By Janet
Steinberg, Travel Editor
“God only made water”, stated Victor Hugo, “man
made wine.” And what better place to
taste that wine than in the world’s major wine industry capital?
made wine.” And what better place to
taste that wine than in the world’s major wine industry capital?
Because our cruise ship,
Silversea’s Silver Whisper, docked overnight in Bordeaux (the sixth-largest
urban area in France) we had time enough to explore both the city and some of
the surrounding wine region.
Silversea’s Silver Whisper, docked overnight in Bordeaux (the sixth-largest
urban area in France) we had time enough to explore both the city and some of
the surrounding wine region.
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|
SILVER WHISPER DOCKED IN BORDEUX,
FRANCE |
Our first day’s Silversea shore excursion (Panoramic
Bordeaux & Wine Tasting) indulged our senses with the beauty and flavors of
this port city on the Garonne River in southwestern France. Bordeaux has diligently
preserved its elegant 18th century architecture.
Bordeaux & Wine Tasting) indulged our senses with the beauty and flavors of
this port city on the Garonne River in southwestern France. Bordeaux has diligently
preserved its elegant 18th century architecture.
A panoramic sightseeing drive took
us through the Old Town of Bordeaux
(Place de la Bourse), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We saw the Palais
Rohan (now the City Hall or Hôtel de Ville), Place Gambetta and Place Tourny,
that offers a view of the late 18th-century Grand Theatre. From here, we passed
by the 14th-century Cailhau Gate, the former belfry of the Town Hall from the
Middle Ages, and the impressive Grosse Cloche Bell of Bordeaux.
us through the Old Town of Bordeaux
(Place de la Bourse), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We saw the Palais
Rohan (now the City Hall or Hôtel de Ville), Place Gambetta and Place Tourny,
that offers a view of the late 18th-century Grand Theatre. From here, we passed
by the 14th-century Cailhau Gate, the former belfry of the Town Hall from the
Middle Ages, and the impressive Grosse Cloche Bell of Bordeaux.
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| GROSSE CLOCHE BELL |
The current Grosse Cloche Bell was cast in June 1775.
Until the Liberation of France, at the end of the WW II, the bell announced all
of the town’s important events, including fires and the beginning of the grape
harvest. Due to its weight and the risk
of cracks that could cause vibration of the bell, it has not rung since the
commemoration of the Allied victory on 8
May
1945.
Until the Liberation of France, at the end of the WW II, the bell announced all
of the town’s important events, including fires and the beginning of the grape
harvest. Due to its weight and the risk
of cracks that could cause vibration of the bell, it has not rung since the
commemoration of the Allied victory on 8
May
1945.
The tour culminated with a visit and wine tasting at
Chateau Smith Haut Lafite.
Chateau Smith Haut Lafite.
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| CHATEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITE AND VINEYARD |
Sniff…swirl…sip. Gaze
at it. Inhale it. Taste it.
Once you have gotten even a mere taste of France’s Route du Vignoble,
you will never again just drink a glass of wine. Like the best of Francophiles, you will know
it is something to be savored. If you
care to learn more about French wines, stop in at La Maison du Vin De
Bordeaux, the headquarters of the Bordeaux Wine Council. There you can get free maps, advice, and a
crash course in wine tasting
at it. Inhale it. Taste it.
Once you have gotten even a mere taste of France’s Route du Vignoble,
you will never again just drink a glass of wine. Like the best of Francophiles, you will know
it is something to be savored. If you
care to learn more about French wines, stop in at La Maison du Vin De
Bordeaux, the headquarters of the Bordeaux Wine Council. There you can get free maps, advice, and a
crash course in wine tasting
On our second day in Bordeaux, among its many diverse
choices, Silver Whisper offered a shore excursion to the UNESCO Village of St.
Emilion. The celebrated vineyards of St.
Emilion are among the most famous and attractive destinations in the Bordeaux
region. The vineyards reach all the way up to St. Emilion’s 13th-century town
walls.
choices, Silver Whisper offered a shore excursion to the UNESCO Village of St.
Emilion. The celebrated vineyards of St.
Emilion are among the most famous and attractive destinations in the Bordeaux
region. The vineyards reach all the way up to St. Emilion’s 13th-century town
walls.
The St.
Emilion excursion toured the village, its underground monuments, and its other
landmarks including the Collegiale Church and its magnificent, 12th-century
cloister, the 12th-century ramparts, the marketplace and Eglise Monolithe,
a 12th century church carved from one of the cliffs above the
city. It is the largest underground
church in Europe. Adjacent to the church, the catacombs include a charnel house
and numerous sepulchers dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Emilion excursion toured the village, its underground monuments, and its other
landmarks including the Collegiale Church and its magnificent, 12th-century
cloister, the 12th-century ramparts, the marketplace and Eglise Monolithe,
a 12th century church carved from one of the cliffs above the
city. It is the largest underground
church in Europe. Adjacent to the church, the catacombs include a charnel house
and numerous sepulchers dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.
