Charming jewel of the Entre-Deux-Mers region, the city located at the confluence of the Isle and the Dordogne is renewed by playing with the river and wine.
A country house and docks
It is the nerve center of the city, a sign of prosperity built in the 13th century.my century about wine, wood and salt, when Libourne was the main port of the Dordogne and the direct competitor of Bordeaux: the medieval Abel-Surchamp square, with a fountain in the center, an environment of arcades and the town hall hotel, remodeled in the 19th centurymy century in pure neo-Gothic style. One of the most famous markets in Entre-Deux-Mers, this mountainous region located between the Dordogne and Garonne, is held here three times a week. The inhabitants of Libourne speak of the merchants as if they were their family, singing of the acting skills of the poultry farmer who operates under the name Jeannot du Taruscle… Two streets, Jules-Ferry and Fonneuve, lead to the docks, remodeled in 2018 as promenade. The Pierre Bridge (nine arches, 210 meters long), built in the image of its Bordeaux namesake, connects the two banks. Partially destroyed during the war, it was rebuilt with new orange brick pillars, different, let us not forget, from those that remained intact, still white. On high tide days, at the confluence of the Island and the Dordogne, the tide, this wave that rises up the river against the current, passes under the bridge, a surprising spectacle.
A dip in Calinesia
This aquatic complex, inaugurated in 2021, is, along with the docks, one of the symbols of Libourne’s transformation. Lovers of swimming and relaxation will find a sports area with a 25-meter-long pool, a fun area with large slides and a relaxation area with two hammams, a sauna, bubble baths and a “Finnish cube metaphor for a ”. cold shower. One of these relaxation pools is outdoors, and the view of the setting sun, with an infusion in hand (they are self-service), is especially relaxing. There we can see Dagueys Lake shining. Created in two stages, in 1980 and the late 1990s, this 40-hectare artificial body of water is Libourne’s most popular beach. Dominated by a metal watchtower reminiscent of a spaceship, it also houses a play area (slide and bouncy castle). A walk of an hour and a half allows you to go around it and follow banks adorned with willows and poplars. To do this you have to follow a very long straight slope, suitable for rowing and canoeing, and which has turned the lake into one of the preparation centers for the 2024 Olympic Games.
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