Pauillac (France)

Pauillac is a Gironde River cruise port and town in Aquitaine (southwestern France) with population around 5,000.

During WW1 (1914-1918), in December 1917 the US Navy established its naval air station here to operate seaplanes. Close to town's centre is a marina with moorings for 150 boats. A floating platform is located approx 2,5 km to the north. There Airbus A380 wings and fuselage sections are transferred to barges from sea-going RORO ships (cargo ferries). The airplane parts are manufactured in Germany and Broughton (North Wales). Barges take the parts through Bordeaux to Langon's dock and then by road to the Airbus assembly plant at Blagnac (Toulouse).

Pauillac has around 3000 acres (12 km2) of vineyards located in Haut-Medoc (part of Bordeaux wine region). Here are produced 3 of Bordeaux wine region's 5 first-growth wines - Chateau Latour, Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Lafite Rothschild.