You might
also want to visit Bordeaux’s synagogue, built in 1882 in the Spanish
Portuguese style. One of the largest places of worship in France, it can
accommodate up to 1,500 people.
also want to visit Bordeaux’s synagogue, built in 1882 in the Spanish
Portuguese style. One of the largest places of worship in France, it can
accommodate up to 1,500 people.
Be sure to make time for a pleasant
stroll along the Garonne River from the Esplanade des Quinconces to the
to the pedestrian area that radiates from the Place de la Comedie.
stroll along the Garonne River from the Esplanade des Quinconces to the
to the pedestrian area that radiates from the Place de la Comedie.
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|
“WATER
MIRROR” (miroir d’eau) ON THE GARONNE RIVER |
On the Esplanade
des Quinconces is the Monument aux Girondins. It consists of fountains and a large column
surmounted by a statue representing liberty.
There are two statues of Montaigne and Montesquieu on either side of the
place.
des Quinconces is the Monument aux Girondins. It consists of fountains and a large column
surmounted by a statue representing liberty.
There are two statues of Montaigne and Montesquieu on either side of the
place.
Two rostral columns, erected in 1829,
stand at the end of the Esplanade, overlooking the Garonne River and glorifying Bordeaux’s port activity. These are surmounted by statues of Neptune (symbolizing
navigation) and Mercury (symbolizing trade).
stand at the end of the Esplanade, overlooking the Garonne River and glorifying Bordeaux’s port activity. These are surmounted by statues of Neptune (symbolizing
navigation) and Mercury (symbolizing trade).
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| ROSTRAL COLUMNS ERECTED IN 1829 |
On the Place de la Comedie,
directly across from the Grand Theatre, the elegant, faithfully restored Grand
Hotel de Bordeaux reigns supreme. Take
a break from touring with a drink in the Grand Hotel’s Orangerie, the
hotel’s winter garden. For 7 Euros you can enjoy an Alain Milliat Jus
de Fruits and a complimentary plate of gougere fromage (flaky cheese
roll), gressini (melt-in-your-mouth poppy/sesame sticks), tomato relish
and pesto.
directly across from the Grand Theatre, the elegant, faithfully restored Grand
Hotel de Bordeaux reigns supreme. Take
a break from touring with a drink in the Grand Hotel’s Orangerie, the
hotel’s winter garden. For 7 Euros you can enjoy an Alain Milliat Jus
de Fruits and a complimentary plate of gougere fromage (flaky cheese
roll), gressini (melt-in-your-mouth poppy/sesame sticks), tomato relish
and pesto.
If you
have more time in Bordeaux than a shore excursion allows, you must further
explore this region where sunshine ripens the grapes to luscious colors. Let yourself be treated to la couleur du
bon gout. (The color of good
taste.) Let yourself be totally immersed
in le vins de Bordeaux. (The
wines of Bordeaux.)
have more time in Bordeaux than a shore excursion allows, you must further
explore this region where sunshine ripens the grapes to luscious colors. Let yourself be treated to la couleur du
bon gout. (The color of good
taste.) Let yourself be totally immersed
in le vins de Bordeaux. (The
wines of Bordeaux.)
A tour through the Bordeaux wine-producing region that
lies along the banks of the Gironde, the Garonne, and the Dordogne Rivers, is a
tour through vineyards gently bathed by iodine-perfumed breezes from the
Atlantic Ocean.
lies along the banks of the Gironde, the Garonne, and the Dordogne Rivers, is a
tour through vineyards gently bathed by iodine-perfumed breezes from the
Atlantic Ocean.
The
250,000 acres of vines, which occupy this most favorable location in
southwestern France, account for one-third of the total wine production in
France. A variety of soils, subsoils,
microclimates, grape varieties and traditions generate a diversity of nuance
and bouquets and offer a range of wines unique in the world. (Red wines; dry white wines; sweet white
wines; and white dessert wines.
250,000 acres of vines, which occupy this most favorable location in
southwestern France, account for one-third of the total wine production in
France. A variety of soils, subsoils,
microclimates, grape varieties and traditions generate a diversity of nuance
and bouquets and offer a range of wines unique in the world. (Red wines; dry white wines; sweet white
wines; and white dessert wines.
Bordeaux represents an age-old
cultural influence of rare permanency and richness. With its extraordinary heritage of classical,
neoclassical, and contemporary, architecture, it is little wonder that it
became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
cultural influence of rare permanency and richness. With its extraordinary heritage of classical,
neoclassical, and contemporary, architecture, it is little wonder that it
became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.
Bordeaux, the capital of Aquitaine, is
a place where vineyards are art and buildings are history.
a place where vineyards are art and buildings are history.
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| HISTORIC OPERA HOUSE (Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, inaugurated April 17, 1780) |
JANET STEINBERG is the winner of 38
national Travel Writer Awards and an International Travel Consultant
with The Travel Authority in Mariemont, Ohio.
national Travel Writer Awards and an International Travel Consultant
with The Travel Authority in Mariemont, Ohio.