel, with the Michelin-rated chef Nicolas Magie taking the helm. There's a class for just about anyone, from beginners to more experienced chefs. www.saintjames-bouliac.com/fr/ecole-de-cuisine # 3 – Gourmet tours The Bordeaux Tourist Office offers around sixty different bilingual guided tours (full or halfday) on a variety of themes: art & wine, gourmet day out in Margaux, blending workshop, etc. And every Thursday at 4:30 pm the Tourist Office organizes a wine & cheese aperitif in one of the best cheese shop in Bordeaux! In a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where one can select the cheese directly from the cellar, visitor will learn all about Bordeaux wines. www.bordeaux-tourisme.com 10 GOURMET HEAVEN MAIN FOOD SPECIALITIES FROM BORDEAUX AND SOUTHWEST FRANCE STARTERS AND DELICATESSEN MEATS Grenier Médocain (sliced tripe sausage), local andouillette (tripe sausage). Gratton de Lormont, a potted pork terrine. Tricandilles, pork tripe seasoned with garlic and a dash of fresh-ground pepper. Asparagus: white from Blaye and green from the Landes. Foie gras: preserved in duck fat or mi-cuit. Tourin: white garlic soup where egg yolks soften the sharpness of the broth. Caudéran-style snails, in a tomato-based sauce, traditional on Ash Wednesday. FISH AND SEAFOOD Arcachon Bay oysters, straight from the sea. Pibales, a Spanish-style dish of crispy baby eels. Eel fricassee in a tasty blend of garlic and parsley. Lamprey in bordelaise sauce, made with red wine. Shad is caught in the river from April to June and grilled over vine-prunings. Sturgeon produces local caviar and is also delicious to eat. MEAT DISHES Sucking lamb from Pauillac. Bazas beef, celebrated at the Fatted Oxen Festival. Bordeaux-style entrecôte steak, grilled over vine-prunings. Wood pigeon in red-wine sauce, served with garlic croutons. SWEETS Canelés: little caramelised cakes, cooked in fluted moulds. Confrérie du canelé de Bordeaux. St Emilion macaroons, made with ground almonds, egg-whites, and sugar. Noisettines du Médoc: caramelized hazelnuts. Sarments du Médoc: dark or milk chocolate "vine twigs" with various flavourings. Bouchons de Bordeaux Amande: cork-shaped marzipan petit fours, filled with raisins soaked in Fine de Bordeaux Napoléon brandy. APERITIF Lillet, "the Bordeaux apéritif": white or red, produced in Podensac, just south of Bordeaux. All partnered, of course, by our finest wines! 11 WHERE TO STAY ELEGANT – Hôtel de Sèze This elegant four star hotel located in a magnificent 18th century building has a restaurant, a bar & lounge, seminar rooms and a spa. For those who like golf, the hotel can also organize a transfer to their golf course. 23 allées de Tourny 33000 Bordeaux – Phone: + 33(0)5 56 14 16 16 – www.hotel-de-seze.com CONTEMPORARY & DESIGN - The Mama Shelter This new central hotel (Nov 2013) designed by P. Starck is located in a building from the 1930s formerly used by the gas company. Facilities include 97 rooms on 5 floors, panoramic terrace, bar, restaurant, and rooms for functions, meetings, and seminars. The Mama Shelter also has a restaurant and a great bar for cocktails! 19 rue Poquelin Molière 33000 Bordeaux – Phone: +33 (0)5 57 30 45 45 – www.mamashelter.com CHARMING - Une chambre chez Dupont This 4-room bed and breakfast opened in an 18th-century building in the Chartrons district (historic home of the Bordeaux wine trade), in 2012. The bedrooms have been fully renovated but retain their original parquet wood floors. Stone walls provide an accent in some rooms. Each room is unique, but all are decorated in contemporary style. 