Bordeaux is now one of the world’s leaders in the wine industry and the region’s wine economy brings in about 14.5 billion euros ($16,168,660) each year. The Romans quickly turned Bordeaux into an important trading hub and planted the very first grapevines, thus establishing the region’s wine culture. They named their settlement Burdigala and in 60 BCE the settlement fell to the Roman Empire. Bordeaux was first settled by the Bituriges Vivisci, a Celtic tribe, sometime in the 4 th century BCE. Bordeaux’s location – which is situated perfectly between the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Iberian Peninsula – provides all the right conditions to produce high quality wine.ĭue to its strategic location, Bordeaux has always been an important city. The famous wine was named for the city/region of Bordeaux, which is situated on the curve of the Garonne River. The name Bordeaux is probably familiar to anyone who enjoys a nice glass of red wine. Photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Xellery Did You Know?Īccording to legend, Paris survived the Huns’ attack in the 4 th century thanks to Saint Geneviève, who became the patron saint of the city.Īrea: 452.82 sq mi (1,172.79 km²) (Urban)Ĭurrent Population: 760,933 (Urban) (last count in 2011) Since 1944, following the liberation of the city, Paris has remained as the capital of France. As France went through a number of rulers, the capital was moved from Paris, but moved back a number of times. Paris resisted the Huns and in 508, Clovis I, the first king of the Franks established Paris as his capital. The Romans changed the settlement’s name to Paris during the 4 th century and the city’s prosperity attracted the attention of Attila the Hun and his army. After the Romans began conquering various parts of France, they built a settlement on Paris’ left bank and called it Lutetia. Most of France’s oldest and most important cities, including Paris, have always been important stops on major trade routes. Paris traces its history back to the mid-3 rd century BCE when a Celtic tribe called the Parisii settled on the banks of the river Seine. In addition to being a key transport hub and fishing port, Calais is famous for its lace, which came to the city in the early 19 th century when various groups fled England and brought their craft with them.Ĭurrent Population: 2,140,526 (2019 estimate) Additionally, Calais has been sieged (both successfully and unsuccessfully) many times throughout its history in the 14 th, 15 th, 16 th, and 20 th centuries. For example, Julius Caesar gathered 800 to 1,000 sailing boats, five legions and some 2,000 horses at Calais, to attack Britannia. While Calais most likely was already inhabited before the arrival of the Romans sometime in the 1 st century BCE, its earliest known history only dates back to this time when the Roman settlement was known as Caletum.Ĭalais’ strategic location, overlooking the Strait of Dover (the narrowest point in the English Channel), has made Calais the perfect place for various rulers to launch military campaigns. They have different lengths, so it is up to you which one to choose.Current Population: 75,719 (last count in 2016) There are many different walking tours in nature around the village. If you are more of a “walking tourist”, Pérouges has an option for you too. There’s a free audio guide app you can download from the official website. You can opt for a guided tour through the Pérouges tourist information center, but since the town is fairly compact it’s easy enough to stroll through the winding cobbled streets on your own. An annual carnival with typical Italian masks takes place at the beginning of April. There are frequent workshop events where you have the opportunity to try your hand at traditional crafts, as well as various market days. The village is culturally active, especially during spring and summer. You can also try the typical “galette” – salty or sweet crêpes made from buckwheat flour. One of the pleasures the tiny town offers is its artisan community, including a “papeterie artisanale” (paper-making workshop) and a “créatrice de robes de mariées” (silk wedding dress workshop). For more demanding tourists you can – of course – taste French cuisine delicacies or spend the night in a lovely hotel.Īs clichéd as this may sound, as you walk into town you truly have the feeling of having stepped into the past with the lack of modern-day signifiers. You can enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of wine on a restaurant terrace. As in every medieval village, there is a church, a lovely square and some shops with handmade products. This pretty medieval walled town is often used as a historical film set. Only 30km away from the city, Pérouges is one of the best day trips from Lyon.
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