So we decided to say Bonjour Bordeaux this time!
It was Rafa's first time flying as well as going out of Portugal. Since hubby agreed to stay at home to care for our zoo, Mom and the kids went on an adventure!
We had a late flight with Ryanair leaving Portugal at 17:40, well that would turn out delayed and we landed up leaving at 19:02. Going through security was very easy and we weren't asked for anything apart from our boarding passes. As I'm not vaccinated, I had taken the test for just in case and I'd also filled in the locator forms but nobody cared 😁Those that know me will know that flying always brings me great anxiety but the flight there was plain sailing, the same cannot be said for the return flight although my kids laugh and say it was minor turbulence. So once in Bordeaux the procedure was also just as easy. We took the tram to our first accommodation which was in Talence and we had an absolute fantastic stay. Unfortunately when we booked we said our last day was the 14th, which wasn't and so we had to check-out and to go to another accommodation (just as great) also in Talence, but the moving was an unnecessary task! So friends make sure to check the correct date and not be dumb like us😛
For our first day in Bordeaux and after a revigorating shower we went to Ponte de Pierre this stone bridge connects the city centre on the left bank of the river Garonne (water is brown not the normal blue) to La Bastide on the right bank. This bridge was commissioned by Napoleon but it was only inaugurated during the Bourbon Restoration. The bridge has 17 arches (the number of letters in Napoleon's name) and each arch has a white medallion in honour of the French Emperor and also has the city's coat-of-arms.
Another beautiful place is Place Royale and Miroir d'eau it is a landmark and symbol of Bordeaux. Today the bronze and marble Fontaine des Trois Graces, erected in 1860 stands in the center of the square. The fountain bears statues of Zeus’ three daughters. The Water Mirror (Miroir des Quais, Miroir d’eau) was installed in 2006. It is the world’s largest water mirror. It creates a reflection of the surrounding 18th century buildings. The water mirror is constantly changing. It works in cycles of 3 minutes changing water, 15 minutes as a shallow pool of water, 5 minutes draining and 3 minutes of a fog effect. The fog is only created in the summer. The water extends an additional 2,000m² over the central area and the “pool” is framed by a garden which is lit up at night. This is a favourite spot for kids and dogs to paddle in and refresh themselves, especially useful this time where temps were always in the 36's 💥
Monument aux Girondins The monument was erected in the early 20th century to honor the Girondists who were considered political martyrs. A figure of the statue of liberty stands at the center of the monument upon a 43 meter high column. The statue is surrounded by two pools each adorned with beautiful statues. Interesting features includes the webbed feet of the horse statues and the mermaid-like tails coming out of their backs. The fountain statues include women representing eloquence and history and allegorical representations of the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers. There is a statue of a Gual rooster an unofficial symbol of France.
Bar a vin de la Maison it is situated in the Maison du Vin de Bordeaux which houses the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB). This is a government organization which represents Bordeaux wine industry. The building also houses the Viniculture School where you can take courses if you want to get to know Bordeaux wines. The beautiful building is shaped like the prow of a ship. The design of Le Bar a Vin was by architect Françoise Bousquet.
Grand Théâtre Bordeaux it has a neoclassical exterior with 12 tall Corinthian columns supporting an entablature featuring statues representing 9 muses and Juno, Minerva and Venus. The interior is even more beautiful than the exterior. There are grand statues, sweeping staircases and beautiful ceiling murals. The main auditorium is the color of French royalty, blue, white and gold. The theatre is unique in being one of the few wooden-frame European theatres which has survived without necessary rebuilding.
Notre Dame Church Bordeaux inside it has a wide central nave 60 meters long flanked by arches supporting an upper gallery surrounded by a wrought iron balustrade. Beneath the gallery are shallow chapels. In the chapel near the main altar is a series of paintings by Andre. The church has an organ dating back to 1707 which was made in England. The church is known for its amazing acoustics and is used for regular concerts.
Porte Cailhau was built to commemorate the victory of Charles VIII at the Battle of Fornovo in Italy as a kind of triumphal arch. No one knows exactly where the name of the gate originated but there are a number of theories. It could come from the word cailloux (pebbles) for the pebbles from the nearby river.
Basilique Saint Michel the distinguishing feature of the Gothic church exterior is the stand-alone campanile bell tower which rises 114 meters above the Bordeaux skyline. The steeple is the highest in southern France and holds a carillon of 22 bells. It is possible to climb to the top of the belfry for brilliant views. The church is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Road to St. Jacques de Compostela in France.
Grosse Cloche this was a 15th century addition to the remains of the 13th century Porte Saint-Eloi. It was also called Gate of St. James as many pilgrims passed through here following the St. James’ Way on route to Santiago de Compostela. The bell would be rung to warn residents of fires, foreign attacks or important events. This Big Clock” or “big bell” is one of the oldest belfries in France. It bears the inscription “I ring the hours and my voice is a call to arms…I sing for happy events and weep for the dead.”
Jardin Public one always imagines something like this in the countryside not in the heart of the city. It is a relaxed setting in which a pond is surrounded by centuries-old trees. The garden is much appreciated by people who enjoy a leisurely walk, joggers, children, and grandparents, who coexist with swans and ducks in complete harmony. It's the veritable "green lung" in the city centre, the 11 hectares of grass, trees, flowers, and plants also include a children's playground and the famous Guignol Guérin puppet show. From the top the views are amazing, don't miss it!
Here one will also find the Natural History Museum, a small botanical garden, and a bar-restaurant (L’Orangerie), the Jardin Public has been classified a Jardin Remarquable de France.
Muséum de Bordeaux - sciences et nature I must see, an absolute delight!
Getting to the Museum of Bordeaux
By foot: via the Public Garden-Entrances: Place Bardineau / Place du Champ de Mars / Cours Verdun / Rue d’Aviau / Rue de la Course / Place Longchamps
By tram: Line B – Quinconces tram stop / Line C – Jardin Public tram stop / Line D – Fondaudège Muséum stop
By bus: 4, 5N or 15 Jardin Public bus stop / 6 Rue d’Aviau bus stop
By bike: Vcub stations close
By car: nearest car parks – Auditorium / Tourny / Allée de Bristol
For more info check here https://www.museum-bordeaux.fr/en/accueil/venir-et-visiter
Arcachon it is a seaside resort town in southwest France and it's known for oyster harvesting. Its 4 districts are named after the seasons. The Ville d'Été (summer) quarter is home to shopping streets, the town’s sandy main beach and a casino in the 19th-century Château Deganne. Ville d’Hiver (winter quarter) has extravagant 19th-century villas. South of the town is the Dune du Pilat, a 2.7-km natural sand dune. A place I highly recommend to visit.
And now sit back and enjoy the trip through our gorgeous photos💋
The view from our room where we spent our last night in Bordeaux.
The colour is the end-result of a natural phenomenon. To keep things simple, the fresh water (that flows in the Garonne from its source) is laden with sediment (mainly clay). With the effect of the oceanic tides, the river comes up against an incoming current made of salty seawater.In chemical terms, the salty water is heavier than the fresh water, resulting in a kind of undercurrent amplified by the riverbanks and which brings the sediment to the surface. This reaction is what gives the Garonne its lovely brown colour.
