Bordeaux
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Bordeaux is one of the most famous town in France (region: Aquitaine, department: Gironde).
Known also to be one of the best wine of the world, the city will, for sure, make you appreciate the french way of life.
With more than 230 600 inhabitants intra muros (over 750 000 with suburbs), Bordeaux is the sixth biggest french city with a dynamic student life, tonnes of nice places and well-preserved architectures of which the Port de la Lune (Harbor of the Moon) classifed World Heritage Site of UNESCO in the 28th june 2007.
There are about more than 300 Couchsurfers in Bordeaux (October 2008). You’ll find more information here: http://www.bordeaux-tourisme.com (available in english, italian, spanish, german, chinese and japanese).
We wish you a nice read and a great time in Bordeaux!
Contents |
History of Bordeaux
More informations about the History of Bordeaux on the wikipedia:Bordeaux !
What to visit
 Place de la Bourse |
 Palais Gallien |
 The church of Saint Pierre |
 Pont de pierre |
More informations about the places to visit in Bordeaux on the wikitravel:Bordeaux !
Our neighbors
Bordeaux is right between Paris and Spain. Lots of travelers make a break and profit by visiting the Atlantic near by and vineyards of course. The city is perfect for a short break as well as a great base for exploring the surrounding beautifull regions like:
| Arcachon |
The Arcachon Bay area will amaze you by its hoysters, beaches and the highest sand dune in Europe (105meters), the Pyla’s Dune
| |||
| Saint-Emilion |
UNESCO World Heritage Medieval Town and its more than famous wines
| |||
| Medoc |
Vineyards and castles | |||
| Dordogne |
Prehistoric remains and famous castles | |||
| Basque Country |
http://bearn-basquecountry.com and http://www.basquecountry-tourism.com |
COUCHSURFERS
We are 300 Cs in Bordeaux. Our ambassador is Farah alias Kitty Space.
'VERY IMPORTANT':
WE HAVEN'T GOT A "LAST MINUTE REQUEST SUB-GROUP".
So we invite you to post your "emergency requests" on the main group of Bordeaux. You'll be welcome!
However, if really no chance: you have a Backpakers, "Auberge de jeunesse" in french (22 cours Barbey, Tél : 05 56 33 00 70) One night coast 21,50 € including package for night, breakfast and sheets.
- Monthly meeting :
There’s a monthly meeting each first thursday of the month. Look at the group for the emplacement.
- Spontaneous meetings :
The Bordeaux’s couchsurfing community is getting bigger and bigger. Then just one meeting per month looks like not enough for us to share and have fun together. We invite you to check out the Bordeaux's couchsurfing groupto know if something is planned during your stay here. You’ll be welcome! And if there’s nothing, you could let us know about your arriving and propose a meeting. Why not, it’s more than welcome.
So lots of members often organized different meetings and all occasions are good to meet. Here you are some pictures of our parties:
 The Departure |
 Mission Piramid |
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 The biggest frienship link |
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 Happy New Year |
 Origami |
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 Chinese fondue |
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TRANSPORT
- How to get to Bordeaux
| Amsterdam 1 099 km | Athens 3 333 km | Barcelona 638 km | Belgrad 2 222 km | Berlin 1 632 km | Bern 889 km | Brussels 888 km | Copenhagen 1 805 km | Dublin 1 425 km |
| Helsinki 2 601 km | Lisbon 1 394 km | London 994 km | Luxembourg 956 km | Madrid 744 km | Oslo 2 393 km | Rome 1 557 km | Stockholm 2 436 km | Vienna 1 793 km |
| Agen 140 km | Angoulême 120 km | Bayonne 192 km | Biarritz 204 km | Bourges 443 km | Brest 651 km | Caen 644 km | Dijon 765 km | La Rochelle 183 km |
| Lille 805 km | Limoges 225 km | Lyon 574 km | Marseille 647 km | Metz 907 km | Montpellier 482 km | Nantes 347 km | Nice 803 km | Paris 585 km |
| Perpignan 447 km | Poitiers 251 km | Reims 719 km | Rennes 461 km | Rouen 707 km | Strasbourg 1 085 km | Toulon 708 km | Toulouse 244 km |
By Car
Bordeaux is at 2 h 30 from Toulouse. 2 h from Biarritz and La Rochelle. 1 h 30 from Angoulême and Agen, for the nearest big cities. Cars are very practical to visit arround Bordeaux but it could be a real brainteaser to park. Bordeaux is one of the few cities in France to have free parking bays. But, like in most cities, it's not easy to have one. Generally, if you're lucky, you could find a park near the center for free in the small streets.
