Palais Rohan (Hôtel de ville de Bordeaux)

Palace and Town Hall in Bordeaux

Hôtel De Ville De Bordeaux (Palais Rohan)

CC BY-SA 4.0 / W. Bulach

The Palais Rohan is one of Bordeaux’s most significant civic landmarks, rich in both history and architectural grandeur. Built between 1771 and 1784, it was originally designed as the residence of the Archbishop of Bordeaux. Commissioned by Archbishop Ferdinand Maximilien Mériadec de Rohan, the building reflects the neoclassical style popular in the late 18th century—monumental, symmetrical, and stately in appearance. Its elegant façade and formal courtyard present a strong civic presence at the heart of the city, just behind Bordeaux’s Saint-André Cathedral.

Over the centuries, the palace has served many roles, adapting to the political shifts that shaped France. After the Revolution, it was repurposed in 1791 to house the revolutionary tribunal, then became the Gironde prefecture in 1800. Napoleon I used it as an imperial residence during his visit in 1808, and it briefly served as a royal palace under Louis XVIII in 1815. In 1837, it assumed its current role as Bordeaux’s city hall (La Mairie de Bordeaux), cementing its function as a centre of governance and municipal life.

In recognition of its historical and cultural importance, the Palais Rohan has been listed as a historical monument since 1997. This designation covers not only the building’s façades, roof, and formal courtyard but also several of its richly decorated ground-floor rooms. Today, the palace remains an active administrative building and a symbol of Bordeaux’s continuity—from royal and revolutionary pasts to modern civic life—while offering visitors a glimpse into the architectural and political heritage of the city.

The Palais Rohan (Hôtel de ville de Bordeaux) appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Bordeaux!

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