In dependence on the pressure of chlorine (1 to 14.5 bar) we prepared graphite intercalