The building served as a revolutionary tribunal during the Reign of Terror in the 1790s, and an imperial residence under Napoleon I in 1808, before becoming Bordeaux City Hall in 1836. Today, it houses the Bordeaux Fine Arts Museum, one of the largest art galleries in France outside of Paris. The museum specializes in French and Dutch paintings—including some by Renoir, Delacroix, and Picasso—of which many were recovered after being looted during the French Revolution.
The Hôtel de Ville is situated in the heart of Bordeaux at Place Pey-Berland. Trams A and B stop here. If you’re coming by car, the closest parking lot is St. Christoly/Pey Berland, located a short walk away.
The grounds are open on weekdays during business hours from 8:30a to 6pm. To visit inside City Hall, you'll need to book a guided tour taking place late Friday mornings. The museum is open from 11a to 6pm every day except Tuesdays and select public holidays.
Also known as the Bordeaux Cathedral, this beautiful church near City Hall is notable for its architecture and historical relevance, as it was where Louis II wed Eleanor of Aquitaine. Notable features include a freestanding bell tower and a 14th-century tympanum depicting the Last Supper.