2 rue Cornac – 33000 Bordeaux - Phone: +33 (0)6 95 15 77 37 - www.chez-dupont.com QUAINT – The Boutique Hotel Situated in a beautiful XVIIIth century building in the city center, this new address is truly heaven with a sophisticated touch to this romantic hotel. One can also enjoy a wine tasting on the terrace or under the canopy or relax at the spa. 2 rue Lafaurie Monbadon 33000 Bordeaux - – Phone: +33 (0)5 56 48 80 40 - www.hotelbordeauxcentre.com 12 CITY PASS In Spring 2014, the Bordeaux Tourist Office has been launched two new touristic offers to help visitors organize their trip and spend a fantastic time in Bordeaux, considered as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe! NEW ! The Bordeaux Métropole CityPass For those who wish to make the most of their stay, the Bordeaux Métropole CityPass will give access to numerous monuments and cultural attractions. This Pass is available for 1, 2, or 3 days, combining: FREE: • • • • • access to the public transport & bus network admission to more than 20 top museums and UNESCO listed monuments guided walking tours sightseeing tour on the Visiotour double-decker bus “Bordeaux Heritage Tour” guide map DISCOUNTS: • • • • • sightseeing “bateau mouche” tour on the Garonne River little train, Segway and water karting ride wine trips (½ day or full day trip) in the vineyards wine tasting at the Bordeaux Wine Bar shopping (Galeries Lafayette...) Choose the CityPass that suits your needs and set out to explore Bordeaux and its surroundings. www.bordeauxmetropolecitypass.com 13 1 day 21€ 2 days 27€ 3 days 33€ BORDEAUX BOX NEW ! The Bordeaux Box Come and discover the beauty of Bordeaux with our 3-day/2-night stay for 2 people. With the Bordeaux “Essentiel”, “Confort” or “Premium” Box, visitors can stay in a 2** to 4**** hotel or B&B (breakfast included) and enjoy many services and discounts included in the 3-day “Bordeaux Métropole CityPass” (see details below). Price list: Essentiel 260€ for 2 persons Confort 360€ for 2 persons Premium 550€ for 2 persons www.bordeauxbox.com / info@bordeauxbox.com 14 BORDEAUX - GATEWAY TO THE VINEYARDS Before you set out on the wine trails, it is advisable to get a feel for Bordeaux with an introductory tasting course. Wine schools as well as individual estates offer tasting sessions lasting 1 or 2 hours, or even a full day, to help you understand and appreciate the diversity of Bordeaux wines. The Bordeaux Wine School: one place, two ways to learn all about wine! A magnificent 18th-century building shaped like the prow of a ship, houses the headquarters of the Bordeaux Wine Council. This is the essential place for everyone who wishes to enter the magical world of wine, with several programmes offered all-yearround: evening classes, intensive courses, and wine weekends, with vineyard tours and tastings. The Wine School provides students with the visual, olfactory, and tasting signposts to help newcomers find their way around the world of wine. Introduction to wine tasting (2 hours/35€) in July, August, and September. www.bordeaux.com ... And make sure to visit the Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) wine bar. The sommeliers at the wine bar, located opposite the Tourist Information Office, offer tastings by the glass accompanied by plates of local tapas, in a decor designed by architect Françoise Bousquet, with oak chairs and round tables reflecting the shape of wine barrels, produced by local designers. www.baravin.bordeaux.com Other nice places to discover for wine tasting: Millésima: www.millesima.fr Wine Gallery: www.maxbordeaux.com Bordovino: www.bordovino.com 15 BORDEAUX - GATEWAY TO THE VINEYARDS Wine tours organized by the Tourist Office and its partners ½ DAY TRIP 34€ ½ DAY TRIP 69€ Châteaux & Terroirs - The great Bordeaux vineyards! All year round, the Bordeaux Tourist Office organizes guided bilingual tours in different wine appellations. You will get to visit two châteaux and try their wine. The trip to Saint-Emilion includes a tour of the charming medieval city. Departure from the Bordeaux Tourist Office at 1:30 pm. Return at 6:30 pm. Price: 34€/pers including transport, guided tour and tastings. (Max 53 pers) Médoc, the keys of the Châteaux The Bordovino tours, organized every Thursday morning between April and October, open the