If it didn’t lay claim to the title already, the French city of Bordeaux has now officially become the world capital of wine with the opening of La Cité du Vin, a theme park for all things wine.
Under construction for three years, La Cité du Vin has opened just in time for the 2016 Bordeaux Wine Festival, taking place from June 23-26. With the city set to host several matches for the UEFA Euro 2016 soccer tournament as well, Bordeaux is shaping up to be a summer hotspot.
In a new eco-friendly neighborhood at the heart of the city’s Bassins à Flot district, the Cité du Vin stands as a futuristic monument to the area’s regeneration, with a design that echoes the rites and rituals of wine drinking. The building’s curved structure brings to mind wine swirling in a glass before being sampled, while the colors mirror the nearby Garonne river. And while the exterior design has been the subject of much discussion, the interior has plenty more in store for visitors, with a 143,700-square-foot space, spread over 10 floors, dedicated entirely to the region’s famous tipple.
Partial view of La Cité du Vin, in Bordeaux’s Bacalan district. (Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images) People take part in a sensory exhibit as they visit La Cité du Vin. (Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images) People take part in a digital exhibit as they visit La Cité du Vin. (Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images)
On the building’s second floor lies La Cité du Vin’s permanent exhibition, taking wine lovers through an immersive, multi-dimensional tour of the history of winemaking. It makes use of 3-D images, smells, and other interactive features. The center will also expose visitors to other vineyards of the world. Stainless steel, wood, and glass structures—mimicking an actual wine cellar—explain the different stages of winemaking, from harvesting the grapes to fermentation and beyond.
On the eight floor, visitors can go to the Belvedere viewing gallery to sample a glass of wine while enjoying panoramic views of Bordeaux. The center is also home to a wine bar, shop, and panoramic restaurant on the seventh floor. To book a ticket to La Cité du Vin (about $22), click here. For more on Bordeaux’s wine festival, visit its website. —Relaxnews
People visit La Cite du Vin as it opens its doors to the public in Bordeaux this June. (Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images) People visit one of La Cite du Vin’s thematics areas about the history and civilisations of wine around the world. (Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images)
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