Arts & Manners: Bordeaux

The surprising thing about Bordeaux is that, in spite of its world-famous wines, nobody seems to pay much attention toitasa city. Yet. it is one of France’s most beautiful towns, the perfect city to walk around in. Any other town of Bordeaux’ artistic stature would be overrun with tourists.

I spend every free moment walking through the old part of the town. I like the medieval part with its great flamboyant Gothic churches and narrow, winding, cobbled streets flanked by ancient tenements. But for me the chief glory of Bordeaux is its eighteenthcentury section, built when the town became rich from its trade with the West Indies. Wealth led to the creation of wide boulevards, large squares, and marvelous buildings like the great theater built by Victor Louis (who built much of Paris), the Stock Exchange, and above all, the big and small private mansions that line the streets.

NH

About the Author

Nika Hazelton

Featured Tags

The surprising thing about Bordeaux is that, in spite of its world-famous wines, nobody seems to pay much attention toitasa city. Yet. it is one of France’s most beautiful towns, the perfect city to walk around in. Any other town of Bordeaux’ artistic stature would be overrun with tourists.

I spend every free moment walking through the old part of the town. I like the medieval part with its great flamboyant Gothic churches and narrow, winding, cobbled streets flanked by ancient tenements. But for me the chief glory of Bordeaux is its eighteenthcentury section, built when the town became rich from its trade with the West Indies. Wealth led to the creation of wide boulevards, large squares, and marvelous buildings like the great theater built by Victor Louis (who built much of Paris), the Stock Exchange, and above all, the big and small private mansions that line the streets.