Bordeaux Map Poster: the Port of the Moon, drawn in stone
Why Bordeaux works so well as a map poster
Bordeaux is called the Port of the Moon because the Garonne bends through the city in a wide crescent, and that curve rules the whole map: the eighteenth-century quaysides follow it in an unbroken sweep, with Place de la Bourse opening onto the water at the very middle of the arc.
Behind the quays the old town is a fine-grained web of lanes around the Saint-André cathedral, wrapped by the ring of cours built over the former walls; the long axis of Cours de l'Intendance and the esplanade of the Quinconces add breathing room, and the Pont de Pierre stitches the crescent to the right bank.
Best palettes for Bordeaux
- Warm Beige — the signature pick: the exact tone of Bordeaux limestone in the evening sun.
- Midnight Blue — deep blue that turns the Garonne crescent into the brightest line on the wall.
- Noir — black on black, as elegant and reserved as a grand cru label.
Where to centre the map and which radius to use
Centre on Place de la Bourse with a 4 km radius: the full lunar crescent of the Garonne, the old town, the Chartrons quays and the right bank all settle into one frame.
Ready-made Bordeaux posters
We have already rendered 5 Bordeaux designs at 300 DPI (Warm Beige, Blueprint, Japanese Ink, Midnight Blue, Noir). Download the files for 9.99 € and print them anywhere, or order a premium matte print (A4 to 60×90 cm) with shipping included.
See all Bordeaux designs Order it printed
Design your own Bordeaux poster
Pick any of the 17 palettes, set the exact centre and radius described above, choose the size and the label text (Bordeaux, or a neighbourhood name), and we render it for you from live map data after checkout. From 14 €, usually ready in 5–15 minutes.
Which size to print
City maps with lots of fine streets reward size: 30×40 cm is the sweet spot for a desk or hallway, 50×70 cm and 60×90 cm turn the map into a statement piece where individual streets remain legible from across the room. Stick to matte paper so the dark palettes do not reflect. Read the printing and framing guide.