Summary

The historic centre of this port town is an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created during the Age of the Enlightenment whose values persisted up to the first half of the 20^th century. The city also played an important historical role as a centre for the exchange of human values over a period of more than two thousand years, particularly since the 12^th century, due to its links with Great Britain and the Netherlands, its role as capital of a world-renowned wine-growing region, and the importance of its port in regional and international trade. The urban development and architecture of the town are the result of constant extensions and renovations from the Roman period up to the 20^th century. The urban lay-out and architecture dating from the early 18^th century are the epitome of classical and neo-classical trends, giving the city outstanding urban and architectural unity and consistency.

Criteria

Criterion (ii): Bordeaux, Port of the Moon, is an outstanding example of the exchange of human values over a period of more than 2,000 years, leading to its development as an important cosmopolitan city. During the Age of Enlightenment, its unparalleled prosperity allowed it to carry out remarkable urban and architectural transformations, which continued throughout the 19^th century and up to the present day. The different phases of the construction and development of the harbour town can be seen in its urban lay-out, notably the major transformations carried out from the beginning of the 18^th century.

Criterion (iv): Bordeaux, Port of the Moon, is an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created during the Age of Enlightenment whose values persisted up to the first half of the 20^th century. Bordeaux is outstanding by virtue of its unified classical and neo-classical lay-out and architecture, with no stylistic break for more than two centuries. Its urban development reflects the success of the philosophers who wanted towns to become centres of humanism, universality and culture. Due to its port, Bordeaux has retained its original functions of commercial and cultural exchange. Its history can be clearly read in its urban lay-out, from the Roman castrum up to the 20^th century. The historic 18^th and 19^th-century buildings and spaces have retained all their authenticity.