Renowned the world over for its fine vintages, Bordeaux has fittingly become home to what will likely become one of the world’s most iconic buildings –a museum dedicated to wine.
La Cité du Vin is a museum that is everything wine and offers an amusement park atmosphere. There are seasonal exhibits, wine tastings and a vast shopping boutique inside. But what makes this museum stand out is the innovative architectural design. The metal-clad building sits on the bank of the Garonne River. Parisian Architects XTU designed the building to mimic the look of wine swirling in a glass.
“This building does not resemble any recognisable shape because it is an evocation of the soul of wine between the river and the city,” explained building architects Anouk Legendre and Nicolas Desmazières in a recent interview.
To tell the story of wine and wine-making, the museum features a 50-seat “boat” to take visitors on a journey though time. It houses scientific studies on wine production, has an auditorium for lectures and concerts, and offers a tour of the world’s wineries through its permanent gallery. There are also opportunities to enjoy a wine “buffet” and visit the building’s glass-encased 8th floor that provides views of the surrounding countryside and vineyards.
The mayor of the city hopes the museum will be as recognisable as other museums like the Guggenheim in New York City. Mayor of Bordeaux Alain Juppé said it is fitting the building is a tribute to wine. The museum is owned by the city of Bordeaux and run by the Foundation for Wine Culture and Civilizations, but celebrates wines from all over the world.
The city and the region are popular tourist destinations and are highly enjoyable as solo holiday destinations. For our guests visiting the city, you will be welcomed to the Hotel des 4 Soeurs, a century-old establishment. It stands above the Place de la Comedie and lets visitors enjoy all that Bordeaux has to offer.
Image Credit: patrick janicek (flickr.com)
