Fly to Bordeaux with easyJet in less than two hours and explore one of the ultimate
destinations for French cuisine and culture, the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine! If you’re
looking for a wine route or a more culture and history-focused trip, Bordeaux is the
perfect place to start your road trip mixing city break and countryside retreat. After
exploring the city, head north to Saint-Emilion, Angoulême and Cognac, ending up in
La Rochelle for a gourmet meal at Chef Pierre Gagnaire’s restaurant.
Bordeaux
Among the many tourist attractions the city has to offer is the new Bassins des
Lumières, which opened on 10 June. This new visitor attraction is situated in
Bordeaux’s famous former submarine base, and is a powerful reminder of World War
II. Its four exhibitions, including digital exhibitions on Gustav Klimt, Paul Klee, Ocean
Data and Anitya, have been specifically adapted to the architecture of the base.
Head then to the Cité du Vin, Bordeaux’s wine museum, to discover the historical and
cultural sides of wine that you many never have heard of, and end your visit with a
360° view of the city on the observation deck with a glass of wine.
If you are looking for eco-friendly accommodation, book a room at the Eklo Hotel in
the city centre. Open since summer 2019, the environment is at the heart of this
brand’s values, determining everything from the building structure, cleaning products
and food, to hotel policies, philosophy and staff training. Eklo Hotel in Bordeaux is
fifth built by the brand in France, with a further 40 hotels planned to open here over
the next 10 years.
St Emilion
1 hour / 47,5km from Bordeaux
Rent a car and leave Bordeaux to head to Saint-Emilion, about an hour away.
Famous for its wine, this medieval town is also full of history and culture. Stop by its
unique monolithic church before visiting the town’s underground monuments, a listed
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
Angoulême
1 hour 30 / 115km from St Emilion
Along the banks of the Charente River sits Angoulême, a historic, industrial and
cultural metropolis which has also been a UNESCO-listed Creative City since 2019.
The remarkable Cathedral of Saint-Pierre is not the only visitor attraction in the city.
Famous for its International Comics Festival, Angoulême has become the
international comic book capital, and you can visit the Comics Museum as well as
explore the many comic-themed painted city walls around the city.
We also recommend you visit Angoulême if you’re a fan of Wes Anderson films – The
French Dispatch, coming out in UK cinemas in autumn 2020, was shot here!
Cognac
45 minutes / 45km from Angoulême
Only a 45-minute drive from Angoulême, Cognac and its unique Royal Château are
well worth a visit. Here, enjoy a multi-sensory tour of the history, craft and secrets of
Hennessy, ending with a cognac tasting and stroll down to the town’s harbour along
the Charente River.
For a luxury stay, book a room at the Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa, where you can
enjoy a five-star experience combining heritage and contemporary style. Open since
2018, this hotel mixes offers horse-riding trips and picnics in the vineyards of
Cognac.
La Rochelle
1 hour 30 / 105km from Cognac
For your final stop, head to La Rochelle on the Atlantic Coast, famous for its harbour
and seafood. Enjoy a gourmet meal at GAYA Restaurant, with its menu entirely
created by Chef Pierre Gagnaire. Offering great seafood-based French meals, the
restaurant is located in the La Grande Terrasse Hötel & Spa right on the seafront.
Enjoy stunning views of the ocean from the hotel bar and swimming pool.
You can then fly back to London Stansted from La Rochelle with Ryanair in an hour
and a half.
franceuncovered.com 