Bordeaux, Port of the Moon

On our way to Portugal in 2016, my family and I stopped in Bordeaux, France. We had a great meal, I tasted the wonderful wine, I bought a couple of postcards and we did a little tour around the city. Is very beautiful but one evening is not enough to see everything properly. I hope to go there again with more time.

Bordeaux at night

This postcard was sent by João Nogueira

The Port of the Moon, port city of Bordeaux in south-west France, is inscribed as an inhabited historic city, an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the age of the Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Lands. Urban plans and architectural ensembles of the early 18th century onwards place the city as an outstanding example of innovative classical and neoclassical trends and give it an exceptional urban and architectural unity and coherence. Its urban form represents the success of philosophers who wanted to make towns into melting pots of humanism, universality and culture. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1256

Pont de Pierre

The Pont de pierre, or "Stone Bridge" in English, is a bridge in Bordeaux, (in the Gironde department of France), which connects the left bank of the Garonne River (cours Victor Hugo) to the right bank quartier de la Bastide (Avenue Thiers).

First bridge over the Garonne River at Bordeaux, it was planned and designed during the First French Empire, under the orders of Napoleon I, but its construction took place during the Bourbon Restoration, from 1819 to 1822. During these three years, the builders were faced with many challenges because of the strong current at that point in the river. They used a diving bell borrowed from the British to stabilize the bridge's pillars. It has seventeen arches (number of letters in the name Napoléon Bonaparte). On the sides, each pile of bricks is capped by a white medallion in honor of the emperor. It also carries the coat of arms of the city (three intertwined crescents). It was the only bridge until the construction of pont Saint-Jean in 1965. - in: wikipedia

Tour Pey Berland

Tour Pey Berland, named for its patron Pey Berland, is located in Bordeaux at the Place Pey Berland next to Cathédrale Saint-André.

Its construction was from 1440 to 1500 at the initiative of the archbishop of the same name. Crowned a steeple, it has remained isolated from the rest of the Cathedral to protect the Cathedral from the vibrations of the bells. After the completion, the church had initially no money for the purchase of bells, therefore the tower was used for housing until 1790. After 1790, a lead factory was set up in the tower. Bells were installed after 1851 and the tower began to be used for its original purpose. - in: wikipedia

Place de la Bourse

This postcard was sent by Joana from a Postcrossing meeting

Place de la Bourse is a square in Bordeaux, France and one of the city's most recognisable sights. Built from 1730 to 1775, its architect was Ange-Jacques Gabriel.

This square is one of the most representative works of classical French architectural art of the eighteenth century. In the north stood the Palais de la Bourse (current Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bordeaux) and in the south the Hotel des Fermes (now Interregional Directorate of Customs and Indirect Rights which houses the National Museum of Customs). This one was made by Ange-Jacques Gabriel between 1735 and 1738 and the sculptures represent Minerve protecting the arts and Mercury favoring the commerce of the city. - in: wikipedia

Bordeaux

This postcard was sent by Joana from a Postcrossing meeting

Bordeaux is the world's major wine industry capital. It is home to the world's main wine fair, Vinexpo,  and the wine economy in the metro area takes in 14.5 billion euros each year. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century. The historic part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble" of the 18th century. After Paris, Bordeaux has the highest number of preserved historical buildings of any city in France. - in: wikipedia