Scouting Bordeaux, France: Day 4’s Excursions in Cadillac and the Gironde Department
Morning Excursion: Visit Château Royal de Cazeneuve and Toast SauternesLeaving at a bright and early hour following breakfast, part of our team set out on this excursion to tour the Château Royal de Cazeneuve. Built by the Lord of Albret in the 13th century, this castle was owned by the kings of Navarra, including Henry IV. This ancient kingdom is still an autonomous region of Spain. Pamplona is the capital of Navarra, so you will continue deeper into this ancient history as our tour continues. Today, the magnificent castle is owned by the Lord of Albret’s descendants, the Sabran-Pontevès family.
Visiting Château Royal de Cazeneuve, we were able to learn all about the famed Sauterne wine that’s produced in the region. What many consider to be a dessert wine, this sweet beverage made for an excellent toast to end this classic French excursion. Being a château, this activity maintained a low level of physical activity, ensuring easy access for everyone.
After touring the childhood home of Toulouse-Lautrec, our group headed to Verdelais, the quaint French village where the artist was laid to rest in 1901. Visiting the colorful graveyard where he lies today, we received an all-encompassing view of Toulouse-Lautrec’s life and works. Before we ended the excursion, we made one final stop at Verdelais’ only bar for a proper absinthe tasting. One of Toulouse-Lautrec’s favorites, he was known for mixing absinthe into all manner of drinks. Our group was shown the proper way to sip the high-proof liquor, where we melted a sugar cube into the absinthe with ice cold water. The excursion proved to be the perfect accompaniment to our group’s day, one we’d recommend to anyone visiting the Bordeaux region with a remote interest in the best of French art. Physical activity levels were fairly low for this excursion as well, making it an equal opportunity excursion for everyone aboard.
In our fourth day aboard the SS Bon Voyage, we were astounded at how the excursions seemed to only get better with each coming day. Nearing the halfway point to our Bordeaux cruise, our team was thoroughly impressed not just with today’s excursions, but also the entire itinerary so far. As we scout the way for our upcoming Founder’s Grand Cruise, we look forward to keeping you up-to-date with our grand adventure.
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Scouting Bordeaux, France: Day 3's Excursions in MédocOn Day Three of our Bordeaux river cruise, the Authentic Voyages team enjoyed a wonderful day full of lively and educational French experiences. From a decadent breakfast in the morning to vineyard bicycling, we immersed ourselves in the Médoc region in preparation for the Founder's Grand Cruise. Sailing into the famed wine region during the morning of our third day, our team parted ways to tackle two equally great afternoon excursions in the commune of Cussac-Fort-Médoc.
Scouting Bordeaux, France: Day 2's Excursions in Blaye & BourgWith the first full day of our Bordeaux river cruise aboard the SS Bon Voyage ahead of us, the Authentic Voyages team set out to explore the magnificent villages of Blaye and Bourg. A unique French commune, Blaye is best known for its sprawling citadel, known as Blaye Fortress. Bourg is a quiet French town filled with beautiful architecture and friendly residents. Our team divided to tackle the day’s excursions – a morning walking tour through the Blaye Fortress featuring a scenic drive along the Route de la Corniche Fleurie, or a yoga class followed immediately by a Bordeaux wine tasting. In the afternoon, we took part in a walking tour of Bourg and a distillery tour of the famed cognac maker, Remy Martin.
Continuing on with the excursion, we boarded a bus bound for the famed Route de la Corniche Fleurie, a road lined with French beauty on all sides, for a scenic drive that saw the daily life along the Gironde Estuary. The excursion was simply gorgeous with lots of information, giving us an insightful look into the history and life of Blaye, as well as being a more accessible, relaxed activity for all ages. Though physical activity is fairly light, touring the Blaye Fortress does require walking on cobblestones and rough ground, so it’s best to bring good shoes. Morning Excursion: “Let’s Go” Yoga in the Historic Heart of Blaye FortressThe rest of our team took off on what turned out to be a surprisingly lively excursion. Walking into the Blaye Fortress (albeit without the expert Quietvox tour guide from the alternate activity), we attempted our best yoga poses in the midst of the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s serene setting. Instructed by the SS Bon Voyage’s spa director and masseuse, the yoga class featured premium mats from the ship and a brisk walk through the citadel. The yoga session was for all levels, with the instructor offering both challenging poses and an easier alternative pose. Some members of the group even decided to sit the class out, choosing instead to explore the fortress before embarking on the wine tasting.
All of the activities offered a unique focus to cover all manner of interests – whether that may be history, nature, fitness, automobiles, art, or – our personal favorite – Bordeaux wine. These first excursions along Uniworld’s Bordeaux itinerary have already left us with fond memories, and we look forward to sharing more of them with you as we scout the journey aboard the SS Bon Voyage.
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