Sights in Bordeaux
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Spa de Vinothérapie Caudalie
To immerse yourself, literally, in the local liquid, at the Spa de Vinothérapie Caudalie you can take a red-wine bath, enjoy a Merlot wrap or order a Cabernet body scrub. Apart from the sheer novelty factor, the vine and grape extracts are said to promote blood-strengthening and anti-ageing. The spa is 20 minutes south of Bordeaux next to Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. It's best reached by your own wheels - exit the A62 at junction 1.
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Parks
Landscaping is artistic as well as informative at the Jardin Public. Established in 1755 and laid out in the English style a century later, the grounds incorporate the meticulously catalogued Jardin Botanique founded in 1629 and at this site since 1855.
At the vast square esplanade des Quinconces, laid out in 1820, you'll see the fountain Girondins monument, a group of moderate, bourgeois National Assembly deputies during the French Revolution, 22 of whom were executed in 1793 after being convicted of counter-revolutionary activities.
The recently completed facelift of the 4km-long riverfront esplanade incorporates playgrounds, bicycle paths and, everyone's favourite, a…
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Basilique Saint-Seurin
Austere and imposing, the Basilique Saint-Seurin is an architectural treasure, classed by Unesco as a World Heritage Site. The basilica's style is predominantly Romanesque, but many Gothic elements pertain - the result of successive additions to the structure over the centuries. Its history goes back as far as the beginning of Christendom in the 6th century.
On the western façade of the building, superb columns form two archways allowing access to the nave, whose beautiful Romanesque capitals date from the 12th-century. The southern portal recounts the Last Judgement, while, inside the basilica, the massive pillars in the nave have a striking countenance. To the left of…
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Cathédrale Saint-André
Lording it over Bordeaux is Cathédrale St-André. A Unesco World Heritage Site, the cathedral's oldest section dates from 1096; most of what you see today was built in the 13th and 14th centuries. Exceptional masonry carvings can be seen in the north portal.
Even more imposing than the cathedral itself is the 50m gargoyled, gothic belfry, Tour Pey-Berland. Erected between 1440 and 1466, its spire was added in the 19th century, and in 1863 it was topped off with the statue of Notre Dame of Aquitaine (Our Lady of Aquitaine). Scaling the tower's 232 steep, narrow steps rewards you with an unfolding panorama of the city.
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Cathédrale St-André
Lording over the city, and a Unesco World Heritage Site prior to the city's classification, the cathedral's oldest section dates from 1096; most of what you see today was built in the 13th and 14th centuries. Exceptional masonry carvings can be seen in the north portal. Even more imposing than the cathedral itself is the gargoyled, 50m-high Gothic belfry, Tour Pey-Berland, erected between 1440 and 1466. Its spire was added in the 19th century, and in 1863 it was topped off with the statue of Notre Dame de l'Aquitaine (Our Lady of Aquitaine). Scaling the tower's 232 narrow steps rewards you with a spectacular panorama of the city.
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Esplanade des Quinconces
The most prominent feature of esplanade des Quinconces, a vast square laid out in 1820, is the fountain monument to the Girondins, a group of moderate, bourgeois National Assembly deputies during the French Revolution, 22 of whom were executed in 1793 after being convicted of Counter-Revolutionary activities.
The entire 50m-high ensemble, completed in 1902, was dismantled in 1943 by the Germans so the statues could be melted down for their 52 tonnes of bronze. Restoration took years and was not completed until 1983.
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Musée d'Histoire Naturelle
There's something delightfully old-fashioned about this natural history museum, which dates back to the period after the French Revolution when French society began to embrace the benefits of science. There is one section devoted to housing an exhibition of regional fauna and lots of bugs on pins and quality taxidermy.
The mansion that houses the museum, the Hôtel de Lisleferme, is an impressive sight even if the museum is a little old-school.
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Musée des Beaux-Arts
The evolution of Occidental art from the Renaissance to the mid-20th century is on view at Bordeaux’ Musée des Beaux-Arts. Occupying two wings of the 1770s-built Hôtel de Ville, either side of the Jardin de la Mairie (an elegant public park), the museum was established in 1801; highlights include 17th-century Flemish, Dutch and Italian paintings. Temporary exhibitions are regularly hosted at its nearby annexe, Galerie des Beaux-Arts.
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Jardin Botanique
If you need some respite from the frenetic pace of wine tasting, head to Bordeaux's beautifully landscaped botanical garden. The grounds of the public gardens was established in 1755 and laid out in the English style a century later. The meticulously catalogued Jardin Botanique itself was founded in 1629 and moved to its present site in 1855.
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Tour Pey-Berland
The gargoyled, 50m-high Gothic belfry, Tour Pey-Berland was erected between 1440 and 1466. Its spire was added in the 19th century, and in 1863 it was topped off with the statue of Notre Dame de l’Aquitaine (Our Lady of Aquitaine). Scaling the tower’s 232 narrow steps rewards you with a spectacular panorama of the city.
reviewed
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Girondins Monument
At the vast square esplanade des Quinconces, laid out in 1820, you’ll see the fountain Girondins monument, a group of moderate, bourgeois National Assembly deputies during the French Revolution, 22 of whom were executed in 1793 after being convicted of counter-revolutionary activities.
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Jardin Public
Landscaping is artistic as well as informative at the Jardin Public. Established in 1755 and laid out in the English style a century later, the grounds incorporate the meticulously catalogued Jardin Botanique founded in 1629 and at this site since 1855.
reviewed
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CAPC Musée d’Art Contemporain
Built in 1824 as a warehouse for French colonial produce like coffee, cocoa, peanuts and vanilla, the cavernous Entrepôts Lainé creates a dramatic backdrop for cutting-edge modern art at the CAPC Musée d’Art Contemporain.
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Musée d’Aquitaine
Gallo-Roman statues and relics dating back 25,000 years are among the highlights at the impressive Musée d’Aquitaine. Ask to borrow an English language catalogue.
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Galerie des Beaux-Arts
Temporary exhibitions are regularly hosted at Musée des Beaux-Arts' annexe, Galerie des Beaux-Arts.
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Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Faience pottery, porcelain, gold, iron, glasswork and furniture are displayed at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
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Palais Gallien
The only remains of Burdigala today are the crumbling ruins of the 3rd-century amphitheatre, Palais Gallien.
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Museums
Bordeaux has a healthy collection of museums and galleries. Gallo-Roman statues and relics dating back 25,000 years are among the highlights at the impressive Musée d'Aquitaine. Ask to borrow an English-language catalogue.
Built in 1824 as a warehouse for French colonial produce like coffee, cocoa, peanuts and vanilla, the cavernous Entrepôts Lainé creates a dramatic backdrop for cutting-edge modern art at the CAPC Musée d'Art Contemporain.
The evolution of Occidental art from the Renaissance to the mid-20th century is on view at Bordeaux' Musée des Beaux-Arts. Occupying two wings of the 1770s-built Hôtel de Ville, either side of the Jardin de la Mairie (an elegant…
reviewed