Bordeaux
has been officially included on
the list of UNESCO World Heritage
sites as of 28 June 2007. This
distinction recognises the beauty
and unity of style of Bordeaux's
architectural heritage, which
has developed harmoniously over
the centuries and remained remarkably
well-preserved. The Bordeaux World
Heritage site is the largest urban
entity to be so honoured. It covers
1,810 hectares, or half of the
city, from the outer boulevards
to the banks of the Garonne.
A
rich concentration of monuments
in a dynamic city
With over 350 historic monuments
in a protected area of 147 hectares,
as well as 3 churches (Saint-André,
Saint-Michel, and Saint-Seurin)
that were already listed as World
Heritage sites on the pilgrim
road to Santiago de Compostela,
Bordeaux had a number of assets
to convince the jury.
Bordeaux, an 18th century architectural
gem, owes its beauty to architects
spanning a number of periods:
Jacques Gabriel Les Allées
de Tourny, Victor Louis Le Grand
Théâtre, Jacques
d'Welles the municipal stadium,
and Richard Rogers, who designed
not only the Beaubourg Centre
in Paris, but also the Bordeaux
Court of First Instance.
Above and beyond its lovely
architecture, Bordeaux was chosen
for its attractive, vibrant,
and cosmopolitan districts.
From the narrow streets of the
Saint-Michel quarter to buildings
from the 60s and 70s in Mériadeck,
these districts reflect the
life of a city that has evolved
without losing its character
or identity.
Bordeaux's successful bid as
a World Heritage site also relied
on several ambitious urban renewal
projects begun in 1996 under
the impetus of mayor Alain Juppé.
These include development of
the quays along the Garonne
River, the restoration of many
façades, and a light
rail transit system.
An
even greater attraction to tourists
Tourism in Bordeaux had already
developed considerably following
the city's extensive facelift.
However, it will now be entering
a new dimension thanks to the
UNESCO listing, undoubtedly
exceeding the 2.5 million visitors
a year Bordeaux currently welcomes.
As of Saturday, 7 July, and
in order to celebrate this event,
the Bordeaux Tourist Office
is organising a new tour within
the perimeter defined by UNESCO
- a night time tour to discover
the city's most beautiful monuments
under floodlights!
