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Weekend outing: UNESCO classified sites near Bordeaux

undefined undefined 11 mars 2019 undefined 11h55

undefined undefined 22 mars 2024 undefined 11h36

The Editor

Citadelle de Blaye

Cock-a-doodle-doo! Once again, our region is at the top. What for? For the list of monuments classified by UNESCO. Nouvelle Aquitaine is indeed the large French region where the most monuments distinguished by the precious label can be found. A small overview of the wonders to see in our area. (N.B.: this list can also save you from boring Monopoly afternoons in case of unexpected visit from the in-laws during the holidays.)

Cordouan Lighthouse

This is the latest addition to the list. Added among the 33 new sites to the UNESCO World Heritage list, the Cordouan Lighthouse located at the mouth of the Gironde estuary is the oldest lighthouse in Europe. Built in 1611, the one nicknamed as "the king of lighthouses" is the only one still permanently inhabited. Standing at 67.5 meters high, it remains the only one still open to the public and guarded. Off the coast of Royan (Charente-Maritime) and Verdon-sur-Mer (Gironde), it is a must-see in the French landscape.

Let's start with the essentials, without any misplaced chauvinism: Bordeaux! You can't miss it, the Port de la Lune was classified in 2007. It is actually the largest urban area designated so far, covering 1810 hectares. We won't go over the wonders of the city and what earned it this classification. Ok, quickly then, if you insist! First of all, know that, except for the capital, it's the French city with the most classified buildings (347 to be exact), many of which are classical architecture, inherited from the Enlightenment. The organization of the city around the river and its role as a port are equally remarkable. And let's not forget about the wine tradition, as Bordeaux is one of the most influential cities in international wine trade.
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Saint-Emilion

With common characteristics (remarkable architecture, vineyard terroir), the area of Saint-Emilion obtained the coveted distinction earlier. It was in 1999 when it was inscribed as an exceptional cultural landscape, linked to the ancient viticulture and the presence of quality monuments. Among them is the Monolithic Church, a unique monument in France, directly carved into the rocky promontory on which the village is built. Impressive and majestic. Also enticing are the macarons, a specialty of the commune, produced according to a recipe dating back to 1620 and closely guarded. For all these reasons, Saint-Emilion, like Bordeaux, is very popular with tourists, especially in summer. But due to the tiny size of the commune, be aware that the tourist density per square meter is really high. It's better to visit off-season, if you can.


Religious monuments of the Way of St. James

The four routes of the pilgrimage pass through our region, and 19 buildings located on its paths were classified in 1998. Among them are the cathedrals of Bordeaux (at Pey Berland), Agen in Lot-et-Garonne, Bayonne in the Basque Country, and Périgueux in Dordogne, as well as the Landes abbeys of Sorde and Saint-Sever.

Blaye Citadel

The Blaye Citadel, Fort-Paté and Cussac-Fort-Médoc, also known as the "lock of the Gironde estuary", joined eleven other fortifications designed by Vauban, the famous military architect of Louis XIV, in 2008. Surprisingly, the nearby nuclear power plant did not receive the same honors...

Prehistoric Site of the Vézère Valley (Lascaux Cave)

This area of Dordogne has 147 Paleolithic sites. While the most remarkable site, internationally known and visited annually by 400,000 tourists, is the Lascaux Cave, the valley also has 24 other caves adorned with cave paintings. This makes it a region of exceptional ethnological, anthropological, and aesthetic richness. The photos of horses and bison painted on the walls of the main cave of Lascaux, sometimes nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of cave art, and discovered by chance in 1940, have since circled the globe. So much so that today, the cave is closed to the public and instead visitors can see a perfect replica (though) to avoid degradation due to excessive human traffic.

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Cité Frugès à Pessac

Finally, the residents of Pessac learned with emotion about the classification of one of the working-class neighborhoods in the town, the Cité Frugès, built between 1924 and 1925 at the request of industrialist Henry Frugès, by the international star of architecture Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier. This collection of 51 homes, one of which is acquired by the municipality and open to visitors, showcases the avant-garde principles that have made his work renowned: functionality, geometric simplicity, and the flow of light in more open spaces. A youthful work of the architect that is worth a visit.