Bordeaux listed a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Bordeaux, one of the Great Wine Capitals network, has been officially included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites as of 28 June 2007.
This distinction recognises the beauty and unity of style of Bordeaux’s architectural heritage, which has developed harmoniously over the centuries and remained remarkably well-preserved.
The Bordeaux World Heritage site is the largest urban entity to be so honoured. It covers 1,810 hectares, or half of the city, from the outer boulevards to the banks of the Garonne.
With over 350 historic monuments in a protected area of 147 hectares, as well as 3 churches (Saint-André, Saint-Michel, and Saint-Seurin) that were already listed as World Heritage sites on the pilgrim road to Santiago de Compostela, Bordeaux had a number of assets to convince the jury.
Bordeaux, the capital of the Gironde department and an 18th century architectural gem, owes its beauty to architects spanning a number of periods: Jacques Gabriel (Les Allées de Tourny), Victor Louis (Le Grand Théâtre), Jacques d’Welles (the municipal stadium), and Richard Rogers, who designed not only the Beaubourg Centre in Paris, but also the Bordeaux Court of First Instance.
Above and beyond its lovely architecture, Bordeaux was chosen for its attractive, vibrant, and cosmopolitan districts. From the narrow streets of the Saint-Michel quarter to buildings from the 60s and 70s in Mériadeck, these districts reflect the life of a city that has evolved without losing its character or identity.
Bordeaux’s successful bid as a World Heritage site also relied on several ambitious urban renewal projects begun in 1996 under the impetus of mayor Alain Juppé. These include development of the quays along the Garonne River, the restoration of many façades, and a light rail transit system.
Tourism in Bordeaux had already developed considerably following the city’s extensive facelift. However, it will now be entering a new dimension thanks to the UNESCO listing, undoubtedly exceeding the 2.5 million visitors a year Bordeaux currently welcomes.
As of Saturday, 7 July, and in order to celebrate this event, the Bordeaux Tourist Office is organising a new tour within the perimeter defined by UNESCO – a nighttime tour to discover the city’s most beautiful monuments under floodlights!
Modern Bordeaux is energised by the wine trade, with major international wine fairs and festivals. There’s the very popular biannual Fete du Vin, the professional biennial Vinitech and Vinexpo exhibitions, and all the festivals marking the flowering of the vines, the start of vintage, and the new wine.
These days the city blends history with modern style – with technology, lively restaurants and bars, revivified riverbanks, and a brilliant public transport system.
Bordeaux – the wine region – is the largest producer of AOC wine area in the world, with more than 115,000 hectares. The area produces about 900 million bottles of wine annually, of which most is red. The great winemaking areas surround the city: the Médoc to the north, St Emilion and Pomerol to the east, Graves and Sauternes to the south.
The great names here are as legendary as old Greek gods: Château Latour, Château Lafite, Château Margaux, Petrus, Château d’Yquem. Only 40kms away is St Emilion, a medieval walled town that has World Heritage Listing.
The great names represent only a fraction of what happens here: the diversity of appellations, vineyards, classifications and growers is rich and rewarding.
Filed under: France | Tagged: Bordeaux, UNESCO, Wine tourism