The Water Mirror
The Water Mirror
4.5
About
The "Miroir d'Eau" is less than 10 years old, but located just across from a monument nearly 3 centuries old, it has become one of the city's main attractions.
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  • Brucestewart
    Livingston, United Kingdom10,155 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unusual feature to be enjoyed by all
    We came across this fun feature one evening after dinner. Needless to say when my wife saw several other people walking barefoot across the 'Mirror' she took off her shoes and joined them. She said the water was warm no doubt because it had been a warm sunny day.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 April 2024
  • Fiona C
    Melbourne, Australia133 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Mirror Wall or Mirror D’Eau
    Located between the Garonne River and Place de la Bourse, the Mirror Wall is only 2cm deep but reflects the day perfectly. Only 20 years old yet is the most-photographed site in Bordeaux and is listed as a contemporary World Heritage Site by Unesco. Take a stroll along the Garonne River, enjoy the park and city, watch children splash and later at night get the perfect reflection photo.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 May 2024
  • Steve_Grant1
    Oldham, United Kingdom1,772 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Different
    This is a one off attraction. Well set in front of the square to catch the reflections. The weather at the time of your visit is a key factor. We visited on a number of occasions, The worst was when it was cloudy and there was some rain in the air. The best were when it was sunny and also late at night when the lights are on the buildings and the crowds have depleted . Timing is a key factor.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 August 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles6,675 reviews
Excellent
4,215
Very good
1,750
Average
455
Poor
134
Terrible
121

runhunt
Trowbridge, UK129 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2020
lovely to people watch here, everyone paddling as the water bubbles up through the cracks onto the mirror paving. kids, parents, grandparents, lovers and dogs a plenty. great ambience and next to the river for good views up and down, do as the locals do and take a picnic and drink a glass of wine as the sun goes down. mind you it gets busy, really busy, all of Bordeaux seems to congregate here in the evening to sit and drink wine and socialise on the grass and watch people play.
Written 25 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Traveler O
Washington DC, DC1,216 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Situated across from Place de la Bourse overlooking the Garonne, the water mirror is a prime attraction to see. Very nice to take pictures by. Peaceful to look at. Just don't be one of the annoying tourists walking through it when it fills up, walk a pet through it, or let a kid splash other people. It's meant to be for everyone, so be respectful and understand not everyone cares about the fake instagram universe.

Take some pics, watch the water rise and fall, and move onto the next sight(s) so others can enjoy this as well.
Written 17 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

simply-peregrinating
Waddington, UK2,723 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
Absolutely a must see if you are in Bordeaux during the summer. Spectactular both during the day and at night. Not only can you stand and admire the reflections from the water pool but you can stand in it. Always people there but usually quite easy to get good photos of the reflections.
Written 11 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GlendaW
Lunenburg, Canada9 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
Bordeaux was such a beautiful city to visit and we thoroughly enjoyed walking around the Place De La Bourse and as it was a hot day the Mirror was the place to be! Everyone had their shoes off walking in the water and many little kids were swimming and playing in the water. A fabulous time had by all👍👍❤️ a must see ( even if the mirror doesn’t always look like the tourist one - 10/10 for Bordeaux
Written 14 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Cameron
Vancouver, Canada5 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Solo
No idea why this is listed so high in here and in every guidebook.

The pool seems to function as a public waterpark all summer, which of course means no reflective effect.

The usual advice of going in the morning doesn’t work here, because they don’t turn the water on until 10am. Maybe it’s nice during the rest of the yeah though.
Written 5 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

irawine
Benicia, CA636 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023
The water mirror is a really nice experience, particularly when Mother Nature is cooperating. We happened to be there on a day with bright blue sky and big puffy white clouds. The reflection in the water was great and not to be missed.
Written 23 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

malharris30
Sheffield, UK47 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2024 • Couples
What a disappointment! This is advertised as the best view in Bordeaux and features on all the advertising leaflets and booklets for the city. The wonderful water rising out of the floor gradually presenting a fantastic photo opportunity or watching the mist rising every half an hour or so. Either early in the morning when the sun comes up, or late at night once the sun has gone down beyond the Place de la Bourse. And then, when we got there, camera in hand, imagine our disappointment to find red and white solid bollards along the road which separates the water mirror from the buildings beyond, completely spoiling the photographic experience. And there the blocks remained all week. Why were they there? Why were they red and white and not grey slate coloured to fit in with the surrounding buildings? Horrendous. Bad enough to have the odd tram or bus cross the square, but this?! Spoiled my holiday.
Written 27 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Expatriotscot
London286 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
The water mirror wasn't working at the time of our visit in January. Presumably for fear of the underground reservoir freezing up and cracking its walls, or the pavement becoming so slippery injuries would result. Perfectly good reasons for closure. However there's no excuse for Bordeaux Tourism for not putting this information on their website. It didn't matter to us, but annoying if you'd traveled a distance one evening to see it.
Written 20 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Terry M
Hamilton, Canada4,921 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
Opposite the Place de la Bourse is a shallow pool [two centimeters, less than an inch deep] allowing for impressive reflections of the square. It is the largest reflecting pool in the world, covering almost 3,500 square meters. It is actually designed for people to walk in it, something children of course revel in. It is apparently drained and refilled every thirty minutes save for the winter period. It was inaugurated in 2006.
Written 18 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fiona C
Melbourne, Australia133 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Couples
Located between the Garonne River and Place de la Bourse, the Mirror Wall is only 2cm deep but reflects the day perfectly. Only 20 years old yet is the most-photographed site in Bordeaux and is listed as a contemporary World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Take a stroll along the Garonne River, enjoy the park and city, watch children splash and later at night get the perfect reflection photo.
Written 30 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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The Water Mirror - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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