BORDEAUX HISTORY

A Brief History of Bordeaux

Part 3: Bordeaux and The Romans
In 56 BC, Crassus, legate to Caesar, took over the Aquitaine region and a slow process of Romanisation began. During the Roman period Aquitaine established its wheat fields, and trading in wheat, wood and resin rapidly developed with other Roman provinces such as Cornwall for their tin and the Mediterranean for their wine. The town’s prosperity grew.

Burdigala became the administrative capital of the province of Aquitaine in the first century AD resulting in town planning and magnificent Roman monuments such as a forum, the Piliers de Tutelle, an ampitheatre, aquaducts, aristocratic villas and the Palais Galien, an arena beyond the city walls which is the only remaining trace of Burdigala in Bordeaux today.

In terms of contribution to the future of Bordeaux, the Romans must be given full credit for the establishment of the vineyards that have played an integral role in its fortunes over the last two thousand years. And so begins the celebrated history of Bordeaux wine… with a few hiccups along the way!