Palais Rohan
A neoclassical palace built for an archbishop, and Bordeaux's city hall since the 19th century.
History
Palais Rohan was built between 1771 and 1784 for Archbishop Ferdinand-Maximilien de Rohan, who funded it by selling off the surrounding land (today's Mériadeck district) and from the diocese's revenues. Architect Richard-François Bonfin completed the project after the first master builder, Joseph Étienne, was replaced. The palace then served in turn as the seat of the revolutionary tribunal, as a prefecture, and briefly as a residence for Napoleon I in 1808. In 1835, the city swapped it with the State for its old town hall near the Grosse Cloche, moving in for good in January 1836. Its carriage gate, burnt in 2023, was remade identically and rehung at the end of 2025; the main courtyard is generally open during city hall opening hours. Behind it, the English-style garden is flanked by the two wings of the Musée des Beaux-Arts.
What to see there
- The main courtyard and its arcaded portico
- The statues of the Genius of Commerce and Industry and the Genius of Sciences and Arts
- The English-style garden, behind the palace
- The two Musée des Beaux-Arts wings, built in 1880
Our tip
Step into the main courtyard on a weekday, during city hall opening hours: an easy way to see the old palace without a guided tour.
On our walks
- The historic heart — 2h30 · 5.0 km
Nearby addresses
- Atelier des Faures — 15 rue des Frères Bonie — Creative cuisine in a refined setting. Short menu that changes often. Our favourite. 📍
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