Bordeaux Favorites

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Favorite thing: Saint-Michel has always been a disrict where beautiful antiques and unusual second hand items can be found.
Saint Michel has a flea market and as antiques bric-a-brac gallery as well as Mediterranean Grocery shops and bazaars offer a marvellous blend of colors, odors, tastes. People who enjoy hunting good deals, which is much appreciated by students and tourists in the know.

Favorite thing: The Greatest Bordeaux wines are also on sale in numerous wine shops, and you ar sure to find superb cuisine in the city's finest restaurants...
The triangle formed by the Allees de tourny, Cours Gerges Clemenceau and Cours de I'intendance has been the city's luxury distict from a very ling time. It's classic layout and architecture is eminently suited to luxury goods.

Favorite thing: The visit of Saint André Cathedral, the boat trip on the river Garonne and Shopping in Rue Catherine

Fondest memory: Rue Sainte Catherine with all its shops, the crêperies, the multicultural atmosphere, the cappuccinos with tons of whipped cream on them,and many others.....

Favorite thing: At the end of the XVIIIth century, The city of Bordeaux was particularly lively thanks to it commercial activities (wine, colonial trade...).

The Duke of Richelieu, Governor of Guyenne, decided to equip the city with an Opera House that was fitting of such a city, and asked the architect Victor Louis (1731-1800) to oversee the project.

Started in 1773, the construction of the Grand-Théâtre took seven years to complete, and was finished in 1780. This imposing neoclassical building (88 x 47 metres) is capable of holding 1,114 people.

The Grand-Thêatre underwent a final restoration during 1990-1991, recreating the original decoration. Today the Grand Théâtre is unarguably one of the finest pieces of this city that is so marked by XVIIIth century architecture.

Fondest memory: The Grand-Thêatre presents both theatrical and musical productions, and has seen some of the finest stars of the last century: the Talma, Nourrit,Viardot, Falcon, Duprez, Petipa...

The Grand-Théâtre still offers musicals, ballet and concerts... and is true to its vocation today, more than ever.

Favorite thing: De gueules, à la Grosse-Cloche ouverte, ajourée et maçonnée de sable et sommée d'un léopard d'or ; à la mer d'azur chargée d'un croissant d'argent ; au chef de France ancien.
Dans les anciennes armoiries de la Ville de Bordeaux les Fleurs de lis représentent les armes des rois de France ; le léopard rappelle les armes de la province de Guienne dont Bordeaux était la capitale ; le Château reproduit les tours de l'ancien hôtel de ville dont il reste aujourd'hui la Grosse Cloche ; le Croissant figure la courbe décrite par la Garonne devant la ville ; les eaux du fleuve baignent les tours de l'hôtel de ville.

Pour couronne, Bordeaux aura une couronne murale à sept créneaux (ville de premier ordre) d'or. Comme supports : deux antilopes blanches colletées d'une couronne fleurdelisée d'or et enchaînée du même.
Et sa devise restera :

LILIA SOLA REGVNT LVNAM, VNDAS, CASTRA, LEONEM
Les lis seuls règnent sur la lune, les flots, le château et le lion.

Fondest memory: Of muzzles, to the Thick open, perforated Bell and built of sand and added of a gold leopard; to the sea of azure loaded of a money crescent; to the old France chief.
In the former armoiries of the City of Bordeaux the Flowers of lily represent the weapons of the kings of France; the leopard recalls the weapons of the province of Guienne of which Bordeaux was the capital; the Castle reproduces the towers of the former city hall of which it remained today the Thick Bell; the Crescent represents the curve described by the Garonne before the city; the waters of the stream bathe the towers of the city hall.


For crown, Bordeaux will have a wall crown to seven gaps (first-class city) of gold. As supports: two white antelopes collarred of one gold crown fleurdelisée and linked of the same.
And its motto will remain :

LILIA SOLA REGVNT LVNAM, VNDAS, CASTRATES, LEONEM
The only lilies reign on the moon, the streams, the castle and the lion.

Favorite thing: Bordeaux has been the centre of wine production and wine research in France and the world for a long time.

Although Bordeaux wines have got a lot of competition they are still very popular and asked. There is held a big wine trade fair each two years, the "Vinexpo". Wine producers and traders from all over the world come there and exchange information, taste wines and much more. And there are also hold seminars about wine.

Favorite thing: The city's main shopping area is east of Place Gambetta along the pedestrianised Rue Porte Dijeaux and the botique-lined Cours de l'Intendance and Rue Sainte Catherinem where you'll find several major department stores and a fantastic cyber cafe! Galerie Bordelaise, a 19th century shopping arcade, is at the intersection of Rue Porte Dijeaux and Rue Sainte Catherine.
To get from Rue Porte Dijeaux to Place Gambetta and its beautiful garden, you have to pass through Porte Dijeaux, a former city gate built in 1748. Nowdays, Place Gambetta is an island af calm and flowers.

Favorite thing: Bordeaux's neoclassical Grand Theatre is on the Place de la Comedie. It is surrounded by a Corinthian colonnade decorated with 12 figures of the Muses and Graces, was buils in the 1770s.
A bit to the east along the river, Place de la Bourse, built between 1731 and 1755, is flanked by the old Hotel de la Douane and the Bourse du Commerce.