Bordeaux
Bordeaux had never been in our original plan. We were supposed to go directly to San Sebastian, Spain, from Germany, but we could not get a room for all of the days we hoped to be there. Looking at the train connections, we figured one day in Bordeaux sounded nice.
When we stepped off the tram and saw this stretch of street on the Garonne River, Myles and I both remarked, "Looks like Shanghai."
More after the jump
Bordeaux was interesting to us for many reasons, even if you don't count the wine. It is where Eleanor of Aquitaine was when she learned of her father's death, and where she married her first husband, King Louis VII. Bordeaux also hosts a stop on a French route of El Camino de Santiago. And after the misery of the one hour and ten minutes in Paris, it was a welcome, relaxed, proper introduction to France.
After walking from our hotel across the Garonne
we made our way to the Basilica St. Michel.
This church is one on the Way of St. James and Myles found Saint Jacques (there were many, many candle lightings on our journey across Europe and there will be a post on those).
Construction on the Gothic Church began in the 1300s. It replaced an twelfth century Romanesque building. One of the earliest chapels completed was this one, dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
The spire, built separate from the church and a safe ringing distance away, was built between 1472 and 1492.
Then we went over to the Cathedral St. Andre. Of the earlier church that was consecrated in 1096, only the nave wall remains. The current structure was built primarily in the 14th and 15 centuries.
St. Andre is, of course, stunning in all its Gothic glory.
Separate from the church is the Tour Pey Berland, built over the mid-to-late 15th century.
Myles and I climbed it, nearly all 230 steps to the very top. I say nearly because once we got to this level, Myles and I decided we had gone high enough.
.
But even from the almost-top, the views of Bordeaux and down on the Cathedral are incredible.
There is so much more to see and do in Bordeaux, but we were only there for about 24 hours. I can't believe this was our back-up plan because we could not get to Spain.
In Bordeaux we boarded a train bound for Hendaye, a resort city on the Spanish border. We would be picked up by taxi to go into Spain for the coastal city of San Sebastian.
It was.
When we stepped off the tram and saw this stretch of street on the Garonne River, Myles and I both remarked, "Looks like Shanghai."
More after the jump
Bordeaux was interesting to us for many reasons, even if you don't count the wine. It is where Eleanor of Aquitaine was when she learned of her father's death, and where she married her first husband, King Louis VII. Bordeaux also hosts a stop on a French route of El Camino de Santiago. And after the misery of the one hour and ten minutes in Paris, it was a welcome, relaxed, proper introduction to France.
After walking from our hotel across the Garonne
we made our way to the Basilica St. Michel.
This church is one on the Way of St. James and Myles found Saint Jacques (there were many, many candle lightings on our journey across Europe and there will be a post on those).
Construction on the Gothic Church began in the 1300s. It replaced an twelfth century Romanesque building. One of the earliest chapels completed was this one, dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
The spire, built separate from the church and a safe ringing distance away, was built between 1472 and 1492.
Then we went over to the Cathedral St. Andre. Of the earlier church that was consecrated in 1096, only the nave wall remains. The current structure was built primarily in the 14th and 15 centuries.
St. Andre is, of course, stunning in all its Gothic glory.
Separate from the church is the Tour Pey Berland, built over the mid-to-late 15th century.
Myles and I climbed it, nearly all 230 steps to the very top. I say nearly because once we got to this level, Myles and I decided we had gone high enough.
.But even from the almost-top, the views of Bordeaux and down on the Cathedral are incredible.
There is so much more to see and do in Bordeaux, but we were only there for about 24 hours. I can't believe this was our back-up plan because we could not get to Spain.
In Bordeaux we boarded a train bound for Hendaye, a resort city on the Spanish border. We would be picked up by taxi to go into Spain for the coastal city of San Sebastian.
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