Bordeaux: the great century and the life of the châteaux

Architectural unity is the rule in the centre of Bordeaux. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007, this exceptional urban ensemble illustrates with grace and proportion the wealth of the city in the 18th century.

Day 1: Arrival in Bordeaux and lunch at the Brasserie Bordelaise. Segway tour of the city, dinner at the restaurant La Maison du Fleuve. Overnight at the Hôtel de Sèze.

Hotels - The elegance of classicism

A warm welcome and cosy comfort await you at the Hôtel de Sèze, whose lobby regularly exhibits local artists. Close to the Place de la Comédie, the hotel is ideally located, overlooking the Allées de Tourny, a wide planted esplanade named after the inspired marquis who promoted one of the jewels of Bordeaux's eighteenth-century town planning. The hotel's 52 rooms, ranging in size from 15 m2 to 32 m2, some with balconies, are all individually decorated to match the classical elegance of the building's façade: oak parquet flooring, moulded wood panelling and large quilted headboards. The walls, enlivened by a palette of wallpapers, combine floral motifs and monochrome stripes. Three suites, partially furnished with antique furniture, complete the range. In addition to the 45-seat restaurant, intimate areas can be reserved for small groups of between eight and twenty people, such as the Salon des Illustres, lined with books, and the Fumoir, with its exquisitely patinated leather armchairs. Spa and sauna in beautiful vaulted cellars. The icing on the cake: a ten-minute drive from the hotel, a private golf course with two six-hole courses is reserved for guests.

23 allée de Tourny. Bordeaux - Tel: 05 56 14 16 16 - Email: contact@hotelde-seze.com Internet: www.hotel-de-seze.com

City Tour - Bordeaux, a world-class heritage

With some 350 listed monuments, Bordeaux is, after Paris, the French city with the most protected heritage. This urban area is even one of the largest to be listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. So a city tour is a must. The Segway, a kind of electric walker that's as agile as it is manoeuvrable, allows you to explore the ancient city in two hours, when you'd need a whole day to explore it on foot. The route starts in the 'Golden Triangle', 18th-century Bordeaux, whose proud appearance marks the heyday of the merchant city, when it was France's leading port and prospered thanks to trade with the colonies and the slave trade. The walk continues along the quays, now transformed into a public garden. On the banks of the Garonne, the city hugs the bend in the river and opens out onto the horizon. It's hard to imagine that, not so long ago, the fenced-in sheds of the port facilities barred access to the banks. From here, you can reach the medieval centre via the Cours Victor Hugo and the Grosse Cloche,
You'll find a maze of narrow streets leading to a series of pretty squares: Lafargue, Camille Jullian, Saint Projet: Lafargue, Camille Jullian, Saint Projet... However short the visit, it's enough to establish that the town is worthy of the reputation of its wines. And it's enough to make you promise to come back for a long time to come.

Libr'et Sens 1, rue du Palais Gallien. Bordeaux - Tel: 06 99 50 20 80 Email: info@libretsens.fr - Internet: www.libretsens.fr

Gastronomy - La Brasserie Bordelaise

Opened in 2008, the establishment is still very young, but it has not established itself by chance. The local cuisine is tasty and affordable, and the 700-strong wine cellar offers a wealth of new discoveries. The atmosphere is one of conviviality without fuss, encouraged by a generous counter. Open until midnight, seven days a week, the brasserie regularly organises concerts and tastings with local winegrowers. There are three private areas: a small lounge (15 p.), a room with private access (70 covers, 150 p. for cocktails) and the restaurant's vaulted cellar (50 p.).

50 rue Saint-Rémi. Bordeaux - Tel: 05 57 87 11 91 - Email: contact@ brasserie-bordelaise.fr - Internet: www.brasserie-bordelaise.fr

Day 2: Aquitaine caviar tasting workshop. Lunch at Château Cordeillan Bages. Visit and tasting at Château Kirwan. Free time in Bordeaux. Dinner at A Cantina restaurant.

Tasting - The secrets of black gold

The secrets of black gold France is the world's third largest producer of caviar, and Aquitaine is the leading region in the sector. Since the wild sturgeon was protected in Europe, it has been farmed to produce caviar. This is what we learn at Château Leroy-Beauval, the headquarters of Sturgeon, the market leader, during a small group initiation. By tasting four different maturing techniques, you can explore the full range of sensations associated with this exceptional product. Accompanied by white wines from the estate chosen to reveal the perfect match, the experience gets you hooked on black gold in less than two hours.

Caviar Sturia 102, route de Beauval. Château Leroy-Beauval. Saint Sulpice et Cameyrac - Tel: 05 56 30 34 30 - Internet: www.sturia.com

Oenologist - Grand cru classé

Château Kirwan, a Margaux Grand Cru Classé, is an example of the aristocracy of Bordeaux winegrowing, whose reputation dates back to the legendary 1855 classification commissioned by Napoleon III. Founded in the 17th century and run for nearly a century by the Schyller family, a line of wine merchants who have been established in Bordeaux since 1739, the château organises a variety of activities for small groups: tastings, of course, but also private meals, culinary workshops and perfume creation workshops. Several areas are available for private hire, including the Orangerie, with a capacity of 350 guests in cocktail configuration.

