Cours de l'Intendance

The Cours de l'Intendance is the most elegant street in Bordeaux, a straight avenue of pale limestone buildings that runs from the Grand Théâtre in the east towards the Place Gambetta in the west, and it is the centre of the city's best shopping. It was laid out in the middle of the eighteenth century, at the time when Bordeaux was one of the richest and most vibrant ports in Europe and its administrators, led by the intendant Tourny, set about replacing the crowded medieval town with wide streets, squares and monuments. The street takes its name from the intendant, the royal official who governed the region.

The buildings along the avenue are typical of the eighteenth-century style of the city, with regular facades of honey-coloured stone, wrought-iron balconies, carved masks above the windows and tall, shuttered windows. They were built for merchants and shipowners, and their ground floors have long been occupied by shops. Today, the street is lined with fashion boutiques, jewellers, bookshops, and cafés, and it forms part of the so-called Golden Triangle, the elegant district between the Grand Théâtre, the Place Gambetta and the Place de Tourny where the best shops are found. The pedestrian layout makes it pleasant to stroll, with window shopping and people watching as natural pastimes.

The street also has literary and artistic connections. The Spanish painter Francisco de Goya, exiled from his country, spent his last years in Bordeaux and died here in 1828, in a house on the Cours de l'Intendance, and the house is now home to a Spanish cultural institute that has a plaque and a small exhibition. His presence reminds visitors that the city was a refuge for many foreign artists and thinkers over the centuries. Cafés along the street offer a place to sit and enjoy the view, and side streets lead to quiet squares and artisan shops where you can find souvenirs and local specialities such as canelés and wine.

The avenue is well connected to the city's main sights. At its eastern end stands the Grand Théâtre, and the Place de la Comédie is the junction with the main axes of the historic centre. From there, the Cathédrale Saint-André, the Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d'eau, and the Basilique Saint-Michel are within a short walk, and the Musée d'Aquitaine lies on the Cours Pasteur. The Jardin Public and the Pont de Pierre can be reached on foot or by tram, and the Cité du Vin is farther north along the river. The Hôtel de Ville and the Quinconces are close at hand.

The Cours de l'Intendance suits shoppers, architecture lovers and anyone who wants a taste of Bordeaux elegance. Weekday mornings are quieter than Saturdays, when crowds fill the street. Shops keep normal commercial hours, and the street is open at all times. Tram stops nearby make it easy to reach, and the whole street can be walked in a few minutes, though most visitors linger.