Bordeaux: Activities

• racquet games

  Pelota ( pelote basque in French) is the generic name for a group of games native to the Basque country. With a thriving pelota club scene, Bordeaux's a great place to try out this wild sport, where the rubber ball ricocheting off the three-sided walls can reach speeds of up to 300kmh (186mph).

• swimming (outdoor)

  The coastal resort of Arcachon became popular with bourgeois residents of Bordeaux at the end of the 19th century. It's not hard to see why - beach lovers can frolic away sunny days on the long, sandy seashore and nearby Dune de Pyla, Europe's highest sand dune. The town itself is not overly attractive but it does have a certain laid-back charm and a pretty inner suburb of heyday villas harks back to its golden era.

  Arcachon makes an easy day trip from Bordeaux, meaning it's often crowded in summer. To escape the hordes, grab a bike and explore the practically deserted out-of-town beaches.

• soccer

  Bordeaux's football team, Girondins de Football, is a high achiever in the French league, and the Bordelais are justifiably proud. The team's home turf is the Stade Chaban-Delmas.

• horse riding

  Since its inception in 1977, the Jumping International de Blaye, held annually in July at the Douves de la Citadelle, has become a major fixture on the European equestrian calendar.

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