Charming Studio-Cabin Place de la Bourse

Neighbourhood

PLACE DE LA BOURSE AND WATER MIRROR For centuries, the Place de la Bourse has been a symbol of Bordeaux to the world. It has contributed to the growth of the city, its trade and its reputation. It looks great, Bordeaux locals love it, visitors love it. In the 18th century, it took 20 years of work to create the emblematic Place de Bordeaux! This was the beginning of the erasure of the medieval Bordeaux that had been enclosed within its walls for centuries. At last, Bordeaux liberated!Since 1720, Intendant Boucher had been working with the jurats and parliament to create a royal square and finally open up the fortress city. His decision to enlist the services of Jacques Gabriel, First Architect to King Louis XV, was decisive: this rectangular square with its canted sides and facades adorned with mascarons and wrought ironwork was the perfect way to create the classical city.Originally, it was separated from the river by gates, which were removed during the Revolution. At its centre, the equestrian statue of the king was replaced by the short-lived statue of Napoleon, which was itself replaced by the Fountain of the 3 Graces in 1869... the success of this fountain knows no bounds, and it is the most photographed in the city by tourists from all over the world, since the famous Miroir d'Eau.CAILHAU GATEThis medieval defensive gateway offers a splendid view of the quays, the stone bridge and the roofs of the town.Despite its great age (just imagine! it dates back to 1494), its silhouette has remained virtually unchanged.The Porte Cailhau commemorates Charles VIII's victory at Fornoue (Italy). In his own way, this king of France still lives in the tower: his effigy adorns a niche on the river side and a sign warns visitors in a hurry to pay attention to the lintel, reminding them that a door too low was fatal for him. At 35 metres high, the Porte Cailhau was part of the city walls. Its magnificent oak beams provide a magnificent panoramic view of the stone bridge.On the upper floors, an exhibition showcases the tools and materials used to build the town.