doors of a Great Classified Growth and a charming family-run estate. The small group of 8 visitors will be able to sample the wine accompanied by local delicacies. Departure from the Bordeaux Tourist Office at 9:45 am. Return at 1:15 pm. Price: 69€/pers including transport in a minivan, bilingual guided tour and tastings. (Max 8 pers) 16 ½ DAY TRIP 85€ Autumn harvest workshop For those who always dreamed of seeing from the inside what is usually seen by wine professionals only, participate in a guided tour dedicated to harvest in two different estates followed by a picnic at the château. Departure from the Bordeaux Tourist Office at 9:15 am. Return at 2:15 pm. Price: 85€/pers including transport, bilingual guided tour, picnic and tastings. (Max 25 pers) DAY TRIP 99€ Médoc 1855, outstanding Grands-Crus Classés Every Wednesday between May and October, thirteen of Bordeaux’s most prestigious châteaux distinguished by the 1855 Classification open their doors in turn. During this tour, the visitors will discover three of these superb châteaux, have lunch in one of them and taste their wines! Departure from the Bordeaux Tourist Office at 9:15 am. Return at 6:30 pm. Price: 99€/pers including transport, bilingual guided tour, lunch and tastings. (Max 25 pers) RIVER TOUR 18€ The winemaker aperitif Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evening at sunset, from May to October, one can enjoy a nice aperitif with friends on a boat with a wine-maker. The group will sail along the magnificent Bordeaux quays and under the three famous bridges of Bordeaux: Pont de Pierre, Pont Chaban Delmas and Pont d’Aquitaine. In July and August, these aperitifs are also scheduled on Wednesdays. Boarding on boat at 7 pm. Return at 8:45. Price: 18€/pers including boat tour and tasting. For more details and reservations: www.bordeaux-tourisme.com Have you ever tried a wine spa? Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa at the Les Sources de Caudalie hotel was the first spa in the world to use treatment products based on grape-seed polyphenols. Signature treatments include the barrel-bath, Merlot friction scrub and red-vine massage! In the Médoc vineyards, Château Resort Golf & Spa is ideal for relaxing at the spa after a playing golf. In Saint-Emilion, Hotel Grand Barrail, just down the road from the mediaeval village of Saint-Emilion, offers guests access to their jacuzzi and hammam, as well as Scottish bath and rhassoul tratment 17 SAVE THE DATE! DATES!2015 2015&&2016 2016WINE WINEEVENTS EVENTS #1 The Medoc Marathon: 30th edition 12 September 2015 If you like a little wine and cheese with your 26.2-mile race, then you will love the Medoc Marathon. Maybe the only event in the world that boasts the same attributes, the Medoc affords runners the chance to mix business (a race) with pleasure (wine tasting, costume wearing, food stands and more) while still having the satisfaction of completing the grind of marathon. This fancy-dress race will celebrate its 30th birthday next September! www.marathondumedoc.com #2 Week-end des Grands Crus: 10th edition 30 & 31 May 2015 Every year, the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux organises a large-scale tasting with the estate owners, who present their latest and greatest vintages. A unique opportunity to taste over 100 Grands Crus under a single roof! An open day is also held on the Sunday, with visits to prestigious châteaux, vineyard discovery tours, and gourmet dinners. www.ugcb.net # 3 The Bordeaux Wine Festival: 10th edition 23-26 June 2016 Organized every two years, the Bordeaux Wine Festival is a great wine event open to the public and dedicated to the wines from the Bordeaux and Aquitaine regions. On the Bordeaux quays, in the heart of this magnificent city, wine, food and culture aficionados are invited to join the festival and discover the architectural beauty of Bordeaux, the surrounding vineyards and its exceptional regional