For many travellers, Bordeaux immediately brings to thoughts opulent crimson wines with aromas of black currants and plums. Nevertheless, on a visit to this famed wine area, I discovered that there was far more to this southwest French metropolis than crushed grapes, together with the native produce, high-tech museums, and, most significantly—its dedication to “good tourism.” I used to be glad to study of the flexibility of this romantic area, as I’m over 9 years sober and can’t partake within the celebrated alcohol choices. 

Bordeaux was certainly one of two chosen by the European Fee because the European Capital of Good Tourism 2022—awarding excellent achievements by European cities as tourism locations within the 4 classes of cultural heritage, sustainability, accessibility, and digitalization. I may see why as I explored websites that includes superior digital applied sciences, eco-friendly innovation, accessibility, and extra to boost the travellers’ vacation spot expertise. 

I flew into Paris immediately from Los Angeles on French bee. Their handy Air + Practice package deal included a shuttle to the prepare station for a snug and scenic two-hour journey to Bordeaux. My lodge for the journey was the neoclassical InterContinental Bordeaux—a landmark constructing courting again to the 1700s within the historic metropolis centre. After an extended journey, I luxuriated in my marble-lined bogs fitted with bergamot and French lavender-scented Agraria cleaning soap. The lodge is dedicated to the round economic system; unused cleaning soap is recycled and donated to these in want. 

Digital artwork on the Bassin des Lumières

I woke as much as morning views of the Place de la Comédie, having fun with a espresso and a creamy canelé, an area specialty, on my balcony earlier than dashing out for the day. Getting across the metropolis is straightforward from the InterContinental because the tram is positioned steps exterior the lodge, and it’s designed with sliding doorways with step-free entry, making it 100% accessible. It whisked me on a 30-minute journey to the Les Bassins de Lumières exhibit. 

Upon getting into, my eyes adjusted to remodeling patchworks of dazzling artwork from Monet, Renoir, Chagall, and extra. Les Bassins de Lumières—the most important digital artwork centre on the planet—interprets into “swimming pools of sunshine” and options over 500 items of art work digitally projected onto 40,000 toes of floor-to-ceiling room partitions. I’ve visited numerous digital artwork galleries worldwide, however this ambiance differed fully. The artwork displays from the cavernous multi-room exhibit’s 360-foot cooling swimming pools of water. The exhibit’s repurposing of this Nineteen Forties German-built submarine base is a stellar instance of good tourism. 

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Excessive tech wine tasting

Subsequent, I zipped south to the Garonne River. The curvy constructing burst into the skyline as if in mid-spin as I approached the La Cité du Vin wine museum. Designed with swirling wine in a glass as inspiration, vertical streaks of gold panels dapple the silvery constructing overlooking the river. Inside shows had been equally putting; the museum incorporates odor diffusers, holograms, and 3D interactive displays. Though I’m sober, I may nonetheless take pleasure in even the wine-tasting presentation! Though the show didn’t truly serve wine, the “tasting” of wine was demonstrated by all of the 5 senses aside from style. As an alternative of imbibing, I sampled aromas and discovered to make wine and meals pairings through touchscreen shows.   

Afterward, lunch was on the museum’s Michelin-recognized restaurant, Le 7, on the seventh flooring. Over panoramic views of town and river, I attempted my first white asparagus dressed with a wonderfully poached egg and Sturia Caviar. Providing the wine listing, the waiter identified that over 65% of Bordeaux’s vineyards have obtained environmental certification, as have many wines served on the restaurant. Le 7 can also be a FiG (Meals Index for Good) acknowledged restaurant dedicated to carbon discount and utilizing seasonable, native components.  

Learn Extra: La Cité du Vin: The Should-See New Attraction in Bordeaux

Treasure looking on an app

I biked east to Floirac subsequent to the Garonne River on my final morning in Bordeaux. I popped open the Tèrra Aventura cell app for a enjoyable open-air scavenger hunt touring the realm’s heritage websites with a sequence of puzzles to unravel alongside the way in which. After parking my bike, I obtained misplaced in Floirac’s nature-filled inexperienced areas on a wooded path whereas the app guided me by Parc du Castel up the Fil Vert strolling path for beautiful views of the river and metropolis. 

At first, I wasn’t certain how I’d take pleasure in a metropolis with a reputation synonymous with wine. Nevertheless, I used to be shocked to study that Bordeaux is a feast for all senses, not simply style. The town’s dedication to accessibility, sustainability, and high-tech tourism was only a cherry atop an iconic vacation spot.