Reading for the Road: Our 5 Favourite Books About Bordeaux

At&nbsp;The Slow Road&nbsp;we answer to many names (wanderers,&nbsp;bon vivants, students of life) but first and foremost, we’re a group of dedicated travellers.That’s why we love compiling&nbsp;reading lists&nbsp;that include the books — from novels to memoirs, and everything in between — that have really opened up our favourite regions.In this post, we’ll round up a few of our favourite books about <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/places-to-go/europe/france/bordeaux-dordogne">Bordeaux</a>, one of France’s – and the world’s – most storied wine regions.<h2>Must-Read Books About Bordeaux</h2><h4><a href="http://amzn.to/2FFIVVR">The Cave Painters: Probing the Mysteries of the World’s First Artists</a></h4>By Gregory CurtisIn this tale of art, paleontology and discovery, Curtis introduces the masterworks of cave art in France and Spain, visiting Altamira, Lascaux, Les Trois-Freres, Cosquer, Chauvet and others.<h4><a href="http://amzn.to/2FCDuGZ">The Road from the Past: Traveling through History in France</a></h4>By Ina CaroTime travel through France by way of its finest castles, chateaux, cathedrals and monasteries. This unusual travelogue is an invaluable companion for travelling in Paris, southern France, the Dordogne and the Loire Valley, combining personal observation with large doses of well-presented history.<h4><a href="http://amzn.to/2Ds7sMg">Deadly Slipper</a></h4>By Michelle WanWan crafts a suspenseful, elegant tale of food, romance and murder out of a search for a long-lost woman in the Dordogne.&nbsp;Rich in lush descriptions of the Dordogne, and laden with savoury details of French cooking, Deadly Slipper is rife with surprising twists and turns.<h4><a href="http://amzn.to/2HvWnfg">The Complete Bordeaux</a></h4>By Stephen BrookThe wines of Bordeaux are universally recognized as being among the finest in the world and in this fully revised and updated edition of his classic text, renowned wine expert Stephen Brook provides an unrivalled survey of the region and its wines.<h4><a href="http://amzn.to/2HuHcD7">Noble Rot: A Bordeaux Wine Revolution</a></h4>By William EchiksonFor wine lovers the world over, Bordeaux is the centre of the universe. But in the past two decades, revolutionaries have stormed its traditional bastions, making their mark and their fortunes modernizing the production and marketing of wine.&nbsp;William Echikson takes readers inside the centre of the French wine business to examine the schism between defenders of the old order and architects of the new. Take the story from the page into real life on a <a href="https://www.butterfield.com/trip/bespoke/bordeaux-dordogne-bespoke">bespoke trip</a> to Bordeaux. Bike through vineyards, hike past châteaux and pair fine wine with equal parts wonder and curiosity.

Discover the best books about Bordeaux—from wine guides and regional histories to travel writing and literary works that explore the culture, châteaux, and heritage of France’s iconic wine region.

Best Books About Bordeaux | Reading List for Wine, History & Travel

Bordeaux & Dordogne

Ride through Bordeaux‘s countless vineyards, becoming familiar with its famous wines, and follow the Dordogne River upstream into the region that shares its name, noticing the slow and steady pace of life. With its imposing castles and prehistoric caves, the Dordogne is bound to capture your imagination.

Discover vineyards, castles and culinary treasures

Cycle grand châteaux and prehistoric river valleys on small group or private bespoke trips through Bordeaux and the Dordogne, with private cellar dinners.

Bordeaux & Dordogne Bike Tours | Butterfield & Robinson

In all our years, we've sampled few pairings finer than Bordeaux, land of legendary wine with equally lauded biking, and the Dordogne — verdant capital of foie gras. Explore the endless underground galleries of Rouffignac to discover 13,000-year-old prehistoric art. Ride right into the heart of Saint-Émilion, and through the lush countryside of Dordogne. Taste the very best of the region at private wine-making and Château tastings.

Historic Sites

Local Connections

Incredible Rides

Few pairings rival Bordeaux and the Dordogne. One is famed for legendary wines and idyllic cycling; the other for lush landscapes and deeply rooted culinary traditions—most notably foie gras. Ride through the storied vineyards of Saint-Émilion before continuing into the rolling countryside of the Dordogne. Along the way, explore the Vézère Valley and a remarkable village carved into limestone cliffs, where caves once sheltered prehistoric communities. It’s a journey of world-class wine, timeless landscapes and history that stretches back thousands of years.

Follow the Legendary Road

Preview the itinerary

Spend 5 nights cycling Bordeaux and the Dordogne in a small group. Saint-Émilion's Grand Cru estates, Lascaux cave art and medieval river villages throughout.

Bordeaux to Dordogne Bike Tour: Grand Cru Estates, Lascaux & River Villages

Two regions with legendary wine with equally lauded biking. Explore the endless underground galleries of Rouffignac to discover 13,000-year-old prehistoric art. Head right into the heart of Saint-Émilion and through the lush countryside of Dordogne. Taste the very best of the region at private wine-making and&nbsp;château&nbsp;tastings.

Exceptional Wines

Unique Gastronomy

From Bordeaux’s elegant buzz to Dordogne’s ancient caves, this region is all sip, swirl and “did that just happen?” moments. Bike through vineyards, paddle past châteaux and channel your inner archaeologist in Rouffignac. With fine wine, prehistoric art and just enough mischief, this verdant corner of France pairs perfectly with curiosity.

Few pairings are finer

We’ve sampled few pairings finer than Bordeaux & the Dordogne

Cycle Bordeaux's Grand Cru estates to the Dordogne's prehistoric caves on a custom itinerary. Private tastings, riverside lunches and rare access throughout.