products. The program includes a wine trail along the quays, tours of selected vineyards to discover and taste their wines and visits to some of the most elegant chateaux; art exhibitions, concerts, firework displays and a sound & light show every night! The wine Festival is also held in Hong-Kong, Quebec and Brussels. www.bordeaux-wine-festival.com # 4 The Cité des Civilisations du Vin opening in June 2016 It will be the world biggest international wine museum where one will learn all about the different wine regions, the history of wine, the geography etc. It will be a place of discovery and experimentation in an emblematic building. It will also be a wine tourism hub. www.citedescivilisationsduvin.com 18 BEYOND BORDEAUX - HIGHLIGHTS Bordeaux, capital of the Aquitaine region is the starting point for numerous excursions! The Atlantic coastline with 250 km of white sandy beaches and resorts of renown: Arcachon, Lacanau, Hossegor-Capbreton, Biarritz, SaintJean-de-Luz… Dune du Pyla bordering the Bay of Arcachon, the highest sand dune in Europe! The pine forest of the Landes de Gascogne, the largest forest in Europe, ideal for hiking! A unique historical heritage: The Dordogne-Périgord, a cradle of prehistory with the famous Lascaux Caves, has plenty of villages and medieval castles. A shining beacon of perigord tourism, the town of Sarlat never stops tempting you with its picturesque atmosphere emanating from its narrow streets together with the Medieval and Renaissance architecture still maintained in an incomparable state of conservation. Charming villages of the Lot et Garonne or the Basque country Many sites listed as World Heritage by UNESCO The world famous and popular wines: Saint Emilion, Medoc, but also Sauternes, Bergerac, Buzet, Jurançon, Cognac... One can also enjoy a cognac tasting in Charente or discover Armagnac in the land of d’Artagnan A variety of outdoor activities: Biking on one of the many bike trails such as the Vélodyssée, surfing (world championship in Hossegor), canoeing , boating on the Baïse, Lot rivers and the Canal des Deux Mers, hiking on the road to St Jacques de Compostela ( St Jean Pied de Port ) , golf ... A high quality gastronomy: Foie gras from the Landes, Arcachon oysters, prunes of Agen, the Périgord walnuts, Spanish flavour dishes of the Basque Country. A hop away from the Pyrenees and the family ski resorts! 19 BEYOND BORDEAUX - GOLF Bordeaux and its region, so very well-known thanks to the history and the famous wines, offer plenty to discover in and around Bordeaux. This is why 12 Golf Directors created “Golf in Bordeaux” in 2006 to promote the Bordeaux golf destination on the national and international market. “Golf in Bordeaux” gather 13 golf clubs, all situated at less than one hour and a half from Bordeaux. The region can be divided in 4 parts as the different areas have their own unique landscape: The Bay of Arcachon with 3 very interesting courses at Lanton (9 holes), Biscarrosse (18 holes) and Gujan Mestras (27 holes), famous for the oyster cultures! The Médoc area with the Golf of Lacanau (18 holes) situated at 2 km from the ocean, Margaux (18 holes) the famous appellation of the Medoc longing the Gironde River and the Golf du Médoc (36 holes) situated at the entrance of one of the most important wine areas of France. The Bordeaux area with Pessac, Bordeaux Lac (36 holes) and Cameyrac (27 holes) situated at less than 20km from the city of Bordeaux with lakes and fields. The Saint Emilion and Dordogne have a more sloping landscape with the golf courses of Teynac (18 holes), La Marterie (18 holes) and le Chateau des Vigiers (27 holes). The challenge to play on those different courses is real but also one can enjoy a stay in our region with the whole family. The lakes, the ocean with the long golden sand beaches, the forests, the vineyards and the countyside makes that everybody will enjoy a stay with Golf in Bordeaux. www.golf-bordeaux-gironde.fr 20