Travelers arrive at the French city of Bordeaux on flights from London, Birmingham, or Manchester. Located in southwest France, Bordeaux is the region’s largest city, with a population of about one million. Its airport is Bordeaux-Merignac.

Bordeaux?s climate makes it popular with visitors. While its summers tend to be hot and long, the rest of the year is mild. Bordeaux is a port city, and about nine million tons of goods pass through the area each year. The port area is especially popular with visitors, who take advantage of the mild weather and sit outside enjoying the view. The main railway station is the Gare de Bordeaux Saint-Jean. Visitors can take a high speed train from the station to Paris in about three hours. There is also a tram, buses and taxis for visitors as well.

Bordeaux’ most famous product is its wine. In one of the top wine producing areas of the world, with almost 300,000 miles of vineyards, Bordeaux’s red winds are made from blends of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

The red wine produced near Bordeaux is usually referred to as claret. Wine makers in the region also make white wine and dessert wines, but these are only about 10 per cent of total production. Some of the world’s most expensive vintages are produced near Bordeaux, but so are everyday table wines of extraordinary quality. Almost all Bordeauxs 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.

Bordeaux also boasts one of the largest collections of eighteenth century buildings in Europe. Among its more famous structures are the Church of the Holy Cross, Place de la Bourse, the Saint Andre Cathedral, the Seruin Basilica, the Church of St. Pierre, and the St. Michel 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 known as Arc en Reve, one of the most popular and respected architecture and research centers in all France. Bordeaux also provides a home to a lively music scene, with no shortage of live music venues throughout the city.

The architecture, the music, the weather, the culture, and the wines make Bordeaux an outstanding place for UK travelers to visit and enjoy.