Bordeaux

• The Celtic tribe that gave Bordeaux the name Burdigala, meaning swamp shelter, in the Basque language in reference to the area’s marsh environment.
• UNESCO inscribed the Port of the Moon, a port city of Bordeaux in south-west France, as an inhabited historic city, an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the age of the Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century.
• It has more protected buildings than any other French city except Paris.

1. Top sights

1.1 Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux (Grand Theatre)

• It is an opera house inaugurated in 1780.
• It was designed by the architect Victor Louis , one of the most active of late 18th-century French Neoclassical architects.
• It was conceived as a temple of the Arts and Light, with a neo-classical facade.
• It has a portico of 12 Corinthian-style colossal columns which support an entablature on which stand 12 statues. The statues represent the nine Muses and three goddesses, Minerva, Venus and Juno.

1.2 Église Notre-Dame (Church of Our Lady)

• It is the most baroque and Romanesque-style church in Bordeaux.
• The funeral of romantic Spanish painter Francisco Goya took place in this magnificent French Baroque church in 1828.
• Its acoustics are exceptional, so catching a free organ concert is well worth it.

1.3 Monument aux Girondins

• Monument aux Girondins is one of the most photographed spots in Bordeaux.
• The Girondists fell victim to the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. In memory of them, this 54-meter-tall monument was erected by Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau in 1829. Duhamel is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.
• It is located in Place des Quinconces, which is among the largest city squares in Europe.
• Among the sculptures are:
  • towards the large theatre: triumph of the Republic
  • towards Chartrons: triumph of the Concorde
  • towards the river: the Tribune with the French cockerel; to its right, History, and on its left, the Éloquence (2 seated people).
  • towards the Tourny square: the city of Bordeaux sitting on the prow of a ship with a cornucopia. To the right of the base: the river Dordogne and to the left the Garonne.

1.4 Quinconces Esplanade (Esplanade des Quinconces) (Quinconces Square)

• It is one of the largest and most-photographed sites in the city.
• It is the most emblematic of the French Revolution in Bordeaux with the famous monument built for the Girondins.
• It also contains huge statues of Montesquieu and Michel de Montaigne .
• It is the venue all year for fairs, circuses, and sporting and artistic events.

1.5 Jardin Public (Public Garden)

• It has been dear to the hearts of the Bordelais since its creation in 1746.
• It was designed with its 18th-century adaptations to emulate the great English parks in places like London.

1.6 La Place de la Bourse Illuminée (Stock Exchange Square)

• It is Bordeaux’s most iconic square.
• It is one of the most representative works of classical French architectural art of the 18th century.
• In 2007, UNESCO inscribed La Place de la Bourse Illuminée on World Heritage List as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble” of the 18th century.

1.7 Miroir d’Eau (Water Mirror)

• It is the largest water mirror in the world.
• It covers an area of 3450 sq metres of black granite on the quayside opposite the imposing Palais de la Bourse.
• Every 23 minutes a dense fog-like vapour is ejected for three minutes to add to the fun and photo opportunities.

1.8 Place du Parlement (Parliament Square)

• Italian-style square in the Saint-Pierre district, in the historic heart of Bordeaux and a stone’s throw from Place de la Bourse, Place du Parlement enjoys a central location in the city.
• It is lined with splendid facades that date from the first half of the 18th century.

1.9 Porte Cailhau (Palace Gate)

• It remains unchanged although it is built in 1495.
• It was dedicated to King Charles VII after his victory at the Battle of Fornovo (Italy).

1.10 Grosse Cloche (Big Bell)

• It was built in the 15th century.
• It is one of the two middle-aged entrances to the city.
• It also served as a defensive fort along city walls and as a prison.

1.11 Cathedrale Saint-Andre (Cathedral of St Andrew) (Bordeaux Cathedral)

• This gothic cathedral was built between 12th and 16th centuries.
• It celebrated two royal weddings: Eleanor of Aquitaine and the future Louis VII of France, and Anne of Austria and Louis XIII.

1.12 Hôtel de ville de Bordeaux (Palais Rohan) (City Hall)

• It is Bordeaux’s City Hall building.
• It is completed in 1784.
• The palace interior contains many typical elaborate Bordelais styles of the era, like sculpted woodwork, trompe d’oeil paintings by Lacour, and a grand central staircase.
• The interior can be viewed on a French-language guided tour each Wednesday, organized by the Bordeaux Tourist Office.

1.13 Basilique Saint-Michel (Basilica of St. Michael)

• This Flamboyant Gothic church was built at the turn of the 15th century.
• There is a market under the beautiful spire every Monday and Saturday morning.

1.14 Pont Jacques Chaban Delmas (Jacques Chaban-Delmas Bridge)

• It was inaugurated on 16 March 2013.
• It is a vertical-lift bridge over the Garonne River.
• It is the longest vertical-lift bridge in Europe.
• When night falls, the bridge is illuminated and constitutes yet another beautiful facet of the Port of the Moon, to the delight of Bordelais and photographers.

1.15 La Cite du Vin (City of Wine Museum)

• It tooks between 2 and 3 hours.
• La Cite du Vin is a unique cultural centre dedicated to the universal, living heritage of wine.

1.16 Tour Pey Berland (Pey-Berland Tower)

• It is the separate bell tower of the Bordeaux Cathedral.
• It allows the best view of the city.
• This 15th-century Gothic bell tower was named after Archbishop Pey Berland, who initiated its construction in 1440.

1.17 Place Fernand-Lafargue

• It is home to lively café terraces and hosts many small street concerts.
• Former Place du Vieux Marché was the scene of other tortures inflicted by the executioner under the orders of the Jurade in the Middle Ages and until the 17th century.
• It was also that of the meat and fish trade, market gardening products and bread.

1.18 Église Saint-Pierre (St. Peter Church)

• It is a Medieval church with flamboyant Gothic architecture.

1.19 Maison Gobineau

• The triangular-shaped building at the southern tip of Allées de Tourny looks like New York’s famous Flatiron Building.

1.20 Rue Saint Catherine

• Nestled in the heart of Bordeaux, stretching between Place de la Comédie and Place de la Victoire, it is the longest shopping street in Europe.

1.21 Porte Dijeaux

• It is an 18th century construction in the neoclassical style.

1.22 Pont de Pierre (Stone Bridge)

• This first bridge over the river Garonne at Bordeaux was planned and designed during the First French Empire, under the orders of Napoleon I.

2. Eat & Drink

2.1 Puits d’amour (Wells of love)

• A small cupcake topped with cream and caramel.
• It appeared in French chef Vincent De La Chappelle’s 1735 book Le cuisinier moderne.

2.2 Dunes Blanches chez Pascal Bordeaux

• A protected trademark
• Little round chouquettes pastries topped with a mixture of cream and whipped cream.

2.3 Cepes de Bordeaux (Porcini mushrooms)