Bordeaux Bicycle

Turning off the total length of cycle routes to Bordeaux, you would have achieved the equivalent of the Suez Canal, and the range of a Scud-A missile. A 143 km long, the bike paths in the French metropolitan city helped influence his ascension in the first level European cycling cities rows. 
To further promote this event, launched by Mayor Alain Juppe held until January 20, 2012, in collaboration with the event is top french designer Philippe Starck. He and thousands of Bordelais will meet and share views, opinions and ideas of design for what has been coined the 'Bordeaux bicycles'. Its purpose is to interweave with the needs of the public of the city - the need for a compact, easy to carry and walk, oftransportation light so that it looks as elegant as the Bordeaux itself - and available for everyone to take in the landmarks and artistic city. 
Speaking of which, there is a route in the center of Bordeaux, which is five miles long, and has some of the most famous and interesting attractions Bordeaux. It can be easily cycled using a bicycle provided by the city. Find a bike is not difficult either; There are 139 cycle plants around Bordeaux and can be found in most places in the bus and tram stops. From these stations you can pick up and leave a bicycle in charge of 1 € for the day. What impresses most is that you can leave a bicycle while pop into a restaurant for lunch, and grab a different one when finished - the freedom and comfort of this seriously reduces stress and cost of traffic emissions .

Saint-Michel 

Saint-Michel in the Aquitaine Museum 

The journey begins in the magnificent Basilica of Saint-Michel, right on the edge of the Garonne River and near the Pont de Pierre. There is a meeting in Saint-Michel, which is an easily recognizable and accessible for cyclists point. Find the nearby Cours Victor Hugo and follow it west to the Museum of Aquitaine. Along the way, keep your eyes on the right of an art installation of a green car whose front tentatively projecting from a multi-storey carpark. Once you get to the Museum of Aquitaine, feel free to walk around inside, reveling in its historical, archaeological and ethnological discoveries. With its arches and pillars of the 19th century, this museum helps offset the epitome of Bordeaux as a UNESCO City. 

Museum of Aquitaine Grands Homme Marche 

Leaving the museum, turn right onto Rue Duffour Dubergier and see the cathedral of Bordeaux, Saint-André left. It stands as an imposing rock among pebbles in a city adorned with buildings whose roofs are light brown, and whose facades display rows of food and drink quality - restaurants in Bordeaux makes you want to jump off the bike and slide through the doors as if in a trance. But it is in the 'Market Great Men' for now. Follow Rue Pere Jabrun Rue Louis Gross, through the narrow streets made ​​for cyclists who want to avoid traffic. Crossing Cours de l'Quartermaster and go straight until you emerge in a large bulging market. It is one of the many traditional markets in the city, and from 10 am-8 pm Monday through Saturday. 

Marche de Grands Cap Homme and Sciences 

Head east now, towards the Garonne river. Once you reach it, turn left and parallel along its shores cycle. There are bike paths all the way over here, making it even more comfortable and enjoyable for users. This will be the longest leg of the journey, but Cap Sciences, Bordeaux amazing science museum, is a worthy reward. There are dozens of events, workshops and exhibitions at the museum, and schedule 14: 00-18: 00 (and until 7 pm on weekends) it becomes an activity after the perfect meal. On the way to the museum, however, note that this section of the walk is a great vantage point to enjoy the panoramic scenes of the river and city. Look back and count the arches under the Pont de Pierre, for example, before heading onwards.

Bordeaux 

Cap Sciences in Water Mirror 

From here, it's a return trip in the same way to one of the most unique attractions of Bordeaux and a must-see: the Water Mirror. Outside the gates of the 18th century Place de la Bourse is faulted weather forecast. Fog descends around a particular place along the river banks, but this "fog" is actually dense vapor water, created by the computerized system below the water surface. Feel free to take the bike for a while and walk, or sprint through the cold misty fog - it's definitely a safe way to cool yourself off after touring bike a hot day. At night, the reflection of the spectacular building is reflected in the water surface of half inch shimmering effect. It's instant-win money any photographer. 

The mirror of water that depends on you ... 

Of course, the time of day will determine what to do next. You can float on your back to the point of meeting of Saint-Michel, or take a tangent - always other options available will make things easier when deciding what to do things. For example, since the water mirror turn left through the Pont de Pierre, the first bridge ever built in town, and follow the tree-lined avenue Thiers for a couple of miles to Cenon; you will find yourself in a completely different way to what you left behind. It's as if someone took a ruler and divide the city into two, with the architecture, streets and alleys of one hand, and flowering shrubs with green rolling pastures on the other. Although the city center strives to be environmentally green, Cenon and beyond is literally the greenest part of Bordeaux, and is ideal for a spot of rural cycling. 

With the number of cyclists in Bordeaux tripling in fifteen years, and 7-9% of its residents commuting by bike every day, there has never been a better time to two wheels around itself a complex and artistic city like this .

