Port of the Moon is the allegorical name of the architectural ensemble of the historical center of Bordeaux, which is located by the Garonne River (Gironde). Picturesque buildings in the classical style are located in a semicircle on its shores. The complex of structures includes: the Town Hall, the Grand Theater, the Exchange Square, Saint Catherine, the Cayo Gate and the Labottiere Hotel. The Port of Luna has played an important strategic role since the Roman Empire.

The square is located by the Garonne embankment. Its architectural appearance in the Baroque style was formed in the XVIII century. The project was developed by A. J. Gabriel. The square is surrounded by the buildings of the Customs Museum and the Exchange Palace. The main decoration of this place is the Fountain of Mirrors, which is a wide and flat surface filled with water. With the help of special sprayers, the smallest drops are sprayed into the air, which is why there is sometimes fog over the square.

A small square in the Italian manner, located near the Cathedral of Bordeaux. Most of the magnificent mansions surrounding the square were built in the XVIII century. In the central part there is the fountain of the Parliament of 1865 in the neo-Renaissance architectural style, installed thanks to the efforts of G.– A. Brochon, one of the mayors of Bordeaux. Parliament Square is a historical monument of France.

The main square of Bordeaux, one of the most impressive squares in Europe. The huge spaces of Kincons are able to accommodate a large number of people, which is why fairs and concerts are constantly held here. In 1883, a monument was erected on the square to the Girondists – representatives of one of the political parties of the period of the Great French Revolution, who were eventually persecuted by the Convention.

The magnificent building of the Grand Theater was erected in the classical style on the site where a Roman temple was located in the ancient era. Perhaps this fact eventually influenced the choice of the appearance of the building. The facade of the theater corresponds to the canons of the ancient Corinthian order, the portico is complemented by statues of goddesses of the Roman pantheon. Architect V. Louis was invited for the construction. Since the XVIII century, the theater scene of Bordeaux has been the center of the cultural life of the city.

Previously, the palace served as the residence of the Archbishop of Bordeaux – F. M. de Rohan. The complex was built in the XVIII century under the direction of the invited architect V. Louis, who also worked on the project of the Grand Theater of Bordeaux. The building changed owners several times. During the revolution, the tribunal was located here, during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte – the imperial palace, since 1835 the building has housed the Bordeaux City Hall and a museum.

The Cathedral of Bordeaux, dedicated to St. Andrew (in the Orthodox tradition, he is known as Andrew the First-Called). The building was erected in the XI century on the site of a destroyed temple of the IX century. For a long time of its existence, the cathedral has gone through several alterations of the interior space and facade updates. With each new reconstruction, its appearance gradually changed, while maintaining the standard Gothic features.

The tower is located on the square of the same name, which was named in honor of Archbishop P. Berlan. The personality of this minister of the church has remained in history due to the fact that he founded the city university for underprivileged students. The tower is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Andre, although it is located at some distance from it. The structure was built in 1863, in 1869 an 8-ton bell was erected on its top.

The temple is located on the Place Menard, which is located near the Pont du Pierre Bridge. The church building was erected in the XV-XVI centuries according to the project of Zh. Loeb. The temple is built in an elegant architectural manner, known as "flaming Gothic". The bell tower of the basilica is located at some distance from the main building. The bell tower is almost 115 meters long, which makes it one of the tallest temple structures in the world.

Expressive Baroque church, built at the very beginning of the XVIII century. The building has a very magnificent and pompous facade with an abundance of decorative finishes, decorated with sculptures and bas-reliefs. An image of the Virgin Mary is placed on the figured stained glass window. The interior spaces are connected to each other with the help of arched galleries. The walls of the church are painted with artful frescoes of the XVIII-XIX centuries.

The Bordeaux region is known for its excellent wines all over the world. You can learn more about the history of winemaking, learn more about the varieties of the drink and the peculiarities of its production in the "City of Wine". This is an interesting museum located in a modern building, which is called the "Wine Guggenheim". The museum opened in 2016, and quickly gained popularity among fans and connoisseurs of grape drink.

In the XVIII century, a Museum of Stone Sculpture was founded in Bordeaux, where artifacts from the Roman Empire period found in the vicinity were kept. From 1962-63 it became a regional museum of ethnography, archeology and history. In its modern form, the collection has existed since 1987. The exposition covers a fairly extensive historical period, about 70 thousand exhibits are placed on 5 thousand m2.text

In the Middle Ages, the tower was part of the system of Bordeaux city fortifications. It is believed that the structure was erected in the XV century on the site of the destroyed gate. The image of the Gross-Cloche is present on the city coat of arms and is a symbol of Bordeaux. The building acquired its modern appearance in the XVIII century, when two side towers acquired conical roofs. The northern facade is decorated with figures of fabulous gargoyles, in the central part there is an astronomical clock dial.

In the XV century, the main entrance to Bordeaux was carried out through the Cayo Gate (or Palace Gate). The gate was erected after the victory in the Battle of Fornovo, when the troops of Charles VIII defeated the Italian army. The architectural style of the building represents a transition from Gothic to Renaissance, which somewhat knocks the building out of the surrounding landscape, giving it a light "medieval" flavor.

The street is about 1.3 km long, on which there are more than 200 different shops. It can be safely called the main commercial artery of Bordeaux. Since the 70s of the XX century, the alley has become pedestrian, which further increased tourist traffic. In addition to shops, there are several historical attractions, among them – a Gothic cross on the site of an ancient cemetery and the Church of St. Simeon, built in the XIV century.

The base was founded before the outbreak of World War II by agreement with Hitler, when the Italian navy was stationed in this area. Italian and German submarines were based here. The place was reliably protected from bombing, so the ships were practically not damaged during air raids. Nowadays, an exhibition center is located on the territory of the gloomy concrete docks of the former base.

A bridge with a vertical lifting mechanism across the Garonne River, built in 2013. Its opening was attended by President F. Hollande and the Mayor of Bordeaux, A. Juppe. The structure is equipped with an elevator that lifts passengers to a 50-meter height. Every few days, the bridge is raised to ensure the passage of ships into the harbor of Bordeaux. The structure was named after J. Shabana-Delmas, former Prime Minister.

The old bridge of the XIX century across the Garonne, designed by C. Deschamps. The customer was Napoleon Bonaparte himself. The structure is a series of arched spans of the type of ancient Roman bridges. The supports are decorated with medallions depicting the profile of Napoleon. In the evening, the Pont de Pierre is illuminated by a floodlight system, which gives it a very romantic look.

The river originates in the central part of the Pyrenees and flows into the Bay of Biscay. The total length of the riverbed is 647 km . The Garonne is an important navigable artery of France, it has several hydroelectric power plants and reservoirs. The river flows through the cities of Toulouse, Bordeaux and Agen. With enviable frequency, it spills, which causes problems in settlements located on the shores.

Bordeaux is the oldest wine-growing region of France, where traditional technologies produce drinks of the best quality. Local (and not only) travel agencies offer a huge number of interesting wine and gastronomic excursions, during which tourists visit vineyards, factories, wine cellars, taste different varieties and learn to distinguish one wine from another.