← 2022 Italy & France

Bordeaux & Saint-Émilion

Bordeaux announces itself at the Place de la Bourse, its 18th-century facade doubled in the mirroir d'eau laid out across the quay, the Fontaine des Trois Grâces rising nearby with cherubs riding dolphins at its base. The rest of the old town keeps up the pace: the Monument aux Girondins and its winged figure of Liberty, the Grand Théâtre presiding over the Place de la Comédie, a shopping street thick with Saturday crowds, the Cathédrale Saint-André's twin Gothic spires, the medieval Grosse Cloche's gilded clock face, an allegorical "Genius" standing guard at the Palais Rohan, and a quiet statue tucked in the back of the Jardin Public. A rainy evening slowed things down on a side street near the Impasse Saint-Lazare, and a stop at the Musée du Vin et du Négoce filled in the history behind every glass. A day trip out to Saint-Émilion found vineyards rolling toward the village and the barrel cellars of Château Cadet Bon, a Grand Cru Classé built into the hillside. Back in Bordeaux, the day closed the way so many of them did — two glasses of rosé, poured out on the balcony.

The mirroir d'eau reflecting the Palais de la Bourse in Bordeaux, France — The mirroir d'eau reflecting the Palais de la Bourse

The Fontaine des Trois Graces at Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux, France — The Fontaine des Trois Grâces, Place de la Bourse

A cherub astride a dolphin, detail of the Fontaine des Trois Graces in Bordeaux — A cherub astride a dolphin, detail of the Fontaine des Trois Grâces

The Monument aux Girondins with its winged figure of Liberty in Bordeaux, France — The Monument aux Girondins, its winged figure of Liberty overhead

The Grand Theatre de Bordeaux with cyclists crossing the Place de la Comedie — The Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, cyclists crossing the Place de la Comédie

A busy shopping street in the old town of Bordeaux, France — A busy shopping street in the old town

The twin Gothic spires and rose window of the Cathedrale Saint-Andre in Bordeaux — The twin Gothic spires and rose window of the Cathédrale Saint-André

The Grosse Cloche belfry with its ornate clock and twin turrets in Bordeaux — The Grosse Cloche, its ornate clock and twin turrets

One of the allegorical Genius statues at the entrance to the Palais Rohan in Bordeaux — One of the allegorical "Genius" statues at the entrance to the Palais Rohan

A weathered statue in the back of the Jardin Public in Bordeaux, Russian sage blooming around it — A weathered statue tucked in the back of the Jardin Public

A wave-shaped ivy hedge in the Jardin Public in Bordeaux, agapanthus blooming behind it — A wave-shaped ivy hedge in the Jardin Public, agapanthus blooming behind it

A rainy evening on a quiet street near the Impasse Saint-Lazare in Bordeaux — A rainy evening on a quiet street, near the Impasse Saint-Lazare

Tasting cellars at the Musee du Vin et du Negoce in Bordeaux — Tasting cellars at the Musée du Vin et du Négoce

Vineyards rolling toward a distant village near Saint-Emilion, France — Vineyards rolling toward a distant village

The barrel cellar at Chateau Cadet Bon, a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe — The barrel cellar at Château Cadet Bon, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé

Two glasses of rose poured out on a balcony in Bordeaux, France — Two glasses of rosé on a balcony

← 2022 Italy & France