Bordeaux

Located in the heart of the wine region bearing the same name, Bordeaux was long known as the "sleeping beauty," which has changed since the mayor and former prime minister set about restoring many of the neoclassical buildings, pedestrianizing many of the boulevards and implementing a high tech public transportation system.

As you sip on your full bodied red, you can look out over the Garonne River stroll past the flower filled Gambetta and eat the locally harvested oysters.

However, Bordeaux's main draw remains the beautiful and famous wine country which surrounds this city of about a quarter million people.