Place de la Bourse
On Gingerguide's self-guided Bordeaux audio tour, Place de la Bourse is a stop worth about ~45 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type landmark
- Suggested visit ~45 min
- Bordeaux Bordeaux guide
About Place de la Bourse
An 18th-century neoclassical masterpiece on the Garonne riverbank, home to the famous Miroir d'Eau reflecting pool.
Place de la Bourse is widely considered the most beautiful square in Bordeaux and one of the finest examples of French 18th-century urban planning anywhere in the world. Commissioned by King Louis XV and designed by royal architect Jacques Gabriel and his son Ange-Jacques Gabriel between 1730 and 1775, its harmonious twin buildings, the former Bourse (Stock Exchange) and the Hôtel des Fermes, frame a majestic view over the Garonne river. The sculpted Fontaine des Trois Grâces graces the cobbled plaza, but the true modern sensation is the Miroir d'Eau, added in 2006 and instantly becoming one of the most photographed spots in France. This world's largest reflecting pool, 3,450 square metres of black granite, alternates between a perfect mirror film of water reflecting the palace and the sky, and a dramatic cloud of vapour rising from concealed jets. At dusk, the colours of the façades ripple across the still water in extraordinary fashion, making this one of the most magical evening spots in France.
Did you know? The Miroir d'Eau is the world's largest reflecting pool, covering 3,450 square metres of black granite, it alternates between a perfect water mirror and a cloud of mist roughly every 15 minutes.
How much time do you need at Place de la Bourse?
Around ~45 min works well for Place de la Bourse — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Place de la Bourse?
Yes — Place de la Bourse made the cut as one of 21 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Bordeaux. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Bordeaux
Hear the story of Place de la Bourse
Preview the Bordeaux tour free in the Gingerguide app.