35 Interesting Facts About Bordeaux, France

Facts on Bordeaux to Learn All About It

Ready to learn all about Bordeaux?

Facts are one of the best ways to learn more about something, and I personally love to read them! I’ve put together for you quite a bit of facts on Bordeaux; I’ve split them in 5 categories:

• The best Bordeaux facts
• Bordeaux fun facts
• Bordeaux cathedral facts
• Bordeaux facts for kids
• General facts of Bordeaux

Let’s dive in straight away with our first category! 🔥

The Best Bordeaux Facts

Bordeaux (unexpectedly pronounced like “Bordo”) is a port city and a France luxury destination located in the southwestern part of the country. This first part is going to be about the best general facts of the city. 

1. If you have already heard of Bordeaux, that is probably because of its wine

Not only is Bordeaux’s wine reputed nationally, it is also one of the best on the planet. Locally, it is obviously a big part of the economy.

In terms of numbers, there are 287,000 acres of vineyards, 10,000 estates producing wines and 960 million bottles of wine every year!

2. The most beautiful sight in Bordeaux is arguably the “Place de la Bourse”

“Place de la Bourse” is an amazing city square in Bordeaux. Not only are the buildings themselves beautiful, but there is also a huge water area that reflects the sky for a harmonious picture.

It took 45 years to be built, from 1730 to 1775. When the main architect died, his son took over and finished the project.

3. The French Revolution reached Bordeaux as well

Right in the middle of Place de la Bourse, there used to be a statue of Louis XV, but it was torn down during the French Revolution.

Bordeaux is not the only city in which that happened: throughout the whole country, at that time, many symbols of the past monarchy were surgically removed.

4. An important icon of the city is the fountain of Three Graces

Though the statue was torn down, another beautiful peace of art was built in its place: the fountain of Three Graces.

This bronze marvel was added to Place de la Bourse in 1869. It has now become one of the most important symbols of the city.

5. The first official record of Bordeaux wine-making dates back to the 4th century AD

Wine-making is an old tradition in Bordeaux. In fact, it is very old.

In one of his poems, Ausonius mentioned growing vines himself, and also enjoying a bit of the beverage once in a while. In his honor, Château Ausone, one of the finest Saint-Emilion producers, named itself after the poet in 1781.

6. Not only is Bordeaux reputed for its wine, but it is also home to Michelin-starred restaurants

This is probably a common feature of most big cities in France. They are all renowned for both their food and their beverages. In Bordeaux, while wine is everywhere, there are still lots of amazing restaurants.

27 restaurants are starred in Bordeaux, making it a gourmet’s paradise.

7. The magnificent châteaux, usually next to the vineyards, are quite recent

While they look very ancient and historical, these fantastic castles date back to the 18th century.

They were an idea from the richer Bordelais, who wanted to add a luxurious dimension to their vineyards, which was at that time a very smart and efficient marketing opportunity.

8. Modern wine-making techniques originated from Bordeaux

Bordeaux is not only about wealthiness and fancy wines, it is also the place where many of the most used wine-making techniques were created.

Émile Peynaud is a famous oenologist who contributed to those techniques a lot, through research.

9. There are precise rules to respect if you want to make quality Bordeaux wine

As I have just told you about, wine-making techniques take their roots in Bordeaux.

For instance, red grapes need to be fully ripe when picked up. Tasting skills need to be developed to become a wine professional. Also, the quality starts with the grapes, you will never get a decent wine with poor quality grapes.

10. Some English people call Bordeaux wine “Claret”

Why is that? This originates from the Middle Ages, when sugar in general was very expensive. People wanted to enjoy a sweet drink, so wine was at that time very pale and sugary.

When it was exported to England, it was called “vinum clarum” or “vin clar”, and “clairet” in French.

11. The “Place des Quinconces” is a beautiful and large square in Bordeaux

This square is in fact one of the largest city squares in all of Europe! It is around 63 acres total.

