diff --git a/client/src/components/Map/MapView.test.tsx b/client/src/components/Map/MapView.test.tsx
index 7a6a4c16..902a8f32 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Map/MapView.test.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/Map/MapView.test.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,16 @@ import { resetAllStores } from '../../../tests/helpers/store'
 import { buildPlace } from '../../../tests/helpers/factories'
 import * as photoService from '../../services/photoService'
 
+const mapMock = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  panTo: vi.fn(),
+  setView: vi.fn(),
+  fitBounds: vi.fn(),
+  getZoom: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(10),
+  on: vi.fn(),
+  off: vi.fn(),
+  panBy: vi.fn(),
+}))
+
 vi.mock('react-leaflet', () => ({
   MapContainer: ({ children }: any) => <div data-testid="map-container">{children}</div>,
   TileLayer: () => <div data-testid="tile-layer" />,
@@ -27,15 +37,7 @@ vi.mock('react-leaflet', () => ({
   Polyline: ({ positions }: any) => <div data-testid="polyline" data-points={JSON.stringify(positions)} />,
   CircleMarker: () => <div data-testid="circle-marker" />,
   Circle: () => <div data-testid="circle" />,
-  useMap: () => ({
-    panTo: vi.fn(),
-    setView: vi.fn(),
-    fitBounds: vi.fn(),
-    getZoom: () => 10,
-    on: vi.fn(),
-    off: vi.fn(),
-    panBy: vi.fn(),
-  }),
+  useMap: () => mapMock,
   useMapEvents: () => ({}),
 }))
 
@@ -79,6 +81,7 @@ function buildMapPlace(overrides: Record<string, any> = {}) {
 }
 
 afterEach(() => {
+  vi.clearAllMocks()
   resetAllStores()
 })
 
@@ -216,4 +219,33 @@ describe('MapView', () => {
     render(<MapView places={places} selectedPlaceId={5} />)
     expect(screen.getByTestId('marker')).toBeTruthy()
   })
+
+  it('FE-COMP-MAPVIEW-018: changing selectedPlaceId/hasInspector does not refit bounds (issue #921)', () => {
+    const places = [
+      buildMapPlace({ id: 1, lat: 48.8584, lng: 2.2945 }),
+      buildMapPlace({ id: 2, lat: 48.86, lng: 2.337 }),
+    ]
+    const { rerender } = render(<MapView places={places} fitKey={1} selectedPlaceId={null} hasInspector={false} />)
+    const initialCount = mapMock.fitBounds.mock.calls.length
+
+    // Toggle selectedPlaceId on — mimics opening place inspector (hasInspector flips,
+    // paddingOpts memo creates new object). fitBounds must NOT fire again.
+    rerender(<MapView places={places} fitKey={1} selectedPlaceId={1} hasInspector={true} />)
+    expect(mapMock.fitBounds).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(initialCount)
+
+    // Toggle selectedPlaceId off — mimics closing inspector via X button.
+    rerender(<MapView places={places} fitKey={1} selectedPlaceId={null} hasInspector={false} />)
+    expect(mapMock.fitBounds).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(initialCount)
+  })
+
+  it('FE-COMP-MAPVIEW-019: bumping fitKey triggers a new fitBounds call', () => {
+    const places = [
+      buildMapPlace({ id: 1, lat: 48.8584, lng: 2.2945 }),
+    ]
+    const { rerender } = render(<MapView places={places} fitKey={1} />)
+    const afterFirst = mapMock.fitBounds.mock.calls.length
+
+    rerender(<MapView places={places} fitKey={2} />)
+    expect(mapMock.fitBounds.mock.calls.length).toBeGreaterThan(afterFirst)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/client/src/components/Map/MapView.tsx b/client/src/components/Map/MapView.tsx
index 5af4bea3..a4a9831d 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Map/MapView.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/Map/MapView.tsx
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ function BoundsController({ places, fitKey, paddingOpts, hasDayDetail }: BoundsC
         }
       }
     } catch {}
-  }, [fitKey, places, paddingOpts, map, hasDayDetail])
+  }, [fitKey]) // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
 
