Bordeaux, France

I think we walked about 10 miles today as we explored Bordeaux. We were both exhausted by the end of the day. It is a lovely city and not as busy as many cities that we have been to. After Paris, Bordeaux has the highest number of protected historic buildings of any city in France, earning the entire historic core a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage list. They do have many beautiful buildings, churches, fountains and city gates. We noticed that many of the statues looked like they needed a good power washing. As I read more about Bordeaux I learned why. Often nicknamed “La Belle Endormie” (Sleeping Beauty) because its historic center used to be covered in dark industrial soot, the city underwent a massive urban renaissance over the last few decades, scrubbing its limestone façades clean and cementing its status as a top global destination.