The Bordelais
In the 2005 census, the city of Bordeaux was home to 230,600 Bordelais
(inhabitants of Bordeaux) and in 2007 there were just under one million
people living in the Bordeaux metropolitan area. With a population of
1.2 million in the Bordeaux – Arcachon – Libourne metropolitan
area, it is the fifth largest in France.
The city of Bordeaux contains
a diverse range of nationalities. Along with the French are large
numbers of Italians, Spanish, Portuguese, Germans and North Africans.
This contributes to the vibrant, cosmopolitan flavour that visitors
love about Bordeaux.
Bordeaux now welcomes about three million tourists
from around the world each year and with the tourism industry growing
rapidly our visitor numbers continue to increase.
Bordeaux’s Revitalisation
Bordeaux is a twenty first century city that radiates historic charm.
In more recent years there has been a welcome transformation of the
city's historic core into one of the great urban aesthetic triumphs
of France. Bordeaux’s listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site
in 2007 is a tribute to one of the best-preserved collections of eighteenth
century architecture in Europe. Covering an area of 1,810 hectares,
or half of the city, from the outer boulevards to the banks of the Garonne,
it is the largest urban entity to receive this listing.
Bordeaux has
many pedestrianised streets and so the best way to appreciate this
beautiful city is on foot. Weaving in and out of cobblestone laneways
and little squares into elegant French boulevards and spacious parks,
the charming buildings of Bordeaux will share with you their stories
from centuries of city life. Wander along the revitalized banks of
the Garonne River enjoying the parks, cycle path, pedestrian walkway
and new tramlines that have resulted from the successful urban renewal
project. Most of the old docks littering the waterfront have been
removed or transformed into sleek convention centres and exhibition
halls. Modern Bordeaux sits comfortably alongside the Bordeaux of the
past
The Quarters of Bordeaux
Bordeaux is divided into “quartiers” (quarters) which encompass
a precise geographical region in the city but which also reveal the
unique flavour of each specific area.
The Saint Pierre quarter (Le quartier St-Pierre)
The oldest, and considered
by many to be the most beautiful of the quarters of Bordeaux, this is
the city’s historic heart. Saint Pierre will charm you with its
cobblestone streets, Louis XV residences, the magnificent neo-renaissance
fountain of the Place du Parlement. and the historic St-Pierre Church
which was built on the site of the Gallo-Roman port and dates from the
15th - 16th centuries. The face of this quarter changed significantly
in the 18th century when a medieval wall was destroyed, opening St-Pierre
to the rest of the city. Saint Pierre will also delight your taste buds!
As the culinary capital of Bordeaux, it boasts a huge selection of restaurants
to suit everyone’s taste and budget.
The Chartrons quarter (Le
quartier des Chartrons)
On the banks of the Garonne River, this quarter
was named after the 17th century Chartreux convent. The wine trade
undertaken by the English merchants ensured this was a vibrant, wealthy
quarter in days gone by, but with the decline of the river trade it
became a residential area and now boasts a “village des antiquaires” with
many wonderful antique shops. This quarter of golden sandstone 18th
century houses also contains the Bordeaux Wine Museum and the Musee
d'Art Contemporain (Museum of Contemporary Art).
The Saint Eloi quarter
(Le quartier St-Eloi)
The focal point of this picturesque quarter
is undoubtedly the medieval Grosse Cloche, the belfry of the former
Town Hall. Situated beside the St-Eloi Church, the Grosse Cloche links
the Saint Michel, Victoire and Saint Pierre quarters. Nearby is rue
Sainte-Catherine, the 1.2 km pedestrian shopping street said to be the
longest in Europe and certainly the busiest in Bordeaux! This is one
of the town’s
oldest thoroughfares being a major north-south road in Roman times.
The Saint Michel quarter (Le quartier St-Michel)
This vibrant quarter
is separated from the St Pierre quarter by the cours Victor Hugo.
It has developed around the flamboyant gothic style Basilica dedicated
to Archangel Michael and the flèche St-Michel, the 114 metre
tall free-standing clock tower erected in 1472 which is the largest
monument in southwest France. A melting pot of cultures: Spaniards,
Portuguese, North Africans and French inhabit this lively quarter and
visitors can enjoy the affordable, multi-cultural cuisine available
here. Every Monday, Saturday and Sunday mornings the St Michel quarter
buzzes with the colourful markets which take place beneath the beautiful
spire.
The Sainte Croix quarter (Le quartier Ste-Croix)
Dominated by
the spire of the Romanesque Ste-Croix church, this well-populated
village only became part of the fortified city in the early 14th century.
The dignified Church of the Holy Cross dates from the late 11th – early
12th centuries and is annexed to a Benedictine Abbey founded in the
7th century. Today the heart of the Sainte Croix quarter borders the
older pre-18th century areas, and the areas that were modernized during
the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Station quarter (Le quartier Gare)
This quarter is the area surrounding Gare St-Jean, the imposing train
station in Bordeaux. An enormous hall built in an arc shape, the
station provides 24 hour service for food and drinks as well as having
numerous bars, restaurants and hotels nearby.
The Victoire quarter
(Le quartier Victoire)
Recognised as the student quarter, the Place
de la Victoire is one of the larger squares in Bordeaux. It is
a great place to orientate yourself as the focal points of the
square look to the north, south, east and west. Originally named
Place d’Aquitaine
in the 18th century, it was meant to unify a whole quarter around
the prominent porte d'Aquitaine. Today it is a quarter of student
nightlife with many popular bars as well as the Faculté de
Médecine of Bordeaux.
The Grands Hommes quarter (Le quartier des Grands Hommes)
Also known as the Golden Triangle, this elegant quarter of Bordeaux
is encompassed by three roads: cours Clemenceau, cours de l’Intendance,
a triumphal way used by Kings and Chiefs of State, and les allées
de Tourny, a walkway from 1745. Here you will find the beautiful Notre-Dame
Church built in 1684, and nearby is the popular meeting point, the Place
Gambetta, and the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, one of the
most beautiful 18th century buildings in Europe, located on the place
de la Comedie.
