Population - 1,287,000    (1,067,000)

Area - 10,000 km²   (1,663)

Population density - 129   (642)

(comparative figs - Surrey UK)

Towns with over 3,000 people

Ambares-et-Lagrave   11,206

Andernos-les-Bains   9,254
Archachon   11,454
Ares   4.680
Artigues-pres-Bordeaux   5,984
Audenge   3,948
Le Barp    3,242
Bassens   6,978
Bazas   4,357
Begles   22,475 (Bordeaux)
Biganos   6,950
Blanquefort   13,901 (Bordeaux)
Blaye   4,666
Bordeaux   215,363
Bouliac   3,248
Le Bouscat   22,455 (Bordeaux)
La Brede   3,128
Bruges   10,610
Cadaujac   4,408

Canejan   5,114 (Bordeaux)

Carbon-Blanc   6,620

Carignac-de-Bordeaux   3.094

Castlenau-de-Medoc   3,165

Castillon-la-Bataille   3,113

Cenon   21,283 (Bordeaux)

Cestas   16,927 (Bordeaux)

Coutras   7,003

Eysines   18,407 (Bordeaux)

Floirac   16,157 (Bordeaux)

Gradignan   22,193 (Bordeaux)

Gujan-Mestras   14,958

Le Haillan   8,133

Izon   3,958

Lacanau   3,142

Langon   6,168

Lanton   4,962

Latresne   3,195

Lege-Cap-Feret   6,307

Leognan   8,269

Lesparre-Medoc   4,855

Libourne   21,761

Lormont   21,343 (Bordeaux)

Ludon-Medoc   3,327

Marcheprime   3,486

Martignas-sur-Jalle   5,574

Merignac   61,992 (Bordeaux)

Mios   4,620

Parempuyre   6,613 (Bordeaux)

Paulliac   5,175

Pessac   56,143 (Bordeaux)

Le Pian-Medoc   5,373

Pineuilh   3,645 (Ste-Foy-la-Grande)

What it is really like for holidays in the Gironde

The Gironde is Bordeaux - Bordeaux is classy - Bordeaux is classy wine

The oldest largest and best wine growing region of the world

You don't have to be in this area for long to believe it yourself

Mile after mile of near continuous vineyards - flat lands to the west - gentle rolling in the east - interspersed with woodland

Merlot is king here - with Cabernet Sauvignon for body - occassionally Cabernet Franc for that cedar effect

Quality with balance - the very best everyday to the most expensive - tradition and modern techniques

The whites of the Entre Deux Mers are just fabulous - under-rated - as gentle as the eastern Gironde countryside they grow in

In the Medoc & Haute-Medoc to the west the Chateaux are worth visiting but the eyes gow weary of the flat

The north of the Gironde estuary - around Blaye - is pretty countryside

La Reole   4,187

Sadirac   3,022

Saint-Andre-de-Cubzac   7,234

Saint-Aubin-de-Medoc   4,990

Saint-Ciers-sur-Gironde   3,095

Saint-Denis-de-Pile   4,089

Sainte-Eulalie   4,189

Saint-Jean-d'Illac   5,213

Saint-Laurent-Medoc   3,366

Saint-Loubes   7,090

Saint-Medard-en-Jalles   25,566 (Bordeaux)

Saint-Sulpice-et-Cameyrac   3,932

Salles   4,487

Le Taillan-Medoc   7,885

Talence   37,210 (Bordeaux)

Le Teich   4,822

La Teste-de-Buch   22,970

Tresses   3,592

Villenave-d'Ornon   27,500 (Bordeaux)

Main town
Bordeaux

550 miles - 8 hours - from Calais

Must visit places

Archachon

The seaside resort for Bordeaux with the world's largest sand dune nearby

Bordeaux

Bordeaux itself is about to become one of Europe's premier destinations

Already an elegant city the nearly completed tram system alongside the Garonne estuary - before it joins the Dordogne to form the wide Gironde - will set it up as tomorrows riverside masterpiece
Already takes cruise ships moored alongside the city centre 2 minutes from the Opera House

For those that need the buzz - designer shops - no price tickets

St-Emilion

If you haven't heard an American or seen a Japanese for a while then St-Emilion is the place to go - in reality the top wine producing village - a tourist attraction - and very well done - pretty as well


























Gironde Holidays - b&b
Gironde Holidays - cottages

Gironde Holidays - tourist info