Bordeaux, a city to be discovered
Bordeaux is a port city, crossed by the Garonne River, situated in the Gironde department of the Aquitaine region. The city and region is most of all renowned for its exceptional wines. Since 2007, Bordeaux is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage treasure for its outstanding urban and stone architectural complex. This article is a great opportunity for us to present this beautiful city to you.
Since 1996 and the vast urban project of Mayor Alain Juppé, the city has undergone many changes: the building facades have been cleaned, the docks have been restored and tramway lines have been installed. This rehabilitation of urban environment has been carried out to protect and promote Bordeaux’s heritage. As a result, there are more than 350 buildings listed on the inventory of the Monuments Historiques.
Bordeaux is a city of culture, where we find no fewer than 11 museums. Each year many events take place such as the Vinexpo (the international wine fair), the River festival, outdoor exhibitions, and several festivals. The city also features a large numbers of theatres, cinemas, and operas. With regard to the weather, Bordeaux has an oceanic climate where winters tend to be mild and summers warm.
Place de la Bourse
Situated in the city centre, this beautiful stone square of more than 200 years symbolized the prosperity of the city. In the middle of the square there is the “Fountain of the 3 Graces” which is made in bronze and represents the 3 daughters of Zeus. In front of the Fountain is the famous Water mirror. The mirror effect comes from the thin layer of water which covers a thick granit slab. During summers, the mirror becomes a very popular place where children play around. The best moment to visit the square is during the night as the illuminated buildings reflect in the water mirror.
Le Grand Théâtre
Bordeaux Grand Theatre is one of the most beautiful buildings in Bordeaux. On top of the 12 columns of the building we find 12 statues: 9 represent the art muses and the 3 others are roman goddesses. Inside the building you will find beautiful sculptures, and splendid roof paintings. Today the Grand Theatre is home to the national Opera of Bordeaux. Every week you have concerts, theatre pieces, ballets and so on. In front of the Grand Theatre there is the Grand Hotel de Bordeaux (a luxury hotel opened in 2007), which is also a popular building of Bordeaux.
Place des Quinconces
The Place of the Quinconces in Bordeaux is the largest public square in Europe, with an area of over 12ha. The square is named after the trees that are planted in quinconces (in staggered file). On the square, we find two monumental statues of Montaigne and Montesquieu which are emblematic figures of the city. The main monument of the square is the Monument of the Girondins, a memorial to Girondins victims of Terror which also celebrate the Republic. The memorial is surmounted by a column of 43 meters high.
Close to Bordeaux
There is the famous castle road which extends over 80 km at the north of Bordeaux, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gironde estuary. It includes some of the most prestigious vineyards of red wines and numerous castles with unusual architectures.
If you feel like going to the beach while in Bordeaux, you may want to visit the Bay of Arcachon, a bay of 1500 hectares fed by both the ocean and a large numbers of streams. It is located at only 40 min by car from Bordeaux. There you can enjoy a warm sea and a sandy beach. The most famous place in Arcachon bay is the Dune du Pilat, the highest sand dune in Europe with a height of 114m.
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