   return null
 }
@@ -233,18 +233,7 @@ interface RouteLabelProps {
 }
 
 function RouteLabel({ midpoint, walkingText, drivingText }: RouteLabelProps) {
-  const map = useMap()
-  const [visible, setVisible] = useState(map ? map.getZoom() >= 12 : false)
-
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (!map) return
-    const check = () => setVisible(map.getZoom() >= 12)
-    check()
-    map.on('zoomend', check)
-    return () => map.off('zoomend', check)
-  }, [map])
-
-  if (!visible || !midpoint) return null
+  if (!midpoint) return null
 
   const icon = L.divIcon({
     className: 'route-info-pill',
diff --git a/client/src/components/Map/MapViewGL.test.tsx b/client/src/components/Map/MapViewGL.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5a305a70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/Map/MapViewGL.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+import React from 'react'
+import { describe, it, expect, vi, afterEach, beforeEach } from 'vitest'
+import { render } from '../../../tests/helpers/render'
+import { act } from '@testing-library/react'
+import { resetAllStores } from '../../../tests/helpers/store'
+import { buildPlace } from '../../../tests/helpers/factories'
+import { useSettingsStore } from '../../store/settingsStore'
+
+// Stable fake map so fitBounds call counts survive re-renders.
+const glMap = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  on: vi.fn(),
+  off: vi.fn(),
+  once: vi.fn(),
+  loaded: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(true),
+  fitBounds: vi.fn(),
+  flyTo: vi.fn(),
+  jumpTo: vi.fn(),
+  getZoom: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(10),
+  addControl: vi.fn(),
+  removeControl: vi.fn(),
+  remove: vi.fn(),
+  addSource: vi.fn(),
+  getSource: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(null),
+  addLayer: vi.fn(),
+  setLayoutProperty: vi.fn(),
+  getStyle: vi.fn().mockReturnValue({ layers: [] }),
+  isStyleLoaded: vi.fn().mockReturnValue(true),
+  getCanvasContainer: vi.fn(() => document.createElement('div')),
+}))
+
+vi.mock('mapbox-gl', () => ({
+  default: {
+    accessToken: '',
+    Map: vi.fn(() => glMap),
+    Marker: vi.fn(() => ({
+      setLngLat: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
+      addTo: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
+      remove: vi.fn(),
+      getElement: vi.fn(() => document.createElement('div')),
+    })),
+    LngLatBounds: vi.fn(() => ({ extend: vi.fn().mockReturnThis() })),
+    NavigationControl: vi.fn(),
+  },
+}))
+vi.mock('mapbox-gl/dist/mapbox-gl.css', () => ({}))
+
+vi.mock('./mapboxSetup', () => ({
+  isStandardFamily: vi.fn(() => false),
+  supportsCustom3d: vi.fn(() => false),
+  wantsTerrain: vi.fn(() => false),
+  addCustom3dBuildings: vi.fn(),
+  addTerrainAndSky: vi.fn(),
+}))
+
+vi.mock('./locationMarkerMapbox', () => ({
+  attachLocationMarker: vi.fn(() => ({ update: vi.fn() })),
+}))
+
+vi.mock('./reservationsMapbox', () => ({
+  ReservationMapboxOverlay: vi.fn().mockImplementation(() => ({ update: vi.fn() })),
+}))
+
+vi.mock('../../hooks/useGeolocation', () => ({
+  useGeolocation: vi.fn(() => ({
+    position: null,
+    mode: 'off',
+    error: null,
+    cycleMode: vi.fn(),
+    setMode: vi.fn(),
+  })),
+}))
+
+vi.mock('../../services/photoService', () => ({
+  getCached: vi.fn(() => null),
+  isLoading: vi.fn(() => false),
+  fetchPhoto: vi.fn(),
+  onThumbReady: vi.fn(() => () => {}),
+  getAllThumbs: vi.fn(() => ({})),
+}))
+
+import { MapViewGL } from './MapViewGL'
+
+function buildMapPlace(overrides: Record<string, any> = {}) {
+  return {
+    ...buildPlace(),
+    category_name: null,
+    category_color: null,
+    category_icon: null,
+    ...overrides,
+  } as any
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  useSettingsStore.setState({
+    settings: {
