About
Place de la Bourse is a square in Bordeaux, in the New Aquitaine region of France. It is an 18th-century space built in the French classical style, with facades arranged in a calm, balanced line around an open area that opens onto the river.
The square is best known for the Water Mirror, a shallow sheet of water that reflects the stone buildings around it. When the water is still, the facades appear twice, which is why the spot draws so many photographers. Visitors often take their time here, walking slowly and looking for the angle where the reflection is clearest.
What to expect
- Architecture: harmonious classical facades that show French 18th-century design at its most ordered.
- The Water Mirror: the installation that gives the square its character, best seen when the surface is calm.
- Photography: one of the city's best-known settings for views of its buildings.
Visiting the area
The square is a good place to begin a walk through Bordeaux, a city whose historic centre and riverside are easy to explore on foot. Many visitors combine a stop here with time along the river and with other older streets nearby, so the visit fits naturally into a wider day in the city.
Plan a relaxed visit, and check conditions before you go, as the reflections depend on the weather and the stillness of the water.