Place de la Bourse is the centrepiece of Bordeaux's 18th-century waterfront and arguably the most beautiful classical facade in France outside Paris. Two symmetrical wings of golden limestone curve around a forecourt, facing the Garonne with the mathematical elegance that defined French Baroque architecture at its peak. The square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, part of the broader designation of Bordeaux's historic port.
The square faces the Miroir d'Eau reflecting pool, and the combination of the neoclassical facade reflected in two centimetres of water has made this one of the most photographed spots in France. Come in the early morning when the light is good and the square is quiet, or at dusk when the limestone glows gold. The waterfront promenade along the Garonne riverbank stretches north and south from here.