Bordeaux - France

My last time in France was almost 9 years ago and now is finally time to return. Flight is booked to... Bordeaux. To be honest the city was never on my wishlist but after checking some flight options and ruling out the places my friend and I have already been too, this French city was the winner. in October I'll get to see all the places on these cards sent by Óscar, Nancy and Cathy.

Editions RENE * Photo: Drouot

The Port of the Moon, port city of Bordeaux in south-west France, is inscribed as an inhabited historic city, an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the age of the Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Lands. Urban plans and architectural ensembles of the early 18th century onwards place the city as an outstanding example of innovative classical and neoclassical trends and give it an exceptional urban and architectural unity and coherence. Its urban form represents the success of philosophers who wanted to make towns into melting pots of humanism, universality and culture. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1256

Connecting the left and right banks of the Garonne, commissioned by Napoleon and inaugurated in 1822, the Pont de Pierre was the first bridge ever built in Bordeaux.

Until then, it was necessary to cross the river by boat. 

The bridge has 17 spans... which is also the number of letters in the name Napoleon Bonaparte. The Pont de Pierre was the only bridge to connect the city's historic centre on the left bank and the La Bastide district on the right bank for nearly 150 years.

 

Photo: © Olivier Anger

FR-1516598, sent by Cathy.

Today, it is crossed by an ultramodern tramway and is one of half a dozen bridges. The Pont de Pierre nevertheless has a special place in the hearts of the Bordelais, who admire its elegance. The also scrutinise the bridge's piles to ascertain the level of the tide. - in: http://www.bordeaux-tourism.co.uk/offre/fiche/pont-de-pierre/PCUAQU033V500O5D