Over recent months I’ve become a loyal reader of one of the city’s most likeable blogs: www.bordeaux2066.com . The concept is simple: the...

Every street tells a story: my afternoon with Bordeaux 2066

Over recent months I’ve become a loyal reader of one of the city’s most likeable blogs: www.bordeaux2066.com. The concept is simple: the two authors have taken it upon themselves to visit and document every street, road, cul-de-sac and square in Bordeaux, using an Excel spreadsheet to choose at random which of the 2,066 addresses is next on their list.

The 20-something Bordeaux-based urban explorers are Vincent Bart (also known as Vinjo, brought up in Gradignan in the city’s suburbs) and Pierre-Marie Villette (or Pim, hailing originally from Lille). They launched the website in June 2013 and have so far visited just over 20 of the city’s streets; if they were to continue visiting one street every week, it would take them 39 years to complete their task.

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Shortly after launching this website I headed over to the Lac district of Bordeaux to get an idea of where the city would be building its...

An update on Stade Bordeaux Atlantique, the next big sporting arena

Shortly after launching this website I headed over to the Lac district of Bordeaux to get an idea of where the city would be building its new 43,000-seater arena, set to form the backdrop to the endeavours of footballers, rugby players and international music stars in the years to come.

At the time it took a great deal of imagination to picture a stadium rising above the trees but now, a little over a year ahead of delivery, the skyline has indeed changed beyond recognition.

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For many locals, a day spent in downtown Bordeaux is synonymous with a shopping trip in the Rue Sainte-Catherine quarter, but if you peel...

Les grands magasins : Bordeaux department stores past and present

For many locals, a day spent in downtown Bordeaux is synonymous with a shopping trip in the Rue Sainte-Catherine quarter, but if you peel away the uniform corporate logos there are some interesting stories to tell.

With this is mind, fellow blogger MystickTroy and I went in search of the department stores of yesteryear with the aim of understanding how strong the influence of the shops of the past continues to be. The account of our quest, which we have jointly published on our respective blogs, starts out at Galeries Lafayette…

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Invisible Bordeaux was one of a number of contributors to a lengthy report about the city broadcast by national TV station TF1 during th...

Invisible Bordeaux: as seen on TF1


Invisible Bordeaux was one of a number of contributors to a lengthy report about the city broadcast by national TV station TF1 during the lunchtime news programme on Sunday March 9th. 

In the feature, I demonstrate my thorough knowledge of Bordeaux's extensive history by referring to some medieval cobblestones and a wall as being "very old" (the kind of expert analysis which loyal readers have come to expect).

It was a bad hair day (I've since been to the hairdresser's), my name is misspelled in the caption, but all in all it was an interesting experience and such prime-time exposure is very much appreciated, so big thanks to TF1 and to journalist Erwan Braem for getting in touch!

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A mansion in Lormont, just off a narrow road which runs alongside the A10 motorway, forms the backdrop to what is undoubtedly one of the ...

Musée National de l’Assurance Maladie: showcasing France’s healthcare system in Lormont

A mansion in Lormont, just off a narrow road which runs alongside the A10 motorway, forms the backdrop to what is undoubtedly one of the most unusual attractions in the Bordeaux area: le Musée National de l’Assurance Maladie.

The museum, which opened in 1989, is the only one of its kind in France. It provides an extensive historical overview of the country’s national healthcare system for three target audiences: schoolchildren and students, the general public, and staff of the CPAM (Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie) healthcare fund institution itself.

The spectacular château alone deserves a visit. Known as Les Lauriers, it was built in 1860 and initially belonged to a wealthy dynasty of shipowners, the Gradis family. The Gironde branch of CPAM acquired the property in 1948, converting it into a convalescent home from 1951 onwards. In later years, new facilities were built in the adjacent park, freeing up the mansion to be converted into a museum.


The museum aims to take the visitor on a journey through time. The visit starts out with the beginnings of “la protection sociale” and particularly the development of “sociétés de secours mutuels” in the 19th century, moving on to the first laws passed in the early 20th century, the introduction of the social security system from 1945 onwards, and the development of the system from 1967 up to the present day. This is illustrated by displays featuring hundreds of archive items and documents.


Highlights on the tour include a surprising mock-up of a social security centre as it looked in the 1950s and 1960s, complete with authentic props such as vintage typewriters, telephones, switchboards and rubber stamps. It is tempting to role-play the part of a member of the public meeting staff, filing paperwork and then shuffling over to the counter to obtain the much-desired financial compensation!


An entire room has been given over to the tools of the trade for CPAM employees down the years, from archaic calculators (including a couple of legendary Burroughs adding machines) and punch card technology to some monstrously large rudimentary computers and contemporary “Carte Vitale” electronic chip card readers.


Another room showcases typical CPAM initiatives such as poster campaigns and medical examination centres. The most impressive exhibit is a dentist’s chair which no doubt welcomed many a grimacing patient over the years.


Some of the museum’s more bizarre exhibits include ghostly mannequins sporting designer uniforms, symbolising a policy aimed at “humanising” the institution, making it more welcoming and appealing to the general public. Appropriately enough, the mannequins have been positioned at the entrance to the visit.

As well as a visitor booklet, a high-tech audio-guide is available free of charge at reception, to add a further dimension to the tour. The descriptive narration is coupled with authentic eye-witness testimonials by CPAM staff.

The museum does feel like a well-kept secret; it currently welcomes around 1,600 visitors annually. Its niche appeal is undeniable but there is definitely an audience out there. To reach prospective visitors, director Emmanuelle Saujeon-Roque is developing the museum’s presence on the internet, with an extensive website (featuring videos, a snazzy virtual visit and a host of interactive features) and a Facebook page. The added exposure should deservedly draw new visitors to this unique museum. 

> Find it on the Invisible Bordeaux map: Musée National de l'Assurance Maladie, Château des Lauriers, 10 route de Carbon-Blanc, Lormont 
> The museum is open to the general public from Monday to Friday, 2pm-6pm (5pm on Fridays). Admission is free of charge. 
> Museum website: www.musee-assurance-maladie.fr 
> And Facebook page.

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If you follow Invisible Bordeaux on Twitter , Facebook or Instagram , you may already be aware of the fact that the blog was featured th...

Invisible Bordeaux featured in Direct Matin Bordeaux7

If you follow Invisible Bordeaux on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, you may already be aware of the fact that the blog was featured this week in local newspaper Direct Matin Bordeaux7.

The interview provides a thumbnail introduction to the story behind the website and its philosophy, as well as pointing readers towards other likeminded online resources! 

Big thanks to Direct Matin Bordeaux7 journalist Emeline Marceau for getting in touch and for producing the item! 

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