TIPS: Parc-Relais: there are a lots of Parc-Relais arround Bordeaux near tram stations where you can leave your car and have a tram return ticket valid for the day for only 3€ (no matter the number of people in the car). You'll find all the locations of the Parc-Relais and details Here.
By Train
The main railway station, the Gare St-Jean near the centre of the city, has 4 million passengers a year. It is served by the French national (SNCF) railway's high speed train, the TGV, that gets to Paris in 3 hours (about 50 € for just a one way trip), with connections to major European centres such as Lille, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne, Geneva and London. The TGV also serves Toulouse (about 30€ for a one way trip)and Irun from Bordeaux. A regular train service is provided to Nantes, Nice, Marseille and Lyon. The Gare St-Jean is the major hub for regional trains (TER) operated by the SNCF to Arcachon, Limoges, Agen, Périgueux, Pau and Bayonne.
By Plane
Bordeaux is served by an international airport, Aéroport de Bordeaux Mérignac, located at 8 km from the city centre in the suburban city of Mérignac.
http://www.aeroportdebordeaux.fr
The shuttle bus to get downtown cost 10€.
TIPS: Getting downtown from airport for less expensive: Take the bus 49 (Schedules) from the airport. Get down at "Lycée de Merignac" from where you catch the tram (line A) directly to downtown.
It should take around 45 minutes and cost only one bus ticket: 1,40€.
By Hitch-hiking
In France, hitch-hiking is a great experience. French drivers accept generally hitch-hikers. To go to Bordeaux, it's easy. Apparently, it's not the same to go out of the city because of the ring road and because of the absence of a toll-gate in Bordeaux. But, it's possible anyway. Towards Paris: Go by foot until Aquitaine bridge or take bus n°4 until quatre Pavillons. or with bus 12,28,91 or 92 stop at Maurice Riviére or with bus 91, 9 Place de Latule
http://membres.lycos.fr/bpierret/hitchike.htm
- Transports inside Bordeaux
Tramway & Bus
Taking the tramway is very easy. The city is very accessible thanks to it. You have a tramway station closed to the train station.
- Ticket of 1 trip = 1€40
- Ticket of 5 trips = 5€05
- Ticket of 10 trips = 10€10
More details: http://www.infotbc.com
Maps
TIPS:
- Each trip is valid 1hour (Unlimited acces during 1hour).
- It's the same ticket for tram and bus.
- You can use one tickets of 5 trips (or more) for 2 person (or more). That way you save money!
Bicycles
There are many beautiful biking paths around Bordeaux.
Unfortunately we haven't got (yet) our "Velib system" but it's possible to rent some easily.
| Cycles Urbain 13 Cours Pasteur 05 56 44 23 24 Mon.-Sat.: 9am-1pm; 2:30pm-7pm | Pierre qui Roule 32 Place Gambetta 05 57 85 80 87 Mon.: 2pm-7pm; Tue.-Sat.: 10am-7pm Prices: http://www.pierrequiroule.fr/magasins.php |
TIPS: The first Sunday of each month, cars are forbidden in the centre of Bordeaux and bicycles can be hired for free at Allées de Tourny (ID card and caution required).
You can take your bike in most local and regional trains (on the timetables, look for the bike's sign).
MAILING LIST
You can be informed by some events taking place in Bordeaux and in the area by mail. Some activities has ever been proposed by couchsurfers : rallye photo, jogging, world diner, happening, disco or super hero party... everybody can propose something to do. Join the CS Group of Bordeaux for that.
If you want infos on concerts and happenings in Bordeaux dont forget to check out this website
TIPS
FREE WIFI
You can connect yourselves on the quays just renovated of Bacalan. The first antenna wifi is posed there, but soon there will be of it "Place of the Market of Chartrons", "Gambetta", etc…
END YOUR NIGHT
After the party, let's go to "the Marché des Capucins" (market) for a glass of white wine and a dozen of oysters.
Open from 6 am (5.30 on Saturdays).
