Rue du Mirail in Bordeaux: History, Shops and Property

Where is the Rue du Mirail?

In the heart of Bordeaux's historic centre, the Rue du Mirail extends northwards from the Rue des Augustins, home to the Theatre Le Victoire, to the Cours Victor-Hugo some 250 metres away. It runs parallel to the Rue Sainte-Catherine, just 150 metres to the east, at the level of the Grande Synagogue and the Lycee Montaigne. The Pont de Pierre is 500 metres to the south-east, with the Grosse Cloche bell tower directly ahead. The Basilique Saint-Michel and the Cathedrale Saint-Andre stand at roughly equal distances, each about 500 metres away.

The origins of the Rue du Mirail

In the thirteenth century, the Rue du Mirail was a narrow medieval lane leading to the Couvent Saint-Augustin. Between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries it became one of the most aristocratic streets in the city, lined with fine hotels particuliers. Its name derives from a local legend about a basilisk hiding in a well, said to have been defeated by its own reflection in a mirror, or mirail in the Gascon language. The well disappeared in 1840, but the story still circulates.

At the corner of the Rue du Mirail and the Rue Saint-Francois stands a distinctive mid-nineteenth-century building known as the Hotel de la Perle or Hotel Saint-Francois. Originally built to house artisans, it is one of the more unusual and original structures in Bordeaux.

Shops and local life

The Rue du Mirail benefits from its position between the Theatre Le Victoire and the Cours Victor-Hugo. Despite its modest length, it packs in a secondary school, a swimming pool, several vintage clothing shops, a barber, a bakery, an organic grocery and a vegan restaurant. The dance company La Cle du Quai is also based on the street.

Beyond the school sits the Atelier Biere, a craft brewery that offers introductory brewing workshops, alongside a second-hand bookshop, an Asian caterer, a designers' boutique and a musical instrument shop. Together, these addresses give the Rue du Mirail an agreeably bohemian atmosphere that sets it apart from the busier commercial streets nearby.

Property on the Rue du Mirail

Apartment prices on the Rue du Mirail can exceed 5,700 euros per square metre for the most desirable properties, with an average of approximately 5,100 euros. Properties in need of work may be found for less than 4,350 euros per square metre. Houses in the area range from 3,800 to 5,000 euros per square metre, with an average close to 4,450 euros. The street's position in the historic centre, close to the quays, underpins consistently strong demand.

The Rue du Mirail offers the charm of a medieval lane in one of Bordeaux's most central locations, where period apartments in stone buildings and characterful townhouses come onto the market regularly. A full selection of properties is available among the apartments and houses for sale in Bordeaux.

The consultants at BARNES Bordeaux know the city centre street by street and can advise on the best opportunities in this area, from the initial property valuation to the final signature. The team is available via the contact page.

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