Day 8 – Aug 19, 2019 Toulouse to Bordeaux to Amboise

France is well known for the quality of its wine which is produced all throughout the whole country.  Many grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, & Syrah originate from France and are now household names worldwide.  Each wine region boasts its own unique "terroir" and arguably, the most famous region of them all is perhaps Bordeaux.  We left Toulouse in the morning and headed northwest to visit Bordeaux.  Then we continued to head north toward Amboise, stopping by the small village of Oradour-sur-Glane which still serves as a witness and memorial of atrocities committed during WWII.

We drove by countless vineyards like these during our drive on secondary roads toward Bordeaux

There were signs pointing to different wineries everywhere.  You can imagine the fierce competition for the second or lower tier players

City of Bordeaux has one of the biggest urban areas in Europe

Place du Parlement.  The limestone used to build Bordeaux's buildings gives the city a unique hue against the blue sky

Narrow streets created a beautiful maze in the old town

Place de la Bourse is the most recognizable sight of Bordeaux.  You cannot find a more classical French building style than these buildings

The reflecting pool, Miroir d'eau, was installed in 2006.  It makes Place de la Bourse even more unforgettable against the blue sky

Panoramic view of Place de la Bourse

Wide promenade lines the riverbank of Garonne in front of Place de la Bourse

Beautiful Porte Cailhau, once the main gate of the city

Oradour-sur-Glane - the whole town has been maintained as a memorial for the massacre of 642 innocent inhabitants (incl. women and children) by Nazi Germany army in 1944

The destroyed town were never rebuilt on order of Charles de Gaulle, then French President, as a eerie reminder for future generations of humanity not to repeat past mistakes

We reached our destination Amboise by evening just in time for a beautiful sunset view of Chateau d'Amboise

Chateau d'Amboise became a royal castle in the 15th century