Why learn French in Bordeaux?
Thursday, 30th April 2009
Bordeaux is a medium-sized city on the Garonne River in the southwest of France. As well as being famous for its wines, which have been produced there since Roman times, Bordeaux is a world heritage site classified by UNESO as having “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble".
Many of the city’s buildings are in classical or neo-classical style and date from the 18th century, the golden age of Bordeaux, and Baron Haussmann, the local prefect, used Bordeaux as a model for a modern Paris.
Every year hundreds of millions of bottles of wine are produced in the Bordeaux region, ranging from ordinary table wine to some of the most famous and expensive vintages in the world. The vast majority of the wine produced is red (known as claret in the UK). There are also dry and sweet white wines, include Chateau d’Yquem, as well as sparkling and rosé wines. Tours of some of the vineyards are a popular attraction and provide ample opportunity to sample some of the wine. Courses in wine tasting are also available.
For wine enthusiasts a good time to visit Bordeaux is the last week in June for the Bordeaux Wine Festival (Bordeaux Fête le Vin), which includes wine and food tasting, concerts, parades, banquets, firework displays and various other events. There’s also a festival of classical music - Les Grands Crus Musicaux – in July and a Jazz festival in May.
Bordeaux enjoys long, fairly hot summers and mild winters. The wettest months tend to be between October and January, so if you prefer to avoid the rain, spring and summer are the best times to visit the city. The weather is at its warmest, on average, between June and September.
With its huge student population, Bordeaux’s nightlife is particularly lively and vibrant. There are plenty of fine restaurants to suit every pocket and palate, as well as a good selection of shops to explore in the elegant streets and picturesque cobbled alleys of the city. There is also no shortage of museums, theatres, chateaux and other interesting places to visit, as well as beaches and historic fishing villages on the nearby Atlantic coast.
There are quite a few French language schools in the city which offer general and intensive language courses, as well as courses combining language lessons with cultural activities such as wine tasting, cooking, visits to vineyards, and tours of the city. Exam preparation courses and specialist courses for teachers and other professionals are also available.
Tags: french, food, festival, france, course, bordeaux
Posted by Laura Harrison under Experience Cultures, Food and Drink,
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