Wander through this country house and imagine the heady scent of wine wafting down the narrow streets. The port city of Libourne played a major role in the wine trade between France and England. To protect their livelihood, superstitious merchants loved to place mythological symbols on the front of their homes. That’s why on 32 Rue des Chais, etched in stone, you can see representations of Mercury, the god of commerce, and of the sea god Neptune. Go a little further, and you arrive at Rue de la Vieille Grange. There you might spot the head of a unicorn, an animal fabled to serve as a protector. Continuing on your walk, you head toward Quai du Général d’Amade. Look for the secret window well from which merchants rolled out their wine barrels. Behind the grates lies a hidden underpass connecting the storerooms with the quay. What a clever way to transport Bordeaux’s precious nectar!
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