Since the Middle Ages, a crescent moon has appeared on the city’s coat of arms. The nickname initially comes from the appearance of the riverbed, a crescent-shaped curve that flows into the port of Bordeaux.
The city, then called “Burdigala,” derived most of its wealth from its port activity, fueled by its wine trade. In the 12th century, the Gascony canton relocated its port to the heart of the city.
After the victory of the French kings at the Battle of Castillon, the final battle of the Hundred Years’ War, on July 17, 1453, Charles VII entered Bordeaux. He “built a fortress, the Château Trompette, on the banks of the Garonne,” as explained by the Bordeaux Wine and Trade Museum.
A 3725-hectare heritage protection area has been established around it. Apart from Paris, the “Port de la Lune” is the French city with the highest number of protected buildings, according to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention’s website.