Bordeaux, Aquitane, France
It is not common for us to see dawn along a freshwater river, even one with such a strong current. The chocolate-colored waters of the Garonne River fled by us as we docked at the very center of Bordeaux, the capital of the French wines. The best wine France produces, according to so many foreigners, and of course Frenchmen! The city has very old beginnings, back in the days of the Celts and of the Aquitanes (ask Caesar about that!). During the third century before Christ these people already called this their home. And then Rome came and dominated, and eventually these people traded with the Romans, especially for wine. The grape vine was brought here and grew very well. The weather was just right for this plant, and it began producing its bounty. Cabernet was the first type to be introduced. The area of St. Emilion followed after the Medoc. But Bordeaux was strong on trading and as the years passed, the river banks were constantly occupied by more and more trading ships. It then became a harbour, and was destroyed by the Barbarian hordes, and rebuilt again. So the city begat its forts and walls, ever bigger and stronger, and then with the marriage of of Eleanor of Aquitane and King Henry II of England in 1152, it quickly became the principal English foothold for their 300-year Aquitanian adventure. This led to the domination of the red wines typical of their taste- imported back to England and named “claret”. This was the first economic boom to Bordeaux.
The second boom was financed with the expansion of colonial trade in the eighteenth century. We toured around on foot, visiting the park of Cancon, with its marvelous Collonne des Girondins, or “Independence” column. Next was the Place des Grand Hommes, and the Grand Theatre. The Place du Parlement and Place de St.Pierre or the Cathedral followed, and ended at the Port de Cailhau, in the photograph,part of the great fortifications made by the city against further incursions by the English.
After lunch we visited the Museum de Aquitaine, a marvelous collection of part of the local history. Night was spent docked in this lovely river port.
It is not common for us to see dawn along a freshwater river, even one with such a strong current. The chocolate-colored waters of the Garonne River fled by us as we docked at the very center of Bordeaux, the capital of the French wines. The best wine France produces, according to so many foreigners, and of course Frenchmen! The city has very old beginnings, back in the days of the Celts and of the Aquitanes (ask Caesar about that!). During the third century before Christ these people already called this their home. And then Rome came and dominated, and eventually these people traded with the Romans, especially for wine. The grape vine was brought here and grew very well. The weather was just right for this plant, and it began producing its bounty. Cabernet was the first type to be introduced. The area of St. Emilion followed after the Medoc. But Bordeaux was strong on trading and as the years passed, the river banks were constantly occupied by more and more trading ships. It then became a harbour, and was destroyed by the Barbarian hordes, and rebuilt again. So the city begat its forts and walls, ever bigger and stronger, and then with the marriage of of Eleanor of Aquitane and King Henry II of England in 1152, it quickly became the principal English foothold for their 300-year Aquitanian adventure. This led to the domination of the red wines typical of their taste- imported back to England and named “claret”. This was the first economic boom to Bordeaux.
The second boom was financed with the expansion of colonial trade in the eighteenth century. We toured around on foot, visiting the park of Cancon, with its marvelous Collonne des Girondins, or “Independence” column. Next was the Place des Grand Hommes, and the Grand Theatre. The Place du Parlement and Place de St.Pierre or the Cathedral followed, and ended at the Port de Cailhau, in the photograph,part of the great fortifications made by the city against further incursions by the English.
After lunch we visited the Museum de Aquitaine, a marvelous collection of part of the local history. Night was spent docked in this lovely river port.
