Bordeaux is a vibrant city and one of the most beautiful in the South of France. Half of the city, more than 1800 hectares has recently been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of its historic buildings. The dominant architecture is classical and neo-classical and has remained virtually unchanged for 2 centuries and so it is incredibly unspoilt. Bordeaux used not to have a great reputation but in 1996 Alain Juppé began an urban regeneration project which included [...]
Archive for March, 2009
On my travels last year I took a rare break from rushing around visiting and photographing places to chill-out on a two hour boat ride. Although I still called it work when I was telling Mrs B what I’d been up to. Setting off along the coast from Cassis towards Marseille, the trip was to pass by several of the so called Calanques of Marseille. These stunning rock formations are dramatic white limestone cliffs that plunge hundreds of feet into [...]
Bergerac is found in the region of south-west france known as Purple Perigord – Perigord is the ‘ancient’ name for the region that now largely includes the Dordogne, and ‘purple’ for the wines grown in the region. It is a lively active town that often gets overlooked as visitors head to the quaint villages and ancient castles of the Dordogne region to the east. Bergerac itself is not the most exciting town in the world, but it is attractive, has [...]
One of the best ways to enjoy the pleasures of the south of France is on a bike, and there are numerous companies that are happy to help you arrange this. A particular favourite is Cycling Holidays from Responsibletravel.com. A few decisions are needed before you organise your holiday, including: Where do you want to go! The most popular cycling destinations in southern France are in the Dordogne region of south-west France, and in the Luberon region of Provence. These two regions [...]
