A Few Words About Bordeaux

Who hasn't heard of Bordeaux?
Most people associate this word with the type of wine for which the city is famous. The area of Bordeaux has been growing prime-quality vine since the 8th Century Today, the region's 117,000 hectares of vineyards produce more than 700,000,000 million bottles of wine, including everyday wine as well as some of the most expensive wine types of the world.

The city of Bordeaux is the administrative capital of the Acquitaine region. It sprawls on the two banks of the river Garonne. The residents of the city are commonly referred to as Bordelais. Though the city's large and its population is almost 1,000,000, there are only two bridges over the river - the old bridge Pont en Pierre (translated "Bridge of Stone") and a modern one. The most probable reason for this is the fact that the left bank part of the metropolis is much more developed.

Bordeaux boasts a long and interesting history as a traditional residence of the upper classes and the location of their luxurious villas. The first settlement on the site was founded by the Romans more than 2,300 years ago and named Burdigala. Later, a large part of the area became a feudal possession of the English monarch. The town experienced its first economical boom during the 18th Century, thanks to the flourishing trade with the countries from the Carribean. The location of Bordeaux was of great importance to the development of these trade relations. It's situated at the latitude allowing ships to sail with the trade winds which take them across the Atlantic in the fastest and easiest way. During the military conflicts of the 19th and 20th Century, Bordeaux gained importance as a temporary seat of the French government in a situation of crisis.

Two things about Bordeaux have remained constant throughout its turbulent history. One of them is the city's position as a major educational centre. Bordeaux is home to a 70,000 student population and a 235 hectare campus, which is one of the largest in Europe. The four universities of the city bear Roman numbers - Bordeaux I, II, III and IV, and offer degree programmes in natural sciences, medicine, liberal art and political science.

The other thing about Bordeaux that hasn't changed despite centuries of political and social transformation is wine. The region features over 9,000 wine-growing chateaux, producing wine of 57 prestigious apellations. Both red and white Bordeaux wine is appreciated. However, it's the red wine, made of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, or Malbec vine, that has a truly legendary status. The region's five "premier cru" (first-growth) red wines are listed among the best wines in the world.