Bordeaux car rental comparison

HAPPYCAR can help you find the best price and coverage for your rental car to tour the beautiful wine region of Bordeaux. Whether you are interested in a large car for the whole family or a sporty car to cruise the along the coast, the friendly team at HAPPYCAR can help you find the vehicle to fit your travel needs. With easy pick up locations at the Bordeaux Airport, your vacation can get started as soon as possible.

General Information

Bordeaux is well known around the world for the wines produced in its region. It is the capital of the department of Gironde in the region of Aquitaine. The population is around 1 million people. The city also has the largest university campus in all of France with 60,000 students. Spread along the banks of the Garonne River, Bordeaux is the largest French city by area and also one of the largest geographically in Europe. The Sleeping Beauty is the nickname given to the city because of its recent urban development. The atmosphere is relaxed and open. Art, music, and cultural events are continually on the rise in Bordeaux. So much so, that the city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bordeaux is divided into the old city and the suburbs. The Old City is located within the historic walls and ends at the Garonne. The monuments located in this part of the city are not to be missed.

To Do

Shopping lovers will able to spend many hours on the rue Sainte-Catherine. It is a one mile stretch running through the historic area of the city. The street is one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe. The area was completely renovated between 2000 and 2003. At the center of the Rue Sainte- Catherine is a cemetery dating back to 1392. You will also find an entrance to the Gallerie Bordelaise which is a shopping mall that opened its doors in 1834.

The public gardens runs miles along the riverfront of Eplande. Here you will find playgrounds, bicycle paths, and an extremely shallow pool for cooling off in the summer. The gardens have been given a recent face lift. The landscaping is artistic and informative. They are laid out in the English style and said to be one of the nicest parks in the south of France.

If you are up for the over 200 stair climb to the top of the Saint-Michel, you will be rewarded with gorgeous panoramic views of the city. The church began construction at the end of the 14th century and was completed in the 16th century. It is an example of the flamboyant Gothic Style. The pulpit of the church represents Saint Michel slaying the dragon. The original stained-glass windows were destroyed during the bombardment of 1940. There is a separate bell tower standing at 114 meters tall. A Gallo-Roman cemetery and catacombs were discovered under the tower in 1881.

Food & Drink

Touring the vineyards is a must in Bordeaux. There are many world famous wines to taste so enjoy the day traveling to some of the most famous vineyards in the world. They are mostly located outside of the city in the region of Girondaise. The vineyards cover an area of 120,000 hectares which makes the region the largest wine growing area in France. The grape vine was introduced by the Romans to the region of Bordeaux. The typical quantities of wine produced by each vintage are around 700 million bottles. These wines range from table wines to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world. Nearly 90% of the wine produced in the region of Girondaise is red wine and commonly called ‘claret’ in Britain. The Red Bordeaux is generally made from a mixed variety of grapes. The grapes used in this wine are Cabernet Sauvingnon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec to name a few.

Excursions

One of the joys of Bordeaux is its many excursions just an hour away with a Bordeaux car hire. Merdoc to the north houses some of the greatest wineries in the world, and to the east is another World Heritage Site, St. Emilion, which even has an underground church carved into rock. Toulouse is also within striking distance and Lyon is also an option a little further afield.