Cathédrale Saint-André and Around, Bordeaux

Porte Dijeaux (photo by Bourgouin)

The lively place Gambetta has a variety of pleasant cafés and can be an ideal starting point for a shopping tour along the exclusive cours de l'Intendance and the modern commercial Centre Mériadeck or for exploring the city museums and the cathedral. The square is surrounded by nice-looking historic buildings with elegant arcades on the ground floors, making it a welcoming place, despite of the fact that during the French Revolution there was a guillotine here, which took the life of hundreds of people. The most remarkable monument on place Gambetta is Porte Dijeaux - a beautiful arched gate, which was once a part of the ancient city walls.

Cathédrale Saint-André (photo
by Bourgouin)

A couple of steps south of the square you will find the amazing Cathédrale Saint-André with its impressive and elegant twin Gothic steeples, raising high over the north transept. The impression of them is strengthened by the magnificent 15th-century tower Tour Pey-Berland, also built in the traditions of the sumptuous late Gothic architecture and positioned right next to the Cathedral. The first church on the site of the latter was completed in the 11th century. Only a partially preserved wall which can be seen in the nave has remained from this early temple, which had all the characteristics of the developed Romanesque architecture. The present-day cathedral was started in the late 12th century and completed in the 15th century. The oldest part is the early 13th-century Royal Gate. The church features airy interiors with a wonderful choir, one of the best representatives of the florid late Gothic style, also known as called Rayonnant. Other highlights inside the cathedral are the door of the north transept and the already mentioned Royal Gate or Porte Royale featuring some gracious carvings.

Tour Pey-Berland (photo by
lunavorax)

The most interesting museums in the city are located in the area around Cathédrale Saint-André. Right behind the ancient Hôtel de Ville, built once as a palace of the local Archbishop Rohan, you will find the Musée des Beaux-Arts. It displays a compact and well organized collection of European fine art, including valuable works by Titian, Reynolds, Matisse, Rubens and Marquet. The latter artist was born in Bordeaux. The highlight of the display is the wonderful painting La Grèce sur les ruines des Missolonghi by the famous French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix. Just meters along rue Bouffard, north from here is found the splendid 18th-century palace housing the larger Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Bordeaux. The museums shows a very rich exhibition of graceful porcelain and faience works, as well as interesting furniture, glassware, miniatures and city prints from 18th century. The other two interesting museums in the area are the Centre National Jean-Moulin and the Musée d’Aquitaine. The first one shows a collection related to the time of the German occupation of the city, including some impressive paintings of Holocaust theme. The second one is maybe the most interesting museum in Bordeaux. It is located on cours Pasteur, south-east of the Cathedral and displays a wide collection of artifacts and documents related to the ethnography and history of the city and the surrounding region. A separate section is dedicated to the history of the regional wine producing and trade. A short walk eastwards from here, along rue St-James and you will reach the magnificent Gothic bell tower Grosse Cloche, which dates back to the 15th century and is one of the few medieval architectural monuments survived after the major reconstruction of the city in the 18th century.