Pont de Pierre
On Gingerguide's self-guided Bordeaux audio tour, Pont de Pierre is a stop worth about ~30 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type bridge
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Bordeaux Bordeaux guide
About Pont de Pierre
Bordeaux's oldest and most beloved bridge (1822), with 17 arches spanning the Garonne, built on Napoleon's order and offering beautiful views of the city's UNESCO riverfront.
The Pont de Pierre, the Stone Bridge, is Bordeaux's oldest bridge and one of its most cherished landmarks, a graceful 17-arch stone span crossing the Garonne between the city centre and the right bank. Built between 1810 and 1822 on the personal orders of Napoleon Bonaparte, it was the first permanent bridge ever built across the Garonne at Bordeaux, before its construction, the only crossing was by ferry. The bridge is 487 metres long and its 17 arches are said by local tradition (though without historical evidence) to correspond to the 17 letters in the name "Napoléon Bonaparte." From the bridge, the views upstream toward the Place de la Bourse are among the finest in the city, especially at sunset when the honey-coloured facades glow against the darkening sky.
Did you know? Local legend says Pont de Pierre has exactly 17 arches because "Napoléon Bonaparte" contains 17 letters, a story that is almost certainly invented but too charming to fact-check.
How much time do you need at Pont de Pierre?
Around ~30 min works well for Pont de Pierre — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Pont de Pierre?
Yes — Pont de Pierre made the cut as one of 21 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Bordeaux. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Bordeaux
Hear the story of Pont de Pierre
Preview the Bordeaux tour free in the Gingerguide app.