Bordeaux

bor-do', a city in the south-western part of France. It is situated on the Gironde River, about seventy miles from the Bay of Biscay. It may be reached by ships of heavy draft. It lies on the bend of the river with three miles of quays for the accommodation of shipping. The river is crossed by one of the finest stone bridges in Europe. It rests on seventeen arches, and was finished in 1821 at a cost of $1,200,000. A number of public buildings, including a city hall, custom house, exchange, and a fine Gothic cathedral, are of interest. Bordeaux is far enough from Paris, and has had a large enough part in the history of France, to have a large library, museum, botanic garden, observatory, and art gallery of its own. The city lies in the center of a productive region famous for its red wines, known usually in the trade under the name of claret. Shipbuilding, weaving, and the making of pottery and soap are among the important industries. Bordeaux was at one time a possession of the English crown. It was the residence of Edward, the Black Prince, for a time. Montaigne, Montesquieu, and Rosa Bonheur were natives of the immediate vicinity. Statues have been raised in their honor. The modern city is a prosperous commercial emporium, engaged in commerce with the French colonies. The population in 1906 was about 251,917. In population Bordeaux is the fourth city of France; in importance as a port it ranks third. See France