Monument Sights in Bordeaux — 4 of Our Favourites

Facing the Place du Palais, it stands impressively with its multiple conical towers and ornate sculptures. It is thought the name Cailhau comes from the rocks once used to ballast ships in the docks.

Standing at height of 35 meters, the Cailhau gate was part of town walls. There is an exhibition that presents the tools and materials that were used to build the city. plus an audio-visual montage created from old film, immerses us in the world of stonemasons.

With 258 steps to march up you may be out of breath but you will not be disappointed with the view! You will be looking over the oyster beds, Bird Island, the Great Dune of Pyla and the Atlantic ocean.

By tradition, the Dominicans are part of the family of 'mendicant' monks - which means that they relied chiefly or exclusively on charitable donations and begging to survive. Architecturally, certain rules had to be applied to a Dominican monastery, one being that buildings and the church should not exceed a certain height. This section of wall suggests that Saint-Emilion mendicant monks were perhaps not be as poor as their order demanded!

Tension between the French and the English during the Hundred Years War in this region meant that building was ultimately destroyed. At the beginning of the Hundred Years War, French troops who were fighting to reassert the power of their king, took refuge in the monastery. It became a refuge, an observation point and a defensive position. The Dominicans who no longer felt safe there left their large monastery and settled within the walls of Saint-Emilion town. The monastery, meanwhile, was deliberately destroyed, leaving just this stylish piece of wall.

From Crossing the Garonne river, the Pont de Pierre or "stone bridge" was the first to span this expanse of river in Bordeaux. Constructed as late as the 19th century, at the demands of Napoleon, it posed an architectural challenge due to strong river currents. 

The tram that runs between the right bank and the centre of Bordeaux.  Featuring pedestrian crossings and cycle paths, from the arrival of the tram, the stone bridge now has only lane in each direction reserved for motor traffic.