About Bordeaux and the Gironde département in Aquitaine

Gironde - What's it like?

What makes this part of France, the Gironde, department 33 in Aquitaine, so special and why do we think you should you consider buying property here?

Geography

A bit of geography first: the département of Gironde forms part of the Aquitaine region in south west France and is famous worldwide for its wine and for its beautiful Atlantic coastline. The weather is fantastic and the region enjoys almost as much sunshine as the Côte d'Azur. The summers are long and hot and the winters are mild. You can usually still have lunch outside in early November and be back at your garden table in February, when there are often some lovely warm days!

The main city is Bordeaux, bustling and cosmopolitan, with stunning architecture, excellent designer shops and a wide and varied nightlife. It would almost be rude not to check out its restaurants and sample a glass or two of celebrated Bordeaux wine! By contrast, away from the bright lights, Gironde is an area of beautiful old villages, many overlooking the landscape of miles and miles of vineyards. With famous villages such as St Emilion and areas such as the Medoc to explore, it has been described as “like driving through a wine list”. Gironde is also home to the coastal resorts of Lacanau and Arcachon, where the Atlantic waves allow for excellent surfing.

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Weather forecast

4 day weather forecast for Bordeaux

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Maps of Aquitaine and Gironde, France

Click on any of the maps for a full size image

Map of France showing Aquitaine

Map of departments in Aquitaine

Map of Gironde, department 33 in Aquitaine

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Property prices in Gironde, south west France

Property prices in Gironde are on the increase but still represent good value for money and are cheaper than many other areas in the south.

Haute Gironde, the northern-most part of the département, with its Côte de Bourg and Côte de Blaye vineyards, is, in particular, still very good value for money. A four bedroomed house in good condition, with a garden, can be bought for well under 200 000 Euros.

Coastal properties are, as in most places, more expensive but you get much more for your money when you move inland. Check our property listings in Gironde for a sample of what is available. Typical properties include long pale stone ‘girondine' houses and chateaux; imagine, you could buy a small chateau and tell everyone you live in a castle!

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Travelling to Gironde

Travelling to Gironde has never been easier. Most of the budget airlines have inexpensive daily flights to the region. Bmi Baby ( www.bmibaby.com ) fly direct to Bordeaux from Manchester and Nottingham. Ryanair ( www.ryanair.com ) fly to Bergerac, La Rochelle and Biarritz, all within a couple of hours drive of Bordeaux. British European ( www.flybe.com ) fly to Bordeaux from Bristol or to Toulouse from Birmingham, and both British Airways ( www.ba.com ) and Air France ( www.airfrance.co.uk ) fly to Bordeaux from various destinations in the UK.

The region is also accessible by car or train. Bordeaux is an approximate 7 hour drive from either Cherbourg or Calais, and the TGV train from Paris to Bordeaux will have you here in less than 3 hours.

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Buying property in Gironde

Whether you are looking to settle here permanently or buy somewhere to pop across to on holiday, Gironde has something to offer. We feel that we have the best of both worlds. You can live or stay in a village or a rural property but Bordeaux is nearby and easily accessible, especially now that the tramway is up and running. It's not a typical holiday area, where it's heaving in the summer and you see no one for weeks in the winter, but there are popular tourist areas and it is beautiful.

Stunning property, fantastic Bordeaux, great weather, easy access to a beautiful coastline, vineyards as far as the eye can see, quaint villages, drinking wine outdoors most of the year. Can you imagine a life less ordinary?

If you would like to discuss anything about the area or have any questions, please contact us. We're here to help you find the perfect French house for sale in the Gironde.

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