Gironde

Gironde, a maritime department in the southwest of France, is formed out of part of the old province of Guienne. Area, 3760 sq. m.; pop. (1872) 705,149; (1886) 775,845; (1891) 793,528. It is watered by the Garonne and the Dordogne, and by the Gironde, the estuary formed by the union of these two rivers. The eastern two-thirds of the surface consist of a fertile hill and dale region; the remainder, in the west next the ocean, belongs to the Landes (q.v.). In the east and north-east the soil is chiefly calcareous. Wine, including the finest clarets, is the staple product of the department, several million gallons being produced annually. Grain, vegetables, potatoes, pulse, and fruit are grown largely. On the downs or sand-hills of the west coast there are extensive plantations of pine, from which turpentine, pitch, and charcoal are obtained. The shepherds used to traverse the Landes (q.v.) on high stilts, and travel with them also to markets and fairs. Principal manufactures, salt, sugar, wax candles, porcelain and glass, chemical products, paper, and tobacco. The department includes the six arrondissements of Bazas, Blaye, Bordeaux, Lesparre, Libourne, and Réole. Bordeaux is the capital.