Bordeaux’s history spans all the way back to 300 BC when a Celtic tribe first established the town of Burdigala in the region. The city’s prime location and dry soil had long attracted conflict in the area, and during different eras of history, the region was ruled by the Romans, Vandals, Visigoths, Franks, and Basques, until it fell under English rule for over 300 years.
King Charles VII won the city back to France after defeating the English in the Battle of Castillon in 1453. During the next few centuries, Bordeaux became an important commercial port and underwent rapid development and expansion, including the construction of the Place de la Bourse, the opera house, and the first railway. In 2007, half of Bordeaux was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, Bordeaux is one of the major economic centers in France. Aside from its trading, administrative, and service industries, tourism is also a major source of income to the area, as thousands of people annually visit Bordeaux’s sprawling 200,000 acres of vineyards.
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