BORDEAUX, an important seaport town of France, chief town in the province of Gironde, beautifully situated in a plain on the left bank of the Garonne, about 60 in. from its mouth in the Atlantic. Ships of more than 1000 tons burden can easily ascend the river at high-water to B., which is accessible at all times to vessels of 000 tons. Its harbor is very capacious; and, by the Garonne, its commerce very extensive. The river is crossed by a noble bridge of 17 arches and 532 yds. in length, erected by the elder Deschamps in 1811-21. The old town, consisting partly of high wooden houses of the 15th c., has narrow crooked streets; but the newer parts of the city and the suburbs have wide streets, fine squares, and pleasant promenades lined with trees. The cathedral, which was consecrated in 1090, is remark able for its beautiful towers. The church of St. Croix is a building of the 10th c.; that of St. Seurin is also very old, and has rare Gothic ornaments. The former archiepisco pal palace is now the town. The great theater is one of the largest and finest buildings of its kind in France. B. has many other line public buildings, and learned associations, and educational and benevolent institutions, with a public library of upwards of 140,000 volumes. The university, founded by pope Eugenius IV. in 1441, has been, shim 1839, an Academie with 15 professorships. Pop. in 1876, 212,111.
Among the principal branches of industry are the production or preparation of sugar, brandy, liquors, vinegar, nitric acid, printed calicoes, woolen goods, carpets, lints, paper, earthenware, glass bottles, metallic wires, madder, and resinous articles. The rope works, cooperages, and dock-yards are extensive and full of activity. The canal du Midi, connecting B. with the Mediterranean, enables it to supply the whole s. of France with the colonial produce which it imports; and also with English tin, lead, copper, coal, dye-stuffs, herrings, etc. Wine, brandy, vinegar, dried fruits, hams, turpentine, and glass bottles are among its principal exports.
Except the wines of Champagne, no French wines are so much exported to foreign countries as those grown in the district of B., and known as BORDEAUX WINES. Some of them are red (known in England as claret), others white. Of the red wines, the Medoc is one of the best known. The red wines produced by the vineyards of Lafitte, Latour, Chatean•Margaux, and Ilaut-Briou are particularly celebrated for their quality. The white wines of Graves, and those of Sauternes, Barsac, Preignac, and Langon are in highest repfete.
In former times, B. was called Burdigala, and was the capital of the Thturiges It was a very prosperous town in the times of the Romans, was made by Hadrian the capital of Aquitania Secunda, and was both the principal emporium of the s.w. of Gaul, and the seat of its best educational institutions. It was taken by Charles Martel in 733; but was again spoiled by Norman plunderers in the 9th century. It became the capital of the duchy of Guienne; and in 1152 passed, by the marriage of Eleanor of Guienne with Henry of Normandy (afterwards Henry IL of England). under the dominion of England. B. was for a considerable time the seat of the splendid court of Edward the black prince. During the revolution, B. was the principal seat of the Girondists, and suffered fearfully at the hands of the Terrorists. Its inhabitants, disaffected to Napoleon's government, were the first to declare for the Bourbons in 1814. During the Franco-Prussian war, a delegation of the government of national defense, retreating before the advancing German army, stationed itself, Dee., 1870, at B.; and the first sittings of the national assembly in 1871 were held there. Since the restoration of peace, the export-trade of has increased greatly. In wines, there was an increase, between 1859 and 1871, of 124 per cent in the quantity, and 73 per cent in the value—arising from the amount of cheap wine shipped from the port during the two previous years. About one sixth of the total export of this article goes to the British dominions.