The eclipse took place on Wednesday 12 August 2026. This article is kept as a record of the event: the actual times, why the choice of location mattered so much, and what to remember for next time. The viewing spots described — the Atlantic coast and Arcachon Bay — remain the finest sunsets in the region, and we drive there all year round.
On Wednesday 12 August 2026, the Sun was 97.5% covered above Bordeaux. It was by far the most spectacular eclipse visible from the Gironde since 1999. With a catch few people had anticipated: at maximum, the Sun sat only 7.4° above the horizon. Roughly rooftop height. From most streets in Bordeaux, you simply saw nothing.
Here are the exact times of the event, why the choice of location mattered more than for any previous eclipse, and what that tells you about the best sunset spots around Bordeaux.
Exact times in Bordeaux
All times local (CEST), for the city of Bordeaux:
| Phase | Time | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|
| First contact (start) | 7:29 pm | about 17° |
| Maximum — 97.5% covered | 8:24 pm | 7.4° |
| Sunset | 9:13 pm | 0° |
| Theoretical end of the eclipse | around 9:16 pm | below the horizon |
Look closely at the last two rows. The Sun set before the eclipse was over. From Bordeaux it slipped below the horizon still partly bitten into by the Moon. Nobody saw the end of it — and that is precisely what made the moment so photogenic.
Depending on the source, the end was given between 9:09 pm and 9:16 pm: the gap was not an error, it came from each calculator cutting the event off at sunset a little earlier or later. What mattered: everything happened between 7:29 pm and 9:13 pm.
The real issue: a completely clear western horizon
An eclipse 60° up in the sky can be watched from any pavement. At 7°, everything changes. At that altitude, the following blocked the view:
- A four-storey building 100 metres in front of you.
- A row of trees at the end of a street or a park.
- Any rise in the ground, including the hills of the right bank.
In practice: in central Bordeaux, between the 18th-century façades and the rows of plane trees, almost every street was blind at maximum. The Sun set on a west-north-west bearing (azimuth 284°). You needed a completely unobstructed line of sight in that direction.
That rule is not specific to eclipses: in Bordeaux every sunset happens on the same bearing, and the same obstacles hide it.
Where you had to be around Bordeaux
The Atlantic coast — the best choice, no debate
On the ocean, the western horizon is clear across 180°. The Sun sets into the water — on 12 August, more than 97% eclipsed. This was the sight everyone wanted to photograph, at Lacanau-Océan, Le Porge, Carcans-Hourtin or Soulac-sur-Mer. Allow 1 hour to 1 hour 30 from Bordeaux — and it holds true every evening of the year.
Arcachon Bay
Cap Ferret on the ocean side and the wide beaches south of the Bay offer the same open horizon, with easier access from the A63. The Dune du Pilat area adds height, which is never a bad thing when the Sun is grazing the horizon.
Staying inland in the Gironde
If you would rather not drive far, aim for large open bodies of water and wide esplanades facing west rather than the city centre. An open lake beats a balcony with a building opposite — see our selection of swimming lakes near Bordeaux, several of which offer a long view towards the sunset.
Safety: 97.5% is not 100%
This is the one point where nothing can ever be compromised, and it holds for every eclipse to come. A partial eclipse is more dangerous than an ordinary Sun, because the drop in brightness removes your instinct to look away while the radiation itself remains just as destructive to the retina.
- Certified ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses are mandatory, for the whole observation. No exceptions, including at maximum.
- Sunglasses do not protect you. Neither do smoked glass, X-ray film, a CD, or several pairs stacked together.
- Never use binoculars, a telescope or a camera without a dedicated solar filter, even while wearing eclipse glasses: the optics concentrate the radiation and destroy them instantly.
- Check the condition of your glasses: a scratched, bent or pierced frame belongs in the bin. Glasses from 1999 are no longer valid — and the ones from 12 August 2026 will not last forever either.
- Supervise children constantly throughout the phase.
- Retinal damage is painless and may only show up several hours later. The absence of pain proves nothing.
The Association Française d’Astronomie publishes the reference guidance and the criteria for recognising genuinely certified glasses. Worth reading before buying anything online.
The lesson of 12 August: plan the way back, not just the way there
This is where the evening could go wrong, and this part stays true all summer:
- 12 August was the height of the season. The Gironde coast was already at peak occupancy.
- Everyone leaves at the same time, within half an hour of sunset.
- The drive back is at night, on narrow forest roads, after more than an hour spent staring at the sky.
- Parking near the beaches is full long before sunset: arriving at the last minute means arriving too late.
A private chauffeur settles all four points at once: you are dropped as close as possible to the viewing spot, nobody circles looking for a space, nobody drives at night on the way back, and the group stays together.
Watching the sunset with Bordeaux Privilège
We run day trips from Bordeaux to the coast and the Bay all year round — see our private chauffeur service to the ocean beaches, our Bordeaux → Cap Ferret transfers and our Bordeaux → Dune du Pilat transfers:
- Departure timed to sunset — we leave early enough to be in place before it.
- Drop-off as close as possible to the viewing spot, with no hunting for a parking space.
- SUV or van / 7-seater vehicle (on request), for a family or a group of friends.
- Guaranteed night-time return, at the time you choose, without queuing out of a car park.
- Fixed price known at booking, with no surge linked to demand.
Watch the sunset from the ocean?
Departure, drop-off close to the spot and a night-time return — we drive, you watch the sky.
Frequently asked questions
What time was the eclipse of 12 August 2026 in Bordeaux?
It began at 7:29 pm, reached its maximum at 8:24 pm with 97.5% of the Sun covered, and continued until sunset at 9:13 pm. The Sun set before the theoretical end of the eclipse (around 9:16 pm): from Bordeaux, nobody saw the very end of it.
Was the eclipse total in Bordeaux?
No. The path of totality crossed Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain. In France the eclipse was partial everywhere, but very deep in the South-West: 97.5% in Bordeaux, which was still exceptional.
Where did you have to stand to see it properly?
Anywhere with a completely clear west-north-west horizon, because the Sun was only 7.4° above the horizon at maximum. The Atlantic coast (Lacanau, Le Porge, Carcans-Hourtin, Soulac) and Arcachon Bay were the best choices. In central Bordeaux, buildings and trees hid the Sun in most streets.
Can you look at a 97.5% eclipse without glasses?
No, never. A partial eclipse is in fact more dangerous than an ordinary Sun: the light level drops and removes your instinct to look away, while the radiation keeps burning the retina. Certified ISO 12312-2 glasses are mandatory throughout the observation, and the damage is painless. The rule applies to every eclipse to come.
Are those viewing spots still worth it outside an eclipse?
Yes. What makes a good spot for a low eclipse also makes a good sunset: a completely clear western horizon. The Atlantic coast and Arcachon Bay offer that every evening of the year.
Does Bordeaux Privilège drive to those viewing spots?
Yes, by reservation and all year round: departure timed to sunset, drop-off as close as possible to the spot of your choice on the coast or at the Bay, and a night-time return at the time you choose. SUV, or van / 7-seater vehicle on request.
To plan your trip to the coast, contact Bordeaux Privilège.