Flights to Bordeaux with Air France

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A truly beautiful city synonymous with some of the world's best wines!

Everyone has heard of Bordeaux, thanks in part to the châteaux (wine estates) which dot the surrounding countryside. A relatively short flight from Dublin via Paris or Amsterdam (around 4 to 5 hours long), the city is also famous in France for its huge number of listed buildings and monuments (more than any other city apart from Paris). It is particularly rich in architecture from the 18th century, one of the reasons why it has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.

The city boasts a population of about 243,000 and its location near the sea means it benefits from mild weather for much of the year, with average highs of above 15°C from March to October. Rainfall is frequent, however, and year-round, so don't forget your umbrella!

Bordeaux grew rich on the wine trade, which is still a crucial component of the local economy today. Many estates run wine tasting tours, but the grandiose architecture of the most famous châteaux offers another good reason to visit. Notable estates include Château de la Dauphine, Château Phélan Ségur, Château Pichon Baron, Château La Lagune and the Clos d'Estournel. If you're short of time, you could also go to the Cité du Vin, a new museum which covers wine and the wine industry from just about every angle.

There are many superlatives to Bordeaux's urban architecture: The Esplanade des Quinconces, reputedly the largest square in Europe, the rue Sainte Catherine, the longest pedestrianized street in France (with excellent shopping), the miroir d'eau reflecting pool, the world's largest such pool, located in Place de la Bourse and the Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas, Europe's longest span vertical-lift bridge, to name but a few.

Other favourite urban icons beloved of locals and tourists alike include:

• the grand théâtre
• the cathédrale St André
• the Monument aux Girondins
• the Porte Cailhau
• la grosse cloche medieval gate and bell-tower
• the Pey-Berland tower (a 66 metre high gothic bell-tower with a viewing platform)

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Bordeaux - a green city where the great outdoors is never far away

Bordeaux boasts a mixture of old and new parks and public gardens. The Parc Bordelais and the Jardin Public, in the heart of the city, are some of the older such green spaces. In recent years, a new riverside park, the Parc aux Angéliques has been created. The city's botanical gardens is also a relatively new arrival. The largest green area in Bordeaux is the bois de Bordeaux, which is contiguous with the Parc Floral, located in the north of the city.

Take a short car trip from the city and you'll find a huge range of beautiful natural landscapes. If you head inland, it's an easy drive to explore the Dordogne River valley and its quaint villages. Go directly west from the city, and you'll reach sandy beaches on the Atlantic coast, perfect for sunbathing or surfing. To the southwest you'll find the sophisticated beach resort of Arcachon, with its beautiful Victorian-style architecture. Don't forget to see the Dune du Pilat, Europe's largest sand dune! Just to the east of the town is the Parc naturel régional des Landes de Gascogne. This protected area of pine forest, marshes and coastline also contains an important wildlife reserve in the shape of the Teich Bird Reserve. Around 260 species of birds are either regular visitors here or breed in the reserve. For other ideas of excursions in and around Bordeaux, just check out the Air France website.