Beautiful Bordeaux

1800's Buildings see from River Park.

As I make my way to the Sanctuary at Lourdes I stayed a few days in Bordeaux.  Almost along the Atlantic coast and wonderfully ensconced on  both banks of a river, it is a sight to behold.  It's about the tenth largest city in France and is very multi-cultural like New York.  In fact my hotel was in the Muslim quarter by the train station and as I walked through it I felt I could have been in Turkey.  But Bordeaux also is an ancient city, founded before the Romans, with a rich Christian tradition.

The Churches were fewer and farer between than I would have liked.  But I noticed that they seemed better kept; almost like some of the churches in the city.  (In a later entry I will have to explain the comic endeavor I face each day asking to concelebrate at the parish Mass).  While many have their roots in antiquity, many were built, rebuilt or restored at the turn of the 1900's as France turned another chapter in its tumultuous  history between church and state.

While sections of Bordeaux trace their history to Roman times, others were laid out in the 18th and 19th centuries.  Grand, broad boulevards are beautiful to behold and beckoned me to walk along them.  Again, like with most European cities there were many sections that are pedestrian only zones.  In fact the Rue St. Catherine is the longest pedestrian only street in France.  It begins in the Muslim section, passes through the ancient (Christian area), and ends on the boarder of one of a square from the 1800's.  The Rue St. Catherine has many upscale shops along it.  It also has a McDonalds.  I have to confess I went to McDonalds three times while I was in Bordeaux.  Additionally, there are many parks and gardens all of which culminate in the river park in the heart of the city.  It reminded me very much of our own Hudson River Park that I used to visit so often before I was made a pastor.

River Park

Another benefit to my time here was that it corresponded to Spring Break for the schools.  There were kids and families everywhere.  That in conjunction with simply stunning weather got me out walking the many parks and boulevards throughout the city.  I am not sure why I have not visited Bordeaux before.  But I do hope to return one day.  Tomorrow, though, Lourdes!

View of the suspension bridge that leads down river and to the Atlantic.