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BORDEAUX With its

BORDEAUX With its beautiful boulevards, graceful bridges, historic monuments, churches, museums and parks, Bordeaux is a fabulous destination for a French sojourn Known as the “Port of the Moon,” and located on the Gironde estuary, Bordeaux is an elegant, gracious city. Its wide squares, including the Place des Quinconces and the Place de la Bourse, with its spectacular reflecting pool, the Miroir d’eau, make it a pleasure to explore. The name Bordeaux comes from a Celtic settlement in the area, Burdigala, circa 300 BC. The city became the capital of Roman Aquitaine, which it remained until 276 AD when it was attacked by the East German tribe known as The Vandals. In the 5th century it was again attacked by Vandals, then by Visigoths and Franks; later there was trouble with the Andalusian Muslims, the Basques and even the Vikings. In the 12th century the city’s fortunes improved when the duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henri Plantagenet, who later became King Henry II of England. Bordeaux flourished, largely due to its wine trade, and was eventually incorporated into the Kingdom of France. The 18th century was considered a golden age for Bordeaux, and many of the buildings in the downtown area date back to this era. Parts of Paris are said to be modeled after Bordeaux. Victor Hugo, the poet and author of Les Misérables, loved the city and declared “take Versailles, add Antwerp, and you have Bordeaux.” During World War II, the city’s port was used as a submarine base for the German and Italian navies; the giant, concrete reinforced pens are still present today and are sometimes used for cultural exhibitions. Must-sees Bordeaux is often called “the City of Art and History,” and has 362 historic monuments, surpassed only by Paris. The most popular museums are probably the Musée des Beaux Arts, the Musée d’Aquitaine and the Musée du Vin et du Négoce—a whole museum Clockwise: Place de la Bourse at dusk; the Pont de Pierre; artisan cheese on sale at a market; Bordeaux is famous for its wines 98 EXPLORE MORE 2018

CITY GUIDE dedicated to wine. Other highlights include the Triangle d’Or (Golden Triangle), with its honey-colored stone architecture, and the Place de la Comédie, where you will find the magnificent neoclassical Grand Théâtre. Visit the Gothic St. Michel church and the medieval St. Pierre district, where narrow streets and little squares and countless bars and restaurants can be found. Shopping The Rue Sainte Catherine is a pedestrianized area dedicated solely to shopping. The further you move toward Place de la Comédie and the nearby Cours de l’Intendance, the fancier the shops become. Here you will find classic French designers as well as upmarket boutiques. For souvenirs and gifts, stroll along the Quai des Marques. Eating Bordeaux is home to many fine restaurants. Specialties include oysters, fish and steak. Try La Tupina—voted the second best bistro in the world by the International Herald Tribune—which is located in the gastronomic heart of Bordeaux known as La Rue Gourmande. And for canelés, those quintessentially Bordelais rich dark caramel cakes with a delicious center flavored with rum and vanilla, head to local chain Balliardran. Of course, as with any part of France, food and wine are equally important, but wine is undoubtedly one of the major attractions of Bordeaux. The city is renowned as the capital of the world’s wine industry, and the Center for Wine Culture and Tourism officially opened its doors two years ago. Wineries are everywhere and the owners are more than happy to offer samples in an attempt to lure you into buying a bottle from them and not their local competitors. Go online: Watch a video of the Châteaux, Rivers & Wine cruise at vrc.com/videos EXPLORE MORE 2018 | VIKINGCRUISES.COM 99