Château Kirwan Cantenac - Tel: 05 57 88 71 00 - Email: mail@chateau-kirwan.com Internet: www.chateau-kirwan.com

Haute cuisine - Jean-Luc Rocha's two stars

On the outskirts of Pauillac, in a graceful Carthusian monastery, Château Cordeillan-Bages is home to a 28-room hotel affiliated to the Relais & Châteaux chain and a gourmet restaurant run by Jean-Luc Rocha, who has two Michelin stars. The best part is sitting in the kitchen, at the chef's table, where the chef, for a group of six people, prepares and comments on his recipes and shares his tricks of the trade. "I serve, I dry, I explain and I adapt."he sums up. But above all, he uses his most valuable piece of advice: "working from the heart". Jean-Luc Rocha's generosity is enough to set the mood. His infectious enthusiasm transforms the creation of delicate combinations into a pleasure. All of a sudden, great cooking seems like child's play. In short, it's like daydreaming... For larger groups, the 60-seater restaurant, whose terrace overlooks the vineyards, has several lounges. With a capacity of 40, they can all be made private. The same goes for the charming village café, where the chef also creates the menu.

Château Cordeillan-Bages Route des Châteaux. Pauillac - Tel: 05 56 59 24 24 - Internet: www.cordeillanbages.com

Day 4: Tasting at the Wine Making Academy. Cocktail lunch on the Sicambre boat. Return to Paris in the afternoon.

Wine Making Academy - Fun discussions about wine

"Discovering wine should be a pleasure, not a time-consuming, formal tasting."This is the credo that has led Oliver Pechstein to design a whole range of oenological activities for team buildings and conventions. For his Wine Making Academy, he puts teams together and assigns each team the task of making its own wine, defining its marketing strategy and designing its label. For the master of ceremonies, it's an opportunity to showcase the qualities of grape varieties and blends, while also providing a wealth of information about wine making and the wine market. Oliver Pechstein's knowledge and sense of humour have made him a firm favourite with the region's top corporate seminar-goers.

In Vino Event - Tel: +33 (0)9 53 56 33 43 - Internet: www.in-vino-event.com

Meetings - Historic monument or temple of sport

Bordeaux has no shortage of venues suitable for seminar clients. Among them, the Palais de la Bourse is undoubtedly the best located, in the historic centre and on the banks of the Garonne. What's more, it's located on a legendary square, a jewel of 18th-century architecture. Housed in a building dating from 1749, the venue comprises five rooms ranging in size from 260 m2 to 1,500 m2, spread over three levels, most of which have views overlooking the river. While some have retained their period woodwork and furnishings, all are equipped with the latest technology. It's a no-brainer. On a completely different note, the city's new stadium, adjoining the exhibition centre and served by tram, offers more than 9,000 m2 dedicated to meetings, with 60 boxes and seven modular lounges, including one with a capacity of 2,200. The dressing room, players' entrance corridor and pitchside area are also available for private use. All the ingredients for a thrilling sports-based team building experience.

Palais de la Bourse - 17, place de la Bourse. Bordeaux - Tel: 05 56 79 50 95 Internet: bordeauxpalaisbourse.com

Stade Bordeaux Atlantique Cours Jules Ladoumègue. Bordeaux Internet: www.nouveau-stade-bordeaux.com

Mini cruise - Fleuve passion

Bordeaux River Cruise offers tailor-made cruises on the Garonne and the Gironde estuary, with the added soul of the company's founders, true lovers and connoisseurs of the river. Wine estates, natural sites, secret islands: the various ports of call are commented on from the heart. And of course, that changes everything. This passion and the excellence of the cuisine prepared on board are the company's trademark. Length of cruise: half a day or a full day. Fleet of three boats, including a 12-passenger launch. The modularity and equipment of the Sicambre, the largest unit with a capacity of 250 people, allows several configurations: cocktails, meals, seminars or concerts.

Bordeaux River Cruise - 12 rue Charlevoix de Villers. Bordeaux - Tel: 05 56 39 27 66
Email: contact@bordeaux-river-cruise.com - Internet: www.bordeaux-river-cruise.com

Alternative - The wonders of Cap Ferret

Less than an hour from Bordeaux, the Lège-Cap Ferret peninsula can be planned as a day trip. A haven of peace in the off-season, this summer hot spot is perfect for organising a bike rally. But you can also try parasailing, charter a pinasse or a catamaran and sail around the Arcachon basin to discover the Banc d'Arguin, the Dune du Pila, the Ile aux Oiseaux... And while tasting oysters in one of the many oyster huts is a must, the friendly local restaurants such as the Pinasse café, the Maison du Bassin or the Hôtel de la Plage are also very tempting. New: this little corner of paradise now has a modular 90-person seminar room at the Domaine du Ferret.

Lège-Cap Ferret Tourist Office - 1, av du général de Gaulle. Claouey. Lège-Cap Ferret - Tel: 05 56 03 94 49 - Internet: www.lege-capferret.com

The players in the operation

How to get there > The SNCF provides the Paris-Bordeaux link with 22 round trips a day on weekdays, excluding school holidays. The journey time, currently three hours, will be cut to 2 hrs 05 mins from July 2017, when the Tours-Bordeaux TGV line comes into service. Tel: 36 35 (0.34/minute) - Internet: www.voyages-sncf.com

Agency > Adeona. 12, allées Haussmann. 33000 Bordeaux - Tel: 05 56 78 06 - Email: heloise.jean@adeona.fr - Internet: www.adeona.fr

Customer > Company in the IT sector.

Comments > Incentive trip designed to create links between employees who only meet occasionally. The aim of the trip is to discover the city and the Bordeaux region through fun activities.

Group size > 30 people.

Duration of the operation > 3 days, 2 nights. From Friday 20 March to Sunday 22 March 2015.

Information > Bordeaux Convention Bureau. 12, cours du 30 juillet. 33080 Bordeaux Cedex - Tel: 05 56 52 53 11 - Email: contact@ bordeauxconventionbureau.fr - Internet: www.bordeauxconventionbureau.fr

Guides > Bordeaux in a few days (Lonely Planet), Le Guide Vert Week-end Bordeaux (Michelin)