Place du Parlement and the Saint-Pierre district
An 18th-century square and its neighbouring lanes, at the heart of the Saint-Pierre district. Terraces and close-set facades.
History
Place du Parlement was laid out in the 18th century at the heart of the Saint-Pierre district, one of Bordeaux's oldest cores, built near the former river port and the Devèze stream, now channelled beneath the city. The district takes its name from the Saint-Pierre church, a Gothic building rebuilt from the mid-14th to the late 15th century on a much older sanctuary, mentioned as early as the 6th century by Gregory of Tours. Listed as a historic monument in 1908, the church suffered a serious fire in 1977, which destroyed its choir before a full restoration. Around the square, the narrow streets and close-set facades have kept the scale of an older Bordeaux than the grand classical squares nearby.
What to see there
- The Saint-Pierre church and its Gothic architecture
- The narrow facades and lanes radiating out from the square
- The terraces that fill the square in the evening
- The neighbourhood feel, quite different from the nearby 18th-century squares
Our tip
Cross through it in the early evening, as the terraces fill up: it's one of the liveliest spots in the old town after dark.
On our walks
- The historic heart — 2h30 · 5.0 km
Nearby addresses
- Madame Pang — 16 rue de la Devise — Fusion Asian, very well executed, small space, very popular. Reservations advised. 📍
- Maison du glacier — 1 pl. Saint-Pierre — Bordeaux's best ice cream according to many. Queue is justified. 📍
- LouLou — 16 rue de la Croix des Aides — Elegant French brasserie, unpretentious. Good wine list, pleasant terrace. 📍
- Berthom — 45 cours d'Alsace-et-Lorraine — Serious Belgian beer bar, over 200 references. 📍
All our neighbourhood addresses
Check availability →