VIDÉO. Bordeaux rive droite, l’ancien quartier ouvrier se réinvente tendance nature
In our series “Bordeaux in the heart of my district”, we invite you to discover the Bastide in the company of Françoise, a resident passionate about her city. From the stone bridge to the Garonne shipyards, an original walk awaits us.
Françoise has chosen to present her native neighborhood and especially its development over the past few years.
Bordeaux in the heart of my neighborhood: La Bastide in the company of Françoise
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© France 3 Aquitaine
Some natives of Bordeaux remember it. Once the Garonne has been crossed via the Stone Bridge, the La Bastide district reminded you of another city. No facades classified as on the left bank but alleys of stalls and a few trade signs that have now disappeared.
Once invaded by swamps, this part of the city has become over the centuries agricultural land. And local culture obliges, a wine-growing land with several castles, some of which still remain on the hillsides.
On the banks of the Garonne, it is also a whole port activity which settles down with warehouses, construction sites, and a simple habitat. You have to imagine that the two banks of the Garonne were not united until 1822 at the end of the construction of the Stone Bridge. At the time, there were “customs houses” which collected a toll when goods passed through this single bridge in the Port of the Moon.
It also remains as a historical vestige of the old station of Orleans where the first rails of the nascent railway stopped. Now rehabilitated, the site has become a complex combining cinemas, bars and restaurants. The view from the cornice of the building is absolutely superb.
To survey the right bank of Bordeaux is to discover an immense natural space that runs along the river. Since the major town planning developments in the 2000s, green spaces have been developed and have become a very popular place for strolling by locals. Over the years, the Angelic Park (endemic plant of the estuary) evolve and grow. The loop of the two bridges is a must that every visitor must do to admire the city and its two very different shores. A sort of Bordeaux-style “Central Park” now that the river has once again become the center of the city.
Another place that has become emblematic, the new botanical garden generate a lot of enthusiasm among visitors. Arranged in several spaces (aquatic, geological, relaxation areas, sustainable culture) it is both a place of botanical discovery and a space where it is good to rest, for a nap or for a lunch …
“The Darwin ecosystem” is installed in the former Niel military barracks. The site has been rehabilitated since 2010 and now hosts businesses, associations, catering services and even sports. Skateboarding enthusiasts particularly appreciate the incredible indoor site dedicated to skateboarding. It is also a multicultural space where the people of Bordeaux come to relax, admire the many street art frescoes or attend meetings or conferences. Ecology and the defense of living things are at the heart of everything that drives Darwin.
Darwin, a growing nursery in Bordeaux
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© France 3 Aquitaine
Françoise leads us to finish on the site of the old Garonne shipyards. Now a festive place, a sandy beach has been set up there. The view over the Port de la Lune is exceptional. It is certainly from the right bank that one can admire all the beauty of Bordeaux.
If like Françoise (volunteer of theBordeaux Greeters association) you wish to make us discover your district, its inhabitants and their anecdotes, places of unusual life, do not hesitate to contact us by clicking here.
You can also watch the videos of our series by clicking on this interactive map.