Luxury holidays to the Bordeaux region

Bordeaux is renowned the world over for its wines and its awe inspiring chateaux whilst Cognac is less explored yet holds a countless store of treasures waiting to be appreciated. 

The Bordeaux region is ideal for short breaks and touring holidays with a range of sights to discover. Cognac country is a perfect destination for the discerning traveller as it is still relatively unknown yet is within very easy reach of more popular areas such as the coastal resorts between La Rochelle and Royan about 30 minutes` drive to the west, the Medoc and Saint Emilion vineyards about 45 minutes` drive to the south and the intriguing Marais Poitevin about an hour`s drive to the north. Moreover, the cuisine has a character of its own, utilising cognac, pineau and Marennes oysters. A holiday to the Bordeaux and Cognac regions is highly recommended.

One of our favourite hotels in the whole of France is Les Sources de Caudalie near Bordeaux, a five star hotel offering fantastic restaurants and a vinotherapy spa.

A fantastic way to discover the region is to incorporate it into a self-drive touring holiday, flying to Bordeaux and then exploring this area as well as the Basque Country and Carcassonne by hire-car. It is also accessible by train, such as in our suggested rail holiday travelling to the Loire Valley and Bordeaux which also allows you to explore by hire-car. 

Climate

Average air temperatures in Centigrade:

Jan 10.0, Feb 9.4, Mar 12.2, Apr 19.5, May 18.0, Jun 23.7, Jul 27.2, Aug 25.7, Sep 24.2, Oct 19.7, Nov 15.4, Dec 11.0.
Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France

Local highlights

Visit vineyards and chateaux, for tasting and buying. Visit the oyster beds. Experience the Cognac distilleries, and the Romanesque architecture. Bordeaux is the historical centre for wine however you may also visit the villages of the wine region such as St Emilion.

Travel arrangements

Self-drive: We recommend at least one overnight stop each way if coming from Calais, either in Normandy, Paris, the Champagne region or the Loire. Or if you take an overnight ship into Normandy or St Malo, you can reach the region by the evening of the day you arrive. By Air: Bordeaux is the closest airport. Nantes is also a possible gateway for the north of the region. By Eurostar and TGV. Take Eurostar to Lille or Paris and then TGV to Bordeaux where you can collect your hire-car. By Motorail there is a service from Calais to Bordeaux from June until August.