The Place de la Bourse and the Miroir d’Eau, a temporal opposition

THE PLACE DE LA BOURSE: A PLACE FULL OF HISTORY

Inaugurated in 1749, the Place de la Bourse has had many other names such as the Place Royale in honor of Louis XV. When the Place de la Bourse was inaugurated, an equestrian statue was placed in its center in honor of King Louis XV. The statue was removed during the French Revolution. During this period of revolution, it will be named Place de la Liberté. Then followed a new name under the reign of Napoleon 1st, the Place Impériale. In 1848, it will take the definitive name of Place de la Bourse. In 1869, a fountain was built in the center of the square, replacing the bronze equestrian statue of Louis XV, the work of Jean-Baptiste Lemoine, which had been cast during the French Revolution.

THE HISTORY OF THE FOUNTAIN OF THE THREE GRACES

The Fountain of the Three Graces was created in 1869 by the architect Louis Visconti and the sculptor Charles Gumery, to replace the equestrian statue of Louis XV which had been removed during the French Revolution. The Fountain of the Three Graces, also called the Fountain of the “Daughters of Zeus”, is a major work located on the Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux. The fountain is adorned with statues of the three Graces of Greek mythology, Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia, who represent beauty, gaiety and fertility. The statues are made of bronze and are placed on a white marble pedestal.

Today, the Fountain of the Three Graces is one of the symbolic statues of the city of Bordeaux, in Gironde.

THE CREATION OF THE WATER MIRROR

In 2005, the quays of the Garonne in Bordeaux were renovated and it was at this time that work began on the creation of the Miroir d’Eau. The work was completed in 2006. This water basin is the largest water mirror in the world, it extends over 3450 m2 and is 2 cm deep. The reservoir of the Water Mirror is underground and contains 800 cubic meters of water.

The Water Mirror is a true ecological project. It is built in a closed circuit. The water goes up to the ground and then falls back into the gutters and then back into the underground basins.

If you want to admire the water show of the Water Mirror, you have to visit it during the summer. The Miroir d’Eau is open all week, from 10am to 10pm, with a filling cycle. You can enjoy a first phase of 3 minutes, the pool fills with water. During the next 15 minutes, the basin becomes a real mirror where the Place de la Bourse and the surrounding monuments are reflected. Afterwards, the pool is emptied for 5 minutes. During the last 3 minutes of the water show, a thick fog covers the Water Mirror. Take your camera to immortalize the Place de Bourse in a thick fog or when it is reflected in the water of the basin. If you visit Bordeaux in winter, remember that the Miroir d’Eau is undergoing maintenance, it is being renovated for a reopening from the spring vacations. Since 2007, the Miroir d’Eau is a French monument classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.

VISIT BORDEAUX FROM YESTERDAY TO TODAY IN A VISIOTOUR.

You want to visit Bordeaux with friends, family or children? Get on our panoramic bus to get a better view of the city of Bordeaux in Gironde. Take advantage of a 70-minute guided tour to discover the greatest monuments of Bordeaux, by day and by night, such as the Pey-Berland Tower, the Basilica of Saint Michel, the Cité du Vin, the Bordeaux park or the Porte Cailhau. Traveling with your children? The commentaries of the audio guide are adapted to the youngest. During your visit to the water mirror, you can easily eat near the monument, where you will find different restaurants to satisfy the whole family.

You can buy your tickets for the next departure of our bus online or in our kiosk, place Tourny, near the Bordeaux tourist office. Before the departure of the bus, don’t forget your camera to immortalize the monuments of Bordeaux. Post your photos on social networks adding the hashtag #bordeauxcitytours.