Car rental Bordeaux
When the holiday season starts, there is nothing more exciting than going on vacation with your family and friends. No matter where you’re going or staying, you will probably have the option of car hire to facilitate the transport of your loved ones. If you are lucky to be in Bordeaux, you will get plenty of affordable car rental options. The best reason why many people like to visit this port city is that it offers various fun outings.
Bordeaux Guide
Bordeaux is a port city situated in Southwestern France. As of 2016, its approximate population is 252,000. Together with its satellite towns and suburbs, it is the centre of the Bordeaux Métropole. Just like Marseille, Paris, Lyon, Lille and Toulouse, Bordeaux is a large city and a major tourist attraction. It is the capital city of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region; its inhabitants are known as Bordelais and Bordelaises. There are a large number of winemaking units in this city. The wine is famous the world over for its great taste and nice colour. Major cities near Bordeaux include the French city Toulouse as well as San Sebastian and Bilbao in Spain.
This is one of those cities where an annual wine fair is conducted. The name of this fair is Vinexpo. It is believed that Bordeaux is generating nearly £14 billion in revenues every year by selling wines all over the world. The historic part of this city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is considered an architectural ensemble of the 19th century. Like Paris, Bordeaux has various preserved historical buildings that attract a large number of tourists from different parts of the world like the United States, Canada, and Asia.
- Bordeaux is one of the most populous cities in France.
- It is famous for both wines and cuisines.
The quays of this city have become a major attraction in their own way. They have centuries-old facades on one side, and the Garonne river is present on the other side. These quays are considered an asset of Bordeaux. You can enjoy jogging, biking, and riding here. If you don’t like any of these activities, then go to a nearby shop, café, playground or park and have some fun. People often take cruises on the Garonne to closely explore the beauty of the city and to spend quality time with their friends and families.
A couple of places in this region are known to offer different tours for those who are interested in winery visits, chateaux, and food tasting. As an enthusiast, you may like to take the Route des Vins de Bordeaux to learn more about sites like Haut-Médoc, Pauillac, Margaux, and Saint-Estèphe. Plus, this city will let you explore the biggest reflecting pool of the world. The name of this pool is Place de la Bourse. This reflecting pool attracts a significant number of visitors every summer. During night hours, its water reflects the light of the city like a mirror.
Explore with your rental car
If you are new to Bordeaux, you might like to explore a place of historical importance. The Cathedral of Saint Andrew is 2,3 km away from Bordeaux City Centre, and it takes 14 minutes to reach there through a rental car. It was once a part of the Route of Saint James pilgrimage trail. All of the pilgrims went to Spain years ago. Now, this cathedral has become a tourist point. It has a nice façade with sculptures of the Ascension, Christ in Majesty and the Last Supper.
The Grand Théâtre is the masterpiece of the Place de la Comédie. You can reach there by renting a car at affordable prices. This theatre is close to some of the most beautiful and emblematic buildings of the city. The approximate distance between Gare de Bordeaux-Saint-Jean and Grand Théâtre is 2 km. You can reach there in 10 to 15 minutes. The style of this building is a new Classical style. A couple of statues can be found here. These represent the goddesses Venus, Minerva and Juno. You can enjoy a performance by the National Ballet of Bordeaux.
The Basilica of St. Michael is another major attraction in the city. You can reach there in about 15 minutes through a rental car. It is 305 metres away from Pont de Pierre. It was founded in the 14th century and is present in the heart of the quarter of Saint-Michel. The stained-glass windows were completely destroyed in 1940. A bell tower is present here, which is over 110 metres tall. You can visit this tower from April to October.
The Museum of Beaux-Arts is present in a public park called Jardin de la Mairie. The museum offers insights into European and American art history. It has a big collection of art spanning the 16th to the 19th centuries. The most prominent works are by Veronese, Titian, Rodin, Rubens, Renoir, and Delacroix. All of the paintings are organised thematically and grouped by country and era, such as the Dutch paintings of the 17th century. It is 627 metres away from Le Boutique Hotel.
Airports
Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport is an international airport in Bordeaux and is only 12 kilometres away from the centre of the city. It is situated in the southwest of France. The airport primarily features flights to metropolitan and leisure destinations in Europe and Northern Africa, serving as a base for Ryanair, Volotea and EasyJet airlines. Companies like AutoEurope, EuropCar, Avis, Kayak, AceRentACar, and DiscoverCars provide their rental services here. Some of the most popular flights departing from Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport are routes to Paris, Lyon and Amsterdam.
Bergerac Dordogne Périgord Airport is 95 kilometres away from Bordeaux. It is often regarded as the Bergerac-Roumanière Airport. Companies like Rentalcars and Sixt provide their rental car services here. One of the best parts is that you can rent a car by visiting the official websites of these two companies. On average, a car can be hired at £24 per trip or more depending on the location.
Agen La Garenne Airport is situated in La Passage. This airport is 127 kilometres away from Bordeaux. Both local and international flights can be taken from this airport. The best rental car service providers are Agen and VIP Cars. Agen is more famous than VIP Cars, and their cars can be rented to reach any part of France. This airport is present in the southwest of Agen, and it won’t take you more than 20 minutes to reach there.
Traffic
Just like other big cities of France, Bordeaux is the place where driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not permitted. The condition of the roads is very nice, but there are certain traffic rules that everybody needs to follow. For example, the legal BAC is 0.05%. You should keep in mind that authorities can pull a driver over anytime, without giving any warning.
Wine tours are among the best attractions in this city. It is important to remember the consequences you could face if the speed of your car goes over 80 kilometres. In addition, the driver is not allowed to drink alcohol. A drunk-driving conviction in this city will result in heavy fines and your rental car may also be impounded. So, you need to be very careful.
The city has four different parking zones: red zone, orange zone, green zone, and black zone. Please remember that it is illegal to wear a headset while driving. This means the driver can be arrested and fined if he is found to be answering phone calls and wearing headsets. Paris and Bordeaux have introduced a Low Emission Zone to improve the quality of air. You must check it before planning a trip. The major traffic rule is that every person has to carry his passport, V5C certificate and insurance documents with him.