Its origins are quite peculiar: in 1820, to prevent a rebellion against the rest of the city, this square was laid out. Today, it regularly hosts fairgrounds.

12. “Ugugu” is a battle cry and is written under each main statue in the Place des Quinconces

If you look closely under the statues in the Place des Quinconces, you will see the word “Ugugu”. This is a Cambodian battle cry, in honor of the Khmer who brought wine varietals to the city.

The sculptures were built from 1894 to 1902.

13. The Grand Theatre of Bordeaux was built in honor of arts and light

The Grand Theatre of Bordeaux is truly grand. It was inaugurated in 1780 and designed by Victor Louis. The idea behind it was to represent light and arts in general.

It looks like an old Roman or Greek building, with characteristic white pillars.

14. There are still lots of artists working in the Grand Theatre of Bordeaux

Today, you can also see the Bordeaux National Opera in the Grand Theatre.

Permanent artists still work there, with around 110 musicians from the National Orchestra, 38 dancers from the National Ballet and 37 singers from the National Opera Choir.

We are done with the best facts about Bordeaux France, but now let’s go onto the fun side of the city. 👇

Bordeaux Fun Facts

The city of Bordeaux has some very unexpected and funny things that you probably have never heard of, and I have gathered 7 fun facts about Bordeaux France right below. 

15. Bordeaux was the place where French officials would head to during war times

While French armies are jokingly renowned as always surrendering, it is true that their officials tend to stay as far from the fights as possible.

During the Franco-Prussian War, they left for Bordeaux, and during World War II, to London, from where “Général De Gaulle” made his famous Appeal of 18 June speech.

16. We have to thank the Romans for the Bordeaux wine

Nowadays, Bordeaux and its area are renowned to be one of the best places in the world for red wine. Wine lovers from all around the globe dream of going there someday for some exquisite tasting.

Well, before France they have to thank… Rome! Romans introduced wine to the region in the middle of the first century.

17. The University of Bordeaux was founded by the Pope and the Archbishop

It is pretty rare that the Church is the one founding universities, but the one in Bordeaux was established by Pope Eugene IV in 1441.

It is also said that the idea to create a university in Bordeaux has to be credited to the Archbishop, but anyway the Church sure had to do something with it.

18. The longest shopping street in Europe is in Bordeaux

If you like going on shopping sprees, then Bordeaux is the place for you (other than Paris, of course).

In Rue Sainte-Catherine, which is 1.2 km / 0.6 miles long, you will be pleased with all the reputed shops, shopping centres and other cafés.

19. One of the most powerful lasers in the world is in Bordeaux

The Laser Mégajoule is truly an optic wonder. It is among the most powerful ones on the planet and helps scientists lead fundamental research, as well as developing plasma and laser technologies.

Its original cost was around 2 billion euros, which were paid by the French Ministry of Defence.

20. Some of the most famous aircrafts are built in Bordeaux

This is less known than it should be, according to me, but Bordeaux hosts around 20,000 people that work in the aeronautic industries.

In fact, lots of famous aircrafts are built there, like the Dassault Falcon private jets, the military Rafale, the Airbus A380 cockpit and the boosters of Ariane 5.

21. Bordeaux is home to one of the world’s main wine festivals

Vinexpo is one of the biggest international wine fairs. It is dedicated to wine and is located in Bordeaux, one of the most important wine cities on the planet.

It was created in 1981, and features conferences, tastings and winegrowing. There are around 2,400 winegrowers for almost 50,000 visitors every year.

And that’s it for the fun facts about Bordeaux! The next part will be about a very specific monument, the St. Andrew Cathedral. 👇

Bordeaux Cathedral Facts

Cathedrals are always important in terms of historical and architectural feats of strength, especially in a Western country like France. For the Bordeaux Cathedral, I have 7 facts to tell you about:

22. We still do not know exactly how old the Bordeaux Cathedral is

The Bordeaux Cathedral is a wonderful example of what a Roman Catholic Church ideally looks like. It is dedicated to Saint Andrew and is also the seat of the Archbishop of Bordeaux.

