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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- lowryeppEpping, United Kingdom912 contributionsMust seeFun in several ways, amusing for all ages. Cool down, enjoy square and river views. Paddle in the shallow water, and enjoy when it does the mist. Often street performers & music. Nice gardens by, plenty of seats. Also good at sunset - take your camera or phone. Close to bus & tram centre.Visited May 2023Written May 28, 2023
- Brown_SamanthaKennewick, Washington1,683 contributionsGreat public space for all to enjoy the water pool/spray mirror effectAcross from the Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux. The water feature was running/on in late June when we visited. Nice reflection for photographs. Lots of kids and people playing in the shallow water. Great public space.Visited June 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten July 10, 2023
- Malek Q86 contributionsFun for kids but adults shouldn't miss itInteresting indeed but there were only few people when we visited. It could be more interesting with more people, and especially kids, playing in the water. The water surface is really like a mirror reflecting the buildings around the square. The river beside makes the scene more admirable.Visited June 2023Written July 13, 2023
- irawineBenicia, California655 contributionsMother Nature’s HelpThe 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.Visited May 2023Written July 23, 2023
- GlendaWLunenburg, Canada11 contributionsBest of BordeauxBordeaux 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 BordeauxVisited August 2023Traveled with friendsWritten August 14, 2023
- BrucestewartLivingston, United Kingdom9,790 contributionsUnusual feature to be enjoyed by allWe 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 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten April 10, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
6,660 reviews
Excellent
4,209
Very good
1,747
Average
450
Poor
133
Terrible
121
GlendaW
Lunenburg, Canada11 contributions
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 August 14, 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, Canada4 contributions
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.
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 August 5, 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, CA655 contributions
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 July 23, 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.
Expatriotscot
London268 contributions
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 January 20, 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, Canada4,647 contributions
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 November 18, 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.
Need To See It All
Perth, Australia1,088 contributions
Aug 2019
I didn't do a lot of research on this one, but I was surprised that it wasn't a pool, it is a big open space with flat stone tiles, upon which jets spray water on a timer. Since it isn't a big pool, people walk all over it, so there is nearly always someone in the way of your view, and it ruins the "mirror" experience. You'll almost definitely see it if you go to Bordeaux in summer, but don't make a particular effort, there are better ways to spend your time.
Written April 21, 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.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia45,636 contributions
Jul 2019
This is a magnificent spectacle when you are there at the right time. A water mirror sounded a little weird, but when we got there and experienced it, we loved it. The area across from Place de la Bourse, and next to the river Garonne, is quite huge. The water springs from holes in the granite ground and fills the whole area for a few minutes (only a couple of centimetres high). At times a very fine mist comes up. It is enjoyable when you want some relaxation time. And the views all around are fantastic as well.
Written June 13, 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.
Brucestewart
Livingston, UK9,790 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
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.
Written April 10, 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.
on_the_go_98765
Tucson18,350 contributions
Jul 2022
Bordeaux is surrounded by water courtesy of the Garonne River but it is not something people can swim in (too deep, no beaches) and it is not inviting as its color is more chocolate than anything else. The off-putting opaque cloudiness is actually a result of salt and fresh water interacting. The tide does the churning.
So, here we have the answer to "water water everywhere" but not a drop to swim in: the expansive water mirror aka splash pad allows the people to enjoy strolling through the water and cooling off. Summer in Bordeaux is usually in the mid-80's (F) and the sun is almost always blazing.
And, when lit up, it is amazingly spectacular at night!
So, here we have the answer to "water water everywhere" but not a drop to swim in: the expansive water mirror aka splash pad allows the people to enjoy strolling through the water and cooling off. Summer in Bordeaux is usually in the mid-80's (F) and the sun is almost always blazing.
And, when lit up, it is amazingly spectacular at night!
Written January 10, 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.
retireeVancouver
Vancouver, Canada1,836 contributions
Oct 2022
Walk along the riverside promenade to view this huge shallow pool in Place Bourse. The water level indeed is only a few inches, yet remarkably, provides an excellent reflection of the two 18 century old regal looking buildings behind it even during the day. It's a great photo spot if this is the kind of photo you're interested in taking. I didn't wait around to see an ejection of a foglike mist. The pool attracts teens and kids who like to wade/walk in the pool. Because the pool is so shallow and close to the ground, it doesn't detract from other sights in the area, isn't ugly as pools sometimes are, and doesn't need sculptures in it like those at the Girondin Monument/Fountain. It's footprint is impressive.
Written December 7, 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.
Alicia n
Province of Guadalajara, Spain2 contributions
Hola mi pregunta está maravilla está al aire libre? Tiene coste?
testerfrank
Düsseldorf, Germany6,053 contributions
Esta libre
Patrick W
Vicenza, Italy
Does the pool fill late at night in the summer...11:00pm+? Was there until 11:40pm and no water(hence no night time mirror).
Patrick W
Vicenza, Italy
The pictures at night have water in the the reflection. I was there from 900pm until 1130pm. I saw it steam and fill with water twice, but there was still daylight left. After the sky was finally dark (~1030pm), it never steamed and filled with water. Wonder if they adjust the water filling to the later sun set times.
Jeyananthan Kopalasingam
Paris, France59 contributions
How to go from Bordeaux railway station?
Blair H
Curl Curl, Australia24 contributions
Tram or Uber.
Trams in Bordeaux are brilliant.
Uber means not lines and when you get into the station there are frequently many people also lining up for taxis.
Mimai L
Paris, France15 contributions
J'y suis allée aujourd'hui et il n'y avait pas d'eau... pourtant hier et avent-hier, en passant vite fait devant en voiture, j'ai pu voir qu'il y avait de l'eau. Y'a t il des horaires ou des moments de la journée où ils coupent l'eau???
Jesús C
Barcelona, Spain1,082 contributions
Peut-être il était caché parce que il marche tout le jour
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Claim your listingThe Water Mirror - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about The Water Mirror
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience The Water Mirror:
- Early Bird City Tour - Nice morning walk in Bordeaux (From $92.69)
- Bordeaux Old District : Private Walking Tour (From $190.29)
- Bordeaux City - Private Guided Walking Tour with Local Sophia (From $92.69)
- Bordeaux Walking Tour - Private (From $98.14)
- Private Tour of Bordeaux in a Sidecar 1h30 (From $119.95)
- Hotels near The Water Mirror:
- (0.11 mi) Hotel Bleu De Mer
- (0.10 mi) The Playroom
- (0.10 mi) Apparts en ville Place de la Bourse
- (0.22 mi) Hotel Majestic Bordeaux
- (0.15 mi) Hotel Saint Remi
- Restaurants near The Water Mirror:
- (0.02 mi) L'observatoire Du Gabriel
- (0.10 mi) Lume
- (0.10 mi) Restaurant Melodie
- (0.10 mi) Mazal
- (0.11 mi) Pita Pita