+      ...useSettingsStore.getState().settings,
+      map_provider: 'mapbox-gl',
+      mapbox_access_token: 'pk.test_token',
+      mapbox_style: 'mapbox://styles/mapbox/streets-v12',
+      mapbox_3d_enabled: false,
+    },
+  } as any)
+})
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.clearAllMocks()
+  resetAllStores()
+})
+
+describe('MapViewGL', () => {
+  it('FE-COMP-MAPVIEWGL-001: opening place inspector does not refit bounds (issue #921)', async () => {
+    const places = [
+      buildMapPlace({ id: 1, lat: 48.8584, lng: 2.2945 }),
+      buildMapPlace({ id: 2, lat: 48.86, lng: 2.337 }),
+    ]
+
+    const { rerender } = render(
+      <MapViewGL places={places} fitKey={1} selectedPlaceId={null} hasInspector={false} />,
+    )
+    await act(async () => {})
+    const after_initial = glMap.fitBounds.mock.calls.length
+
+    // Selecting a place flips hasInspector → paddingOpts memo changes.
+    // fitBounds must NOT fire again (this was the bug).
+    rerender(
+      <MapViewGL places={places} fitKey={1} selectedPlaceId={1} hasInspector={true} />,
+    )
+    await act(async () => {})
+    expect(glMap.fitBounds).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(after_initial)
+  })
+
+  it('FE-COMP-MAPVIEWGL-002: closing inspector does not refit bounds (issue #921)', async () => {
+    const places = [
+      buildMapPlace({ id: 1, lat: 48.8584, lng: 2.2945 }),
+    ]
+
+    const { rerender } = render(
+      <MapViewGL places={places} fitKey={1} selectedPlaceId={1} hasInspector={true} />,
+    )
+    await act(async () => {})
+    const after_initial = glMap.fitBounds.mock.calls.length
+
+    // Closing inspector (X button) clears selectedPlaceId → hasInspector=false → new paddingOpts.
+    rerender(
+      <MapViewGL places={places} fitKey={1} selectedPlaceId={null} hasInspector={false} />,
+    )
+    await act(async () => {})
+    expect(glMap.fitBounds).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(after_initial)
+  })
+
+  it('FE-COMP-MAPVIEWGL-003: bumping fitKey triggers a new fitBounds call', async () => {
+    const places = [
+      buildMapPlace({ id: 1, lat: 48.8584, lng: 2.2945 }),
+    ]
+
+    const { rerender } = render(<MapViewGL places={places} fitKey={1} />)
+    await act(async () => {})
+    const after_first = glMap.fitBounds.mock.calls.length
+
+    rerender(<MapViewGL places={places} fitKey={2} />)
+    await act(async () => {})
+    expect(glMap.fitBounds.mock.calls.length).toBeGreaterThan(after_first)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/client/src/components/Map/MapViewGL.tsx b/client/src/components/Map/MapViewGL.tsx
index 557e2647..9be41e17 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Map/MapViewGL.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/Map/MapViewGL.tsx
@@ -507,13 +507,10 @@ export function MapViewGL({
     return { top, right: rightWidth + 40, bottom, left: leftWidth + 40 }
   }, [leftWidth, rightWidth, hasInspector, hasDayDetail])
 
-  // Also fit when the places collection changes so the initial render
-  // zooms to the trip instead of the default center.
-  const placeBoundsKey = useMemo(
-    () => places.filter(p => p.lat && p.lng).map(p => `${p.id}:${p.lat}:${p.lng}`).join('|'),
-    [places]
-  )
+  const prevFitKey = useRef(-1)
   useEffect(() => {
+    if (fitKey === prevFitKey.current) return
+    prevFitKey.current = fitKey
     const map = mapRef.current
     if (!map) return
     const target = dayPlaces.length > 0 ? dayPlaces : places
@@ -533,7 +530,7 @@ export function MapViewGL({
     }
     if (map.loaded()) run()
     else map.once('load', run)
-  }, [fitKey, placeBoundsKey, paddingOpts, mapbox3d]) // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, [fitKey]) // eslint-disable-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
 
   // flyTo selected place
   useEffect(() => {