It was consecrated in 1096, but its first mention was in 814… so when was it actually built?

23. The Bordeaux Cathedral is a mix of style

Nowadays, if you look at the Cathedral as it is, you will immediately think of a Gothic style.

However, it used to be Romanesque, but lots of the Cathedral (apart from the inside walls) were rebuilt in the Gothic style, from the 12th to the 16th centuries.

24. How huge is the Bordeaux Cathedral? Very.

Because it is seated in such a widely open area, you can easily realize how big the Bordeaux Cathedral is.

If you want more numbers, well it is 127 meters / 417 feet long, 27 meters / 89 feet high and 18 meters / 59 feet large.

25. There were supposed to be four bell-towers in the Bordeaux Cathedral

When the Cathedral was first planned, there were supposed to be four bell-towers. At the moment, you can only see two spires on the side of “Rue Vital-Carles”.

That is because half of them were abandoned due to how heavy the structure would have been… so heavy that it would have sunk into the swampland.

26. The most notable event that took place in the Bordeaux Cathedral is a royal marriage

Strategic royal marriages were present in every European country in the Middle Ages, as it is one of the best ways to solidify a relationship between countries, sometimes rivals.

In 1137, Eleanor of Aquitaine married Louis VII, later to become King of France, in the Bordeaux Cathedral.

27. The biggest bell-tower of the Cathedral is isolated from the building

The bell-tower Pey-Berland was named after the most famous Archbishop of Bordeaux (who founded the university), and was built between 1440 and 1450. The Archbishop is buried behind the altar of the Cathedral.

While it used to be linked to the Cathedral, the bell-tower is now by itself, on the side.

28. If you are brave enough, you can see the whole city from the Pey-Berland tower

Not only is the Pey-Berland bell-tower very high, but it also bears large bells. It was listed as a historic monument by the French government in 1862.

If you want, you can reach the terrace at the top of the tower, after climbing 231 steps in a spiral. Though it is exhausting, the view is simply stunning.

There you go, you now know everything about the Bordeaux Cathedral. Onto the last part. 👇

Bordeaux Facts for Kids

The last part of this list of facts is dedicated to kids. While every fact is suited for everyone, I insist on having a special part for the younger ones and their special curiosity. 

29. Bordeaux’s region was first named Burdigalia

Unlike several big cities in Western Europe, Bordeaux was not first occupied by the Romans. The area was inhabited in around 567 BC by a Celtic tribe, who named it Burdigalia.

It was still conquered by the Romans later, in 60 BC, and Bordeaux started to be a commercial center after that.

30. Historically, there were lots of raids in Bordeaux

The city of Bordeaux has been relatively unlucky throughout the centuries, as it was attacked several times by different people and tribes.

First, in both 276 and 409, the Vandals sacked the city. Then, only 5 years later, there was a Visigoth raid. Finally, it was time for the Franks to attack in 498.

31. Bordeaux is the sixth-largest city in France

Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Nice are the biggest cities in the country, and Bordeaux comes after them.

There are around 260,000 inhabitants in the city itself, but if you include the metropolitan area, that number reaches more than a million people.

32. Bordeaux is right next to the Atlantic Ocean

Around 500 kilometers / 310 miles southwest of Paris lies Bordeaux. Just like the French capital, Bordeaux is built around a river, the Garonne.

The river divides the city into two parts and ends its course into the Atlantic Ocean, around an hour away from the urban area. This geographical position offers plenty of amazing day trip options around Bordeaux.

Arcachon Bay about 1 hour drive from Bordeaux

33. Bordeaux is classified “City of Art and History”

If you have ever been to Bordeaux, you can immediately see how important the historical and architectural heritage is to the city as a whole.

