Old Town Bordeaux, France

Grand Théâtre (photo by ilesh)

The atmospheric old town of Bordeaux or Vieux Bordeaux with its elegant 18th-century architecture spreads from the Cathedral to the riverside and from Grand Théâtre to cours Victor-Hugo. In the middle of this area is the pleasant historic quarter St-Pierre. The old narrow streets are shadowed by huge mansions, reminders of the city's grandeur in the past when the colonial trade was flourishing, bringing high revenues to the local people. Most of the historic centre has been recently restored and renovated while some areas still look a little bit shabby, still waiting for their restoration time to come.

The most lively area and the beating heart of the 18th-century city centre is the square Place de la Comédie, where cours de l'Intendance and rue Ste-Catherine meet and more exactly the space around the impressive classical building of Grand Théâtre. The latter was constructed in second half of 18th century over the remains of an ancient Roman temple. Designed by the talented French architect of the time - Victor Louis, the theatre boasts a magnificent façade consisting of a huge colonnaded portico, adorned at the top by a row of 12 statues representing the ancient Greek Muses and Graces. The exterior of the building is not less impressive featuring sumptuous decoration of trompe l'oeil paintings. Guided tours throughout Grand Théâtre are organized regularly and you can receive information about them in the nearby tourist office.

Porte Cailhau (photo by untipografico)

The most attractive streets of Bordeaux start from Place de la Comédie in front of the theatre: the celebrated cours de l'Intendance will take you to the west, the major shopping street in the old town rue Ste-Catherine goes southwards and the ideal for pleasant walks tree-lined allées de Tourny runs in north-west direction. The latter was named after Marquis Louis Albert de Tourny, who was the most prominent city’s benefactor in the 18th-century period of economic boom, supervising the construction of the important public buildings which impress visitors today. In the labyrinth of old narrows streets you will find the other two nice squares of Vieux Bordeaux: place St-Pierre and place du Parlement, both surrounded by traditional Bordelais manor houses with fetching façades decorated by original balconies of wrought iron and beautiful arcades.

Pont de Pierre (photo by bk59)

The river front features remarkable 18th-century architecture too. Here is located the worth visiting place de la Bourse. This square is the liveliest part of the riverside area. The huge building of the former customs was built in 1733. Today it houses the Musée des Douanes showing an interesting display which traces the history of the Customs in France and exhibits related to the glorious time when Bordeaux was a main port in the colonial trade of the country. The other large building at place de la Bourse is the Palais de la Bourse or the Stock Exchange, featuring nice views over the river and the quays. A few steps southwards along Quai de la Douane is located the impressive Porte Cailhau. This is a triumphal gate built in the end of the 15th century to commemorate the victory of King Charles VIII in the Battle at Fornoue. The gate is among the few monuments preserved intact after the 18th-century reconstructions of the city. The name "Cailhau" derives from the word for "stone" in the local dialect - "cailhaux". The gate was called so because of the stones unloaded on the nearby quay and used as ballast in the small ships and boats. A short stroll south along Quai Richelieu and you will reach the picturesque Pont de Pierre or the Stone Bridge. Despite of its name the bridge was constructed mainly of bricks in the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, who used it in his campaigns in the neighbouring Spain. The Pont de Pierre has 17 arches, each one commemorating a victory of the French Emperor. It is worth crossing the river along the bridge if only to enjoy the amazing views over it and the quaysides, especially beautiful when lit at night.