The Saint-Michel Spire in Bordeaux: A Landmark Reborn

By Cécile — May 2026 — 4 min read

Some monuments become so much a part of the landscape that you stop really seeing them. And then there are those whose absence is felt all the more keenly. Since November 2021, the Saint-Michel Spire had vanished behind 700 tonnes of scaffolding. On 13 June 2026, it returns. And from our B&B, just 200 metres from the basilica, we have been counting down the days.

An Extraordinary Bell Tower

The Saint-Michel Spire is no ordinary bell tower. For a start, it stands apart from the basilica itself — which is rare in France. The reason? The marshy ground beneath the neighbourhood in the 15th century couldn't support the weight of such a structure attached to the church. So it was built separately, between 1472 and 1492, on the site of an ancient charnel house. This detachment gives it a unique silhouette, visible from kilometres around.

At 114 metres, it is France's 3rd tallest bell tower, behind Rouen and Strasbourg. It has dominated the Bordeaux skyline for over five centuries — battered by hurricanes (the one in 1768 decapitated it for nearly a century), and rebuilt by architect Paul Abadie — the same man who designed the Sacré-Cœur in Paris — between 1860 and 1869.

Four Years of Work, a Monumental Restoration

In November 2021, the verdict came in: structural cracks, deteriorated stonework, heavily corroded metalwork at the very top. The spire closed to the public. A 700-tonne scaffolding structure was erected to allow heritage craftspeople — stonemasons, ironworkers, glaziers — to work all the way to the summit.

The project took four years and cost €11.6 million, funded by the City of Bordeaux, the Région and other partners. The result: a fully restored spire, repaired or recreated gargoyles, an overhauled carillon, and secured staircases ready to welcome visitors safely.

The Inauguration on 13 June 2026

The City of Bordeaux chose a symbolic date to mark the reopening: Saturday 13 June 2026, closing night of the Chahuts festival. This festival of spoken arts, rooted in the Saint-Michel neighbourhood for 35 years, offers 52 artistic events this year (35 of them free) from 5 to 13 June — street theatre, performances, concerts and open-air celebrations.

For the spire's inauguration, the City has promised a neighbourhood party: entertainment on Place Meynard, a communal meal and a concert by the carillonneur. In the days that follow, a period of free visits will allow Bordeaux residents and visitors alike to climb the 235 steps and take in the panoramic terrace at 47 metres above the city.

The Basilica: What You Need to Know

The basilica itself, built between the 14th and 16th centuries in Flamboyant Gothic style, is open year-round. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1998 as part of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, it is one of the largest parish churches in Bordeaux.

Beneath the spire, the crypt has a rather extraordinary history: in 1791, during works on the former cemetery surrounding the basilica, dozens of bodies naturally mummified by the clay soil were exhumed and put on display for nearly two centuries. Victor Hugo himself stopped to visit in 1843. The mummies have since been reinterred at the Chartreuse cemetery, but the crypt remains a fascinating witness to the neighbourhood's past.

The Neighbourhood: Real Bordeaux

Place Meynard, at the foot of the spire, is one of those neighbourhood squares where Bordeaux feels most like itself. A daily market, a Sunday-morning flea market — one of the largest in southwest France — local cafés, and the scent of spices drifting from restaurants from every corner of the world. This is Bordeaux at its least postcard-perfect and its most authentic.

Just steps away: the Capucins market (5 minutes on foot), Rue des Faures with its bistros, the Pont de Pierre and the banks of the Garonne.

From the B&B: 200 Metres Away

Our 17th-century townhouse sits just 200 metres from the basilica. Some of our studios have a direct view of the spire. The neighbourhood you step out into each morning is the same one that watched this bell tower rise over 500 years ago.

On 13 June, the inauguration will take place quite literally on our doorstep. It might just be the best moment of the year to stay at B&B Bordeaux Saint-Michel.

Planning to be here for the reopening of the Saint-Michel Spire? Book your studio directly on our site and save ~10% compared to booking platforms. 👉 Check availability