There are 362 historical monuments, which is only bested by Paris in France. Some of these landmarks even date back to Roman times!

34. Both tourists and cinema production teams regularly go to Bordeaux

In Bordeaux, there is one of the biggest 18th-century architectural urban areas. Every gate, street and building has a unique and majestic feeling.

It is even one of the French cities alongside Nancy to have seen lots of big scale projects for its urban area.

35. The climate in Bordeaux is oceanic

The climate in Bordeaux is a bit unique. It is not quite Mediterranean because of how often it rains during summer, but summers are hotter and its winters are milder than most other oceanic climate cities. Which, by the way, makes Bordeaux a good winter destination.

Because of the westerly Atlantic winds, winters are cool, and because of the Bay of Biscay, the summers are both warm and long.

So there you have them, these were the whole 35 Bordeaux France facts. I hope you enjoyed them and you learned something new today.

In case you want to learn more about the city or the country as a whole, feel free to keep reading, as I still have lots of facts to tell you about. 

General Facts of Bordeaux

You’ll find below a few general facts of Bordeaux, to learn more about this French city:

• Name: Bordeaux
• Province: Bordeaux
• Region: Nouvelle-Aquitaine
• Land area: 49.36 km² / 19.06 sq mi
• Population: 260,000
• Name of inhabitants: Bordelais, Bordelaise (French)
• Website: Bordeaux

Bordeaux Flag

More Facts!

You liked these Bordeaux interesting facts?

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Here is the main guide of the best France facts 👉 The 60 Best Facts about France

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Or click here to see ALL the facts up on the blog! Spoiler alert: there’s A LOT of them.

The Full List of 35 Bordeaux Facts

1. If you have already heard of Bordeaux, that is probably because of its wine
2. The most beautiful sight in Bordeaux is arguably the “Place de la Bourse”
3. The French Revolution reached Bordeaux as well
4. An important icon of the city is the fountain of Three Graces
5. The first official record of Bordeaux wine-making dates back to the 4th century AD
6. Not only is Bordeaux reputed for its wine, but it is also home to Michelin-starred restaurants
7. The magnificent châteaux, usually next to the vineyards, are quite recent
8. Modern wine-making techniques originated from Bordeaux
9. There are precise rules to respect if you want to make quality Bordeaux wine
10. Some English people call Bordeaux wine “Claret”
11. The “Place des Quinconces” is a beautiful and large square in Bordeaux
12. “Ugugu” is a battle cry and is written under each main statue in the Place des Quinconces
13. The Grand Theatre of Bordeaux was built in honor of arts and light
14. There are still lots of artists working in the Grand Theatre of Bordeaux
15. Bordeaux was the place where French officials would head to during war times
16. We have to thank the Romans for the Bordeaux wine
17. The University of Bordeaux was founded by the Pope and the Archbishop
18. The longest shopping street in Europe is in Bordeaux
19. One of the most powerful lasers in the world is in Bordeaux
20. Some of the most famous aircrafts are built in Bordeaux
21. Bordeaux is home to one of the world’s main wine festivals
22. We still do not know exactly how old the Bordeaux Cathedral is
23. The Bordeaux Cathedral is a mix of style
24. How huge is the Bordeaux Cathedral? Very.
25. There were supposed to be four bell-towers in the Bordeaux Cathedral
26. The most notable event that took place in the Bordeaux Cathedral is a royal marriage
27. The biggest bell-tower of the Cathedral is isolated from the building
28. If you are brave enough, you can see the whole city from the Pey-Berland tower
29. Bordeaux’s region was first named Burdigalia
30. Historically, there were lots of raids in Bordeaux
31. Bordeaux is the sixth-largest city in France
32. Bordeaux is right next to the Atlantic Ocean
33. Bordeaux is classified “City of Art and History”
34. Both tourists and cinema production teams regularly go to Bordeaux
35. The climate in Bordeaux is oceanic

 
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