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Towns are talkative; not in the sense of the sounds of our modern society, but the stories that are set in the stone facades of buildings or the bronze of statues. The result is that the city that represents the wine of the region bears witness to that very activity on every corner.
Apart from certain traces from the XVIth and XVIIth centuries, it was only in the middle of the XVIIIth century that Bordeaux began to show the signs of its wine making activities. Initially the monuments edified by the Intendants Boucher and Tourny, The palais de la douane et de la bourse, the portes d'Aquitaine and Dijeaux, followed by the residences of the wealthy merchants: bunches of grapes can be seen on the arches of windows as well as sculptures of Bacchus.
Even Monseigneur Rohan, Archbishop of Bordeaux had grape studies painted inside the bays of his palace around 1770.
However, the most prolific period was the XIXth century, and more particularly the latter half. There wasn't a single wine merchant that didn't decorate the building with sculptures of grapes and suchlike.
They are visible throughout the Chartrons and the streets leading to the port.
Public monuments also pay tribute to the city's principal activity, be it the Monument des Girondins, The fontaine Art Nouveau on the place Amédée Larrieu, the monuments to Gaston Lafargue, local writer, or to Alexis Millardet, scientist, in the jardin public.
References to the wine trade became an integral part of public buildings and monuments, they can be found on the Maison Cantonale in, the Bastide (1913-1926), the Trade Union building (1934). Even if styles change with time, there are always references to and images of Bacchus on the facades of the buildings.
Throughout the city, wherever you go, there are constant reminders of the city's relationship with the vineyards. This ultimate link is symbolised by the boat "Ville de Bordeaux" that takes the Bordelais and tourists on river trips from the city to the vineyards. Since 1990, the boat has been decorated with the figure of Bacchus. |
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Jean-Pierre BERIAC
(extract from "Bordeaux, la ville au fil du vin") |
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