Bordeaux

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search

Bordeaux

Motto: Lilia sola regunt lunam undas castra leonem. "The fleur-de-lis alone rules over the moon, the waves, the castle, and the lion" ( in French: Seul la Fleur de Lys reigne sur la lune, les vagues le chateau et le lion)

Top:View of Bourse Palace and Garonne River, Middle left:View ot Saint-Andre Cathedral and Bordeax Tramway, Middle right:Night view of Allees du Tourny and Maison de Vin, Bottom left:Front of Palais Rohan Hotel, Bottom center:Meriadeck Commercial Centre, Bottom right:Pierre Bridge in Garonne River Bordeaux Location within Aquitaine region  Bordeaux Administration Country France Region Aquitaine Department Gironde Arrondissement Bordeaux Intercommunality Bordeaux Mayor Alain Juppé (UMP) (2008–2014) Statistics Land area1 49.36 km2 (19.06 sq mi) Population2 239,157  (2010)  - Ranking 9th in France  - Density 4,845 /km2 (12,550 /sq mi) Urban area 1,057 km2 (408 sq mi) (2008 estimate)  - Population 832,605 (2008 estimate) Metro area 3,875.2 km2 (1,496.2 sq mi) (2008 estimate)  - Population 1,105,000 (6th in France) (2008 estimate) Website www.bordeaux.fr 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 44°50′19″N 0°34′42″W / 44.8386°N 0.5783°W / 44.8386; -0.5783

Bordeaux (French pronunciation:  ; Gascon: Bordèu; Basque: Bordele) is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.

The city of Bordeaux, with a population of 239,157 inhabitants in 2010, is the ninth largest city in France; its metropolitan area (aire urbaine) is the sixth largest in France, with a population of 1,127,776. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture of the Gironde department. Its inhabitants are called "Bordelais" (for men) or "Bordelaises" (women).

The city's nicknames are "La perle d'Aquitaine", "La Belle Endormie" (Sleeping Beauty) in reference to the old center which had black walls due to pollution. Nowadays, this is not the case. In fact, a part of the city, Le Port de La Lune, was almost completely renovated.

Bordeaux is the world's major wine industry capital. It is home to the world's main wine fair, Vinexpo, while the wine economy in the metro area takes in 14.5 billion euros each year. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century. The historic part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble" of the 18th century.