Among tourists in Bordeaux, in addition to sightseeing, popular special wine routes. They include visits to vineyards, shops and cellars, a story about the intricacies of production and a tasting. The city has a turbulent history, the evidence of which survives to this day and attracts travelers as much as wine routes.
The main sights of Bordeaux
The history of the city began in the 1st century BC. since the founding of the settlement by the Celtic tribe Biturig. He had been in subjugation to the Romans, the English. After the Hundred Years’ War he finally became a subject of France. In the 18th century, the Marquis de Tourny, town mayor, vowed to make Bordeaux the most beautiful city in the country, beginning the redevelopment of the central part according to the principles of classicism.
Cultural attractions include architectural monuments, a large number of museums with unique exhibits, exhibition centers, art galleries, gardens, parks. The city hosts many festivals, exhibitions and themed festivals.
Architecture
The selection of things to see in Bordeaux is impressive. In the appearance of the city organically coexist ancient buildings and examples of modern styles. Many of them are on UNESCO lists.
The oldest buildings are considered cathedrals and churches, built mainly in the Gothic style.
You can admire the beauty of the facades, the high spires that pierce the sky and the intricate stone carvings that fill the space between the sculptures and bas-reliefs when you get to St. Andrew’s Cathedral, the Pe – Berlan Tower and St. Michael’s Basilica.
One of the main attractions of Bordeaux is considered a Grand Theatre, one of the 5 most beautiful theaters in the world, built in the 18th century in the best traditions of classicism.
Of the medieval buildings are well preserved Tower Gross Kloss, which was part of the security system of the city, a magnificent gate Cayo, called the Parade. They were erected to commemorate another victory of the troops of Charles VIII.
Squares and streets
The city is famous for the largest square in Europe and the longest pedestrian street. For public events, the Bordeaux Residents chose Kenkons and it is legitimate, on 12 hectares. You can comfortably accommodate almost the entire population. The square is rectangular in shape and framed on both sides by parks, closer to the residential areas is a monument to the Girondins.
Exchange Square is famous for a unique development of modern engineers and designers who created the “Water Mirror”. On a surface lined with dark granite tiles, steam is released from nozzles and water begins to flow, covering the tile by about 2 cm, creating the illusion that the area is two, so clearly reflected in the water buildings of the Stock Exchange and the Customs Museum. During the warm season you can observe this miracle for 12 hours, from 10 to 22.
Near the cathedral there is a compact but very famous Parliament Square with the fountain of the same name in the center. There are well-preserved 18th-century buildings along the perimeter.
St. Catherine Street invites you to stroll through the stores, of which there are no less than 200, they have enough space for 1, 3 km., that is the length of the main shopping artery of the city. The lack of cars is explained simply, since the end of the 20th century the street became pedestrian and the flow of tourists immediately increased.
Museums
They are scattered throughout the city, with exhibits touching on many areas from natural history to military submarines. One of the oldest in France is considered a museum of fine arts. Its halls exhibit works by Rubens, Delacroix, Groh, Titian, Veronese, and Matisse.
The Aquitaine Museum began with a small collection of ancient Roman archaeological finds at the Academy of Sciences, and in 1962 the focus expanded to include halls with exhibits on ethnography and the history of the region. They cover periods from prehistory to the early 20th century.
The rest of the museums are also of interest:
- decorative and applied arts;
- natural science;
- contemporary art;
- customs service;
- ethnographic;
- companions;
- telephony.
In 2016, the original Wine City Museum opened. The modern building of amazing “floating” architecture, mirrored panels that refract light, and a long, curved ramp is already generating interest that continues to grow as you become familiar with the exhibits. They tell about the history of wine making, peculiarities of vine growing, rules of blending, storage conditions of the finished product, outstanding personalities in the wine industry.
The scientific direction is represented by the submarine base, technical and industrial center.
Bordeaux Parks
Greening the city has always been a priority for the municipality. The result is commendable, as there are 15 meters of green space per inhabitant. The largest were the Bordeaux Forest with its lawns and artificial ponds, the Floral Park and the Botanical Gardens.
Their layout includes carefully manicured lawns, lush flower beds, rose gardens, alpine gardens, but also deliberately preserved corners of untouched nature, where vacationers watch the birds, enjoy the silence by the pond shore, walk along winding paths in the shade of ancient trees.
When you come to Bordeaux, it’s hard to know what to see first. The city is so multifaceted that everyone finds something interesting and wants to come back here again, stepping on the station platform and nodding as a good acquaintance.
Video overview of the sights of Bordeaux
“Little Paris”, “Sleeping Beauty”, as the inhabitants lovingly call their city, stretched on the banks of the Garonne. Bordeaux is the largest city in France, the population is about 250 thousand people, most of whom are employed in agriculture.
The climate of Aquitaine is unique for the cultivation of vineyards and the main pride of this region was the amazing wine. It is produced in small quantities, mostly in private wineries. It is very highly regarded throughout the world for its exquisite taste and great flavor. The most successful batches are entered in a special register and go to a number of collectible wines, for which connoisseurs are willing to pay impressive sums.