Coffee and drink
PUBS & BARS
As regards nightlife and fun, be aware that most bars close at 2.00 am and that nightclubs open at 11.00 pm and close at 5.00 am... but that if you are lucky, you might be able to stay all night in a nice bar with good music and "Place de la Victoire" is the student district: lots of partying on Thursday nights and lots of live rugby and soccer games evenings.
EL CHE (Cuban spirit and rhums)
34, cours de l’Argonne
BYRON BAY (Australian Bar)
11, cours de l’Argonne
etc.
If you fancy a cosier atmosphere, with live music and wooden furniture, then L’AVANT-SCENE (42 cours de l’Yser) might be attractive.
If you are a “beer-lover”, you may find it worth walking to LE LUCIFER, 35 rue de Pessac (where you can taste more than 250 different beers from all over the world) or to the TITI TWISTER, 76 rue Leyteire (lots of Belgian beers).
"Saint-Pierre" is the district of tourists and yuppies : café terraces and wine bars… but not only. For a drink before dinner (l’apéro!) or after dinner:
LA COMTESSE (cosy)
25, rue du Parlement Saint-Pierre
LE MILO’S
21, rue du Parlement Saint-Pierre
Around the majestic "Grosse Cloche", enjoy a drink in old-stones houses with character:
L’APOLLO
19, place Fernand Laffargue
L’INCA (live music almost every night)
28, rue Sainte Colombe (Ask to meet Martin. He's couchsurfer)
LA PETITE CLOCHE (salsa classes and live music)
3, rue Bouquière
At "Saint-Michel", the picturesque and colourful district of the old city, you will discover a more popular Bordeaux with lots of Mediterranean accents. This is the realm of home-made mint teas and tapas.
LE CAFE DES JOURS HEUREUX (come and play the guitar!)
54, rue Camille Sauvageau
LE BLUEBERRY'S (live jazz & blues sessions)
61, rue Camille Sauvageau
EL CHUCHUMBE (salsa dancing bar)
6, rue Causserouge
North Bordeaux and its wet docks & old maritime warehouses is the new trendy area, with nightclubs such as THE DAME DE SHANGAI (Bassins à Flots N1, 1 quai Armand Lalan).
But it is in South Bordeaux, quai de Paludate, that you will find most of the nightclubs and a very good place for live jazz, swing & blues sessions:
LE COMPTOIR DU JAZZ
59 quai de Paludate.
ENGLISH/ IRISH PUBS
THE FROG AND ROSBIF (the only pub brewing its own beers)
23, rue Ausone
THE HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT (quizz on Sunday night)
11, rue du Parlement Sainte Catherine
THE O’ROWLANDS (live Irish music)
50, rue de Pessac
etc...
WINE BARS
LE PETIT BOIS (to drink wine in a magical grove decor)
18, rue du Chai des Farines
LE CHABROT (so typically French / with good food also)
32, rue du Chai des Farines
LE WINE BAR
19, rue des Bahutiers
LE BO BAR (so small !)
8, place Saint-Pierre
FOR LIVE MUSIC SESSIONS
LA DIBITERI (jam sessions on Tues., slam on Wed. and open funk on Thur.)
27, rue Arnaud Miqueu
MORE TRENDY
ABSOLUT LOUNGE
14, rue de la Devise
AZULI (electro, house)
55, cours Alsace Lorraine
WANNA DANCE?
LA CALLE OCHO (“THE” cuban/latino bar)
24, rue des Piliers de Tutelle
BODEGA BODEGA (Spanish ambiance)
4, rue des Piliers de Tutelle
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
- Police Station:
Tél : 05 57 85 77 77
23 rue François de Sourdis
- Health Urgency:
SAMU (French Health Urgency Service Tel: 15
European Tel number for Urgency: 112
Urgency number for the homeless: 115
- Hospital:
Tél : 05 56 79 56 79
www.chu-bordeaux.fr
- Fireman Station:
Urgency number: 18
- Embassy:
Click here to have the list of the differents Consulats and Embassies in Bordeaux
http://www.lepressbook.fr/bordeaux/consulats-de-bordeaux/consulat.html
- Emergency Doctor:
SOS Médecins
45 rue Pelouse de Douet
Tel: 05 56 44 74 74 (24h/24)
MEDIA MENTIONS
