Bah dah bah bah bah, I’m lovin’ it! Did you know that there is a vintage McDonald’s in Bordeaux? The McDonald’s V-O, meaning version original but also Villenave-d’Ornon for the Bordeaux suburb it is located in, is modeled on what is considered the Original McDonald’s opened by Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, Illinois in April ... Read More about Visit Bordeaux’s Vintage McDonald’s The post Visit Bordeaux’s Vintage McDonald’s appeared first on Bordeaux Travel Guide ..read more

Though you might have come to Bordeaux for the specialties of the South West of France, like the magret de canard or the oysters, you’d be remiss to skip some of the excellent international restaurants that make up Bordeaux’s superb dining scene. And while you wouldn’t likely expect to find Singaporean cuisine in Bordeaux, a visit to Hutong is like taking a delicious trip to Singapore without ever leaving the World Capital of Wine. Chilli Crab is an unofficial national dish of Singapore Hutong Hutong is the passion project of couple Jason and Stéphanie Ang. A fervent foodie, Jason was born in ..read more

Far less known to tourists than Bordeaux or even Saint-Émilion, Libourne is a charming slice of the South West of France that makes for an easy day trip from Bordeaux. Escape the crowds of tourists that pile in to Bordeaux and head for a distinctly French experience in this fortified harbor town situated on the confluence of the Dordogne and Isle rivers. Libourne sits on the confluence of the Dordogne and Isle rivers Founded in 1270 by Sir Roger de Leyburn, Libourne’s long history as a trading port for not only wine, but wool, wood and salt allowed it to flourish. In fact, Libourne was the ver ..read more

Fronsac is one of the oldest wine producing appellations of the Bordeaux wine region, with vines in this satellite appellation dating back to the Romans. Though the Fronsac appellation’s modern history wouldn’t begin until the 20th century with the official designation of the Cotes de Fronsac appellation in 1936, these wines have long graced the tables of French kings. It was Cardinal Richelieu who introduced the wines of Fronsac to Louis XV, bringing fame and prestige to the wines. Fronsac became some of the most sought after wines in all the kingdom, no doubt lending to Maria Josepha of Saxo ..read more

Chocolate lovers round the world know some of the best chocolate in Europe comes from chocolate cities like Brussels and Perguia. But did you know that it was the modest Basque city of Bayonne in the south west of France that was pivotal in chocolate’s spread across Europe? Often overshadowed by its glitzier neighbor, Biarritz, and as a stopover on the way to Basque Country, there’s reason to spend some time in Bayonne. It’s here that you can eat and drink your weight in chocolate as you wander the Bayonne Chocolate Street and discover Europe’s Capital of Cocoa, where chocolatiers still serve ..read more

As September rolls around, Bordeaux is always a flurry of activity. The harvest in Bordeaux, or le vendage, is one of the most critical parts of the entire wine making process. It’s the time when the winemaker feels they’ve achieved the perfect balance in the vineyard. The vineyards are suddenly full of vendanguers (literally grape pickers) and getting stuck behind tractors puttering along is inevitable along Bordeaux’s roads. It’s the busiest time of the entire wine making year for the châteaux. Wondering if the harvest is a good time to visit Bordeaux and what to expect? Let’s take a look in ..read more

Just 15 miles inland from the glitz of Biarritz and the seaside charm of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, the Pays Basque hinterland feels a world away. It’s here that the steep coastal cliffs give way to the craggy foothills of the Pyrenees. The houses and villages have a distinct architectural style that, if not for the car we’re zipping round the narrow country roads in, would convince me we’ve been teleported back in time. And there’s a deep-routed passion and pride in being French-Basque, evident in the friendly conversations you’re bound to have with the locals, like the Espelette pepper producer you ..read more