Bordeaux Terrace · spectacular view, fast Wifi

Picture yourself on a 12 metre terrace overlooking the ancient city gate, Porte de Bourgogne, and the Garonne River beyond. Here you can sip a glass of Bordeaux wine and savour an al fresco meal, prepared in the well-equipped kitchen or delivered to your door.
Bordeaux Terrace apartment has an elevator, super fast Fibre Optic Wifi and Cable TV with French and English stations. The major sights of the city are in close proximity. The tram stop is just 100 metres away, and parking is nearby.

In an 18th century building in the historic heart of Bordeaux, my apartment is on the fourth floor with an elevator. Unusual for a building of this period, it has a terrace with a spectacular view, overlooking the ancient city gate, Porte de Bourgogne; the Garonne river and the Pont de Pierre - the bridge over which Napoleon took his troops to Spain. You can sit with a drink in hand feeling like you are in the front row of a theatre, or enjoy an al fresco meal.

The apartment has a mix of contemporary and antique furnishings and is colourful, comfortable and inviting. Extensively renovated in February 2019, it has blonde wood flooring, is newly painted, has several new appliances (fridge/microwave/washer/dryer) and excellent bathroom ventilation.

Occupying a former attic space, the ceiling is supported by large beams - it is high on one side and slopes down on the other. If you are particularly tall, you may prefer to stay in the second bedroom, which has a higher ceiling.

The apartment is quiet, and private. Accommodation is for up to 4 guests, with 2 bedrooms. (One bedroom with a King size bed, the other with two single beds). There is a small, but well-equipped kitchen featuring an induction stove, oven, microwave and washing machine. The shower room looks out onto a small garden. There is a separate toilet, which has an excellent new ventilation system.

As well as the ancient sandstone spiral staircase, there is also an elevator. Taxis can stop outside the door and the tram stop is 100 metres away. There is also a secure parking station a few minutes' walk away.

The apartment has free super fast Fibre Optic Wi-Fi, Cable TV, a good quality Bluetooth speaker (Harmon Kardon), board games and a selection of books.

There are insect screens on the windows and good cross ventilation. A new roof and ceiling insulation have resulted in a significant drop in temperature during summer (around 5 degrees celcius.) Both bedrooms have portable air-conditioners, and a Dyson cooling fan/air purifier is in the lounge room. For winter, there are electric wall heaters, which keep the place cosy.

My friendly and efficient English and French speaking property manager will be on hand to greet you and is available should you need help during your stay.

The location of the apartment is only 150 meters away from St Michel - the best weekend antiques and vegetable market in the region - and 500 meters away from the excellent daily food market Capucins, where you can buy everything from oysters to artisan cheeses to handmade pasta and sushi.

Two blocks away is Rue St Catherine, the famous walking street, which has hundreds of boutiques and shops, including all the major brands such as Zara, Galleries Lafeyette, Fnac and Apple, as well as quirky off-beat ones.

Many cafes and restaurants are close by the apartment, including one that serves great coffee. An artisan bakery, where you can buy your daily baguettes, is just around the corner.

As a recent guest wrote in a review on another website, "The apartment was so welcoming, we had a tough choice between exploring Bordeaux and relaxing in this prime location."

Guests will have access to the entire apartment, with the exception of the linen cupboard. Basic food supplies are provided, as well as soap, shampoo and conditioner, tissues, a hairdryer and other amenities. There is a variety of board games and books.

Our friendly and efficient English and French speaking property manager meets and greets our guests. She can make suggestions about local attractions and places to eat, and is available by phone for any queries about the apartment during your stay.

Bordeaux Terrace is ideally situated to visit the major sites of Bordeaux, which are either in walking distance or you can hop on the tram 100 metres from the apartment.

Walk or cycle along the quay to Chartrons, or across the bridge to the Darwin Centre and the surrounding parkland.

Within a few metres of the apartment building are small food shops where you can purchase essentials , and there is one of the best artisan bakeries in Bordeaux around the corner. There is a wide selection of restaurants and cafes close to the apartment. For shopping, there is a daily food market at Capucins, where you can buy a wide variety of local produce and even join the locals having oysters and white wine for breakfast!

Every Saturday there is a food market around St Michel Basilica, a two minute walk away, and on Sundays it transforms into the largest antique and brocante market in the region.

Two blocks away is the longest pedestrian shopping street in Europe, Rue St Catherine, where you will find hundreds of boutiques and specialist shops. On the corner of that is the Carrefour supermarket. You can take the shopping trolley from the apartment to transport your purchases home.

The historic centre of Bordeaux is culturally diverse. While the St Michel area is becoming increasingly gentrified, there is still an element of authenticity. Hipster cafes and galleries rub shoulders with Turkish coffee bars; Russian and Moroccan mini-markets and African fabric shops. The rich mix of cultures, food and music offers a varied cross section of contemporary urban life.

There is a convenient tram stop, Porte de Bourgogne, about 100 meters from the apartment. The nearest parking station is a few minutes' walk at Parking Victor Hugo. To get from the airport you can take a shuttle bus and then a tram or a taxi. Or I can recommend a transport service. It's also possible to book day trips to the vineyards.

Four bottles of wine are available on a use-and-replace basis, so you can enjoy a drink when you arrive.

There is a House Book in the apartment, with useful contacts, such as doctors and dentists, plus restaurant and sightseeing suggestions.