Rue Sainte-Catherine, Pedestrian shopping street in central Bordeaux, France
Rue Sainte-Catherine connects Place de la Comédie with Place de la Victoire over 1.2 km (roughly 0.75 miles) and runs through the heart of the old town with stone buildings and wrought-iron balconies. The route follows a gentle curve and is crossed regularly by smaller side streets leading into neighboring areas.
The layout follows a Roman road pattern from ancient times that formed the north-south axis of the settlement. Between 1976 and 1984, the entire route was closed to motor traffic and converted into a pedestrian zone.
The street takes its name from a saint of Alexandria whose devotion spread through France during medieval times. Visitors today see mainly young locals and travelers browsing shop windows or pausing at café terraces along the route.
The pedestrian zone is usually busy during the day, especially on Saturdays and during holiday periods. Those who prefer a quieter walk should visit on weekday mornings or explore the side streets.
At the intersection with Cours Alsace-Lorraine, a relief marks the spot where two underground rivers, the Peugue and the Devèze, flow beneath the pavement. Both were covered in the 19th century and disappeared from the cityscape, but they still influence the moisture levels of the surrounding ground.
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