Definition: Chartrons (the)

Les Chartrons is a famous district of the city of Bordeaux, stretching along the quays on the banks of the Dordogne. The city's natural harbour has enabled intense commercial activity to flourish. Les Chartrons was originally established so that wine producers in the south-west of France (from Bergerac to the Pyrenees) could store their barrels while awaiting authorisation to sell them. The wise bourgeoisie of Bordeaux quickly imposed restrictions on the English occupiers in order to protect their own commercial activities, simply giving themselves priority over the sale of their wines before anyone else could sell theirs.