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48 Hours of Château Siaurac, Bordeaux

I realize there are many benefits to my work. Being personally invited to spend the weekend as a guest of the family in the Château Siaurac is definitely one of them. Few people have the opportunity to get into the grand facade of one of Bordeaux chateaux, see what makes it tick and understand what makes it unique. Fewer still get open access to the owners, Aline and Pau Goldschmidt, whose hospitality can only be surpassed by his passion for his art; winemaking. 

The Legacy of Nature 
Château Siaurac is the largest property Lalande de Pomerol and covers more than 60 hectares. Its exterior is lined by a long gravel road that is surrounded on both sides by woods, before opening his view on rows of vines methodically stretched beyond a peaceful picturesque stream doing business. After the gravel path and around the courner the newly decorated tasting room, landscaped garden awaits. Designed in the nineteenth century from a plan drawn up in 1832 (by the great great grandfather of Aline) soon becomes apparent that Château Siaurac is more than a conveyor belt for grapes that everything is fine. 
Aline is our host and passionate and she knows nothing of the wildlife, trees and plants in this plot of 15 hectares devoted to forests and wildlife not worth worrying about. She knows that each flower has studied the evolution of all the trees and has even devised his own guided walk for visitors (using cards with numbers written down) so that everyone can appreciate this natural paradise, with or without their expert advice in person. In short, she is both genuinely committed, fiercely protective of the natural heritage of the château. And it is a pleasure to witness.

Châteaux Siaurac 

It's in the History 

Given the six generations have worked tirelessly to build, maintain and develop Château Siaurac is not surprising Aline is protective of its heritage. The photograph of her grandmother with her new husband, a naval officer and writer Baron Louis Guichard, hangs proudly in the tasting room (and keepsake postcards) as a reminder of his legacy. After their marriage in 1919 the couple adds' Vray Croix de Gay 'to Siaurac and Prieure in 1949 In fact, today the three Chateaux being part of the "Baronne Guichard Wines' Aline and Paul now have. 

In 1978 Louis Olivier died and his son took over the properties, the launch of a large modernization project in 1998, which consisted of taking the winemaker Yannick Reyrel (student of the prestigious winemaker Pétrus). When Olivier died in 2004, the future of the three estates hung in the balance until Aline and Paul decided a sell-out was not an option. They took the helm and once again a restoration project that took them until 2007 began - when they left their homes and businesses in Paris Siaurac to live in full time. It then says Aline, the adventure really began.

Châteaux Siaurac 

Vision 

The adventure has seen Aline and Paul transformed the castle, so it is habitable, while preserving the history and essence of your core. The rooms are high, large and decorated with paintings and antiques that would make any antiquarian weak in the knees. My room had its own separate bathroom hidden behind a screen that would not look out of place in an adaptation of Jane Austin. The silver cutlery sets, cutlery and china plates also had me focus more on what I'm used to when setting the table for dinner. In fact, if the mantra is Château Siaurac respect the earth is to live for gastronomy and innovation, both of which adhere Goldschmidt with a passion. 

Innovation of the couple is more prominent in his work with wine. If the garden and Château are all about maintaining harmony with the heritage, then the process of promoting the fruits of their labor is one of the changes. Aware that the wine industry is growing and Bordeaux have to stay on their toes to keep up with the switch in tastes and preferences of people, Châteaux Siaurac is not one to rest on the laurels of a good reputation . 

In fact, despite winning awards for excellence - the last being an international award for 'Best of Wine Tourism 2012' for Bordeaux Châteaux in the category of 'Product and Innovation' (there's that word again) - Château Siaurac is doing its more accessible than ever with customized tastings, workshops, field days and even packages for families kids wines. Their tasting room can even be rented for events or functions.

Châteaux Siaurac 

the Future 

So what for the future? As my stay came to an end and I sat down on the bun fresh milk still warm from the local bakery that I could not help but feel energized. Not for the sweetness of bread butter or sugar in my freshly squeezed orange juice, or even the aerobics cockatoo recently adopted Aline (found in the vineyards). Was the realization that you can have the best of both worlds. Although no one can predict the future of the global wine market, or even the fickle public behavior, you can be sure that Château Siaurac continue to drive itself forward while remaining true to its values; in fact, as Paul points out, the wines they produce are not fancy techniques but rather, they are reduced to an expression of the exceptional quality of its soil and the hard work of the winemakers in the vineyards. 

One for the road 

With all this hard work, come rewards and as my hand luggage-only restrictions spoiled my plans for across the Channel with my own stash personnel-pay hot, you'll be pleased to know that you can buy wine Châteaux Siaurac outside l 'hexagone - although, needless to say choosing your favorite is not an easy task (Pomerol only bowed to me). 

So with a list in hand and a final tour of the oldest estates vines (survivors of the 1956 frost that hit the area) under my belt, I headed back to the gravel road back to Bordeaux. This time however, with a certain joie de vivre that comes from spending a weekend in the company of those who exemplify the art of living to enjoy and celebrate great wine. I'll say cheers to that.

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