Bordeaux
The Endeavour had berthed very conveniently in the center of this fine city where our nearest neighbors were striking municipal buildings of the 18th century. Walking and coach tours, together with free time, helped familiarize us with the locale. There was so much to take in. Upstream, a magnificent eighteen-span bridge across the Garonne River honors Napoleon’s many successful battles. In one of Europe’s largest squares, only a stone’s throw from our ship, is a dramatic bronze and stone monument which identifies Bordeaux’s heritage and the key French symbol of Liberty atop her column, with the nation’s proud rooster at the base.
The Roman historian Strabo identified the Garonne as the main link between the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In the first century AD, Roman Bordeaux, Burdigala, was a developing port and town. Ideally located for controlling the Garonne River traffic, and as a focus for trans-shipment of produce from the rich agricultural hinterland and as a thorough sea-going port, the commercial success of early Bordeaux was assured. Even 2,000 years ago it was the export of wine which was worthy of comment by contemporary historians. Under English control in the 14th century, the export of claret through Bordeaux to England and Flanders was in the order of 750,000 hectoliters per annum. Not surprisingly this was the greatest volume of any single product traded in medieval Europe.
Bordeaux played its part in the slave-trade triangle and by the end of the 18th century was the country’s third largest city.
A pre-lunch tasting of two dozen regional cheeses helped guests focus on another aspect of French cultural richness as we departed our quayside berth, downstream for the open waters of the Bay of Biscay.
The Endeavour had berthed very conveniently in the center of this fine city where our nearest neighbors were striking municipal buildings of the 18th century. Walking and coach tours, together with free time, helped familiarize us with the locale. There was so much to take in. Upstream, a magnificent eighteen-span bridge across the Garonne River honors Napoleon’s many successful battles. In one of Europe’s largest squares, only a stone’s throw from our ship, is a dramatic bronze and stone monument which identifies Bordeaux’s heritage and the key French symbol of Liberty atop her column, with the nation’s proud rooster at the base.
The Roman historian Strabo identified the Garonne as the main link between the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In the first century AD, Roman Bordeaux, Burdigala, was a developing port and town. Ideally located for controlling the Garonne River traffic, and as a focus for trans-shipment of produce from the rich agricultural hinterland and as a thorough sea-going port, the commercial success of early Bordeaux was assured. Even 2,000 years ago it was the export of wine which was worthy of comment by contemporary historians. Under English control in the 14th century, the export of claret through Bordeaux to England and Flanders was in the order of 750,000 hectoliters per annum. Not surprisingly this was the greatest volume of any single product traded in medieval Europe.
Bordeaux played its part in the slave-trade triangle and by the end of the 18th century was the country’s third largest city.
A pre-lunch tasting of two dozen regional cheeses helped guests focus on another aspect of French cultural richness as we departed our quayside berth, downstream for the open waters of the Bay of Biscay.
