Bordeaux traces its origins to
Roman times, when a settlement was founded on the Rive Gauche (left bank) of the River Garonne. The site chosen was on a bend of the river, which formed a crescent-shaped
harbor, known as Port de la Lune.
The city grew rich from a surge in international
commerce in the 18th century. Inspired by their new-found wealth, the city’s burghers decided to redesign their city. Its winding medieval streets were cleared to make way for
grand squares and elegant
tree-lined avenues, lined with
monumental buildings.
Bordeaux is famous
for wine, not surprising as it sits at the heart of one of the world’s
best wine regions, but the wine trade was not enough to prevent a slump in the 19th century, during which much of the city center deteriorated.
Happily, things have improved dramatically and, after years of neglect and stagnation, Bordeaux is coming back to life. The
18th-century center has been restored to its
former glory, the quaysides have been landscaped, colonial-era warehouses are filled with trendy bars and restaurants, and new parks allow the city to breathe again.
A new network of
trams makes the city easily accessible and has had a major effect on the volume of traffic. But Bordeaux’s spirit, as ever, is that of a city that knows about
joie de vivre and
pleasures: strolling along the Garonne or in the pedestrian streets, sitting on a café terrace and enjoying the
mild year-round climate, admiring
magnificent architecture and
art collections, and sampling some of the
finest wines together with the
excellent local cuisine.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related France Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
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