Autumn in Bordeaux

Last week, we spent a wonderful few days in Bordeaux. I've never been before (although very fond of the wines of the region) and instantly fell in love with this beautiful town.

In the centre, elegant baroque buildings surround wide pedestrian streets and boulevards, and squares with fountains

The streets are lined with cafés, shops and restaurants,



and countless merchants of fine wines..

Le Bistrot Des Grands Hommes is located in the heart of Bordeaux's 'Golden Triangle' shopping area, (defined by the Allées de Tourny, Cours de l'Intendance and Cours Clemenceau), and a lovely little place for lunch. Surrounded by beautiful patisseries, cheese and chocolate shops, it is facing a pretty square with a glass-domed shopping complex, where you find a food market in the basement and further shops in the galerie..

Bistrot des Grands Hommes, 10 Place des Grands Hommes, Tel: +33 (5) 57 83 60 26
 

Bordeaux's street lanterns are as elegant and beautiful  as its buildings

The local Hermès boutique is located at the Place Gambetta, right where the Cours de l'Intendance and Cours Clemenceau meet

 

Hermès, 2 Place Gambetta, 33000 Bordeaux, Tel: + 33 (05) 56 52 22 07 

Further down by the next corner of the triangle, facing the Grand Theatre on the Place de la Comédie is the Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux. Behind the 18th century fassade it is sumptuously decorated in warm and vibrant colors, rich fabrics, chandeliers and tasselled drapes, and yet it has a very fresh and modern feel to it.

The plush and beautiful Victor Bar (in honour of the hotel's architect, Victor Louis, and one of the hotel's illustrious guests of the past, Victor Hugo) is a perfect stop for a drink before dinner

Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux and Spa, 2-5 Place de la Comédie, 33000 Bordeaux, Tel 05 57 30 44 44

Since Roman times, Bordeaux has been famous for its wines, and within a short drive you'll find yourself in the most beautiful wine-growing countryside, where châteaux nestle in meticulously clipped wine fields, surrounded by ancient trees and woods, producing some of the world's finest wines.

The leaves just started to change their colour, from green to yellow and gold to red



Although most grapes have been long harvested, some seem to have escaped



Looking forward to a warm cup of tea after a long walk in the vines

The love for wine is taken one step further at the Source de Caudalie country hotel and spa, located in the fields of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte. It started when Mathilde Thomas developed a skincare range based on grape wine and seed extracts, and a few years later she and her husband built the retreat just 20 minutes outside the centre of Bordeaux.

Caudalie skin care has been one of my favourite french pharmacy skincare ranges for years, and it has been wonderful to visit its origins. Vinotherapie spas can now be found around the world, and their first Paris boutique opened recently in the Marais (8 rue des Francs-Bourgeois, 75003 Paris).

view to the neighbouring Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte



The La Grande Vigne restaurant, also part of the retreat

Les Sources de Caudalie, Chemin du Bourran  33650 Martillac, Tel +33 (0)5 57 83 83 83



Have a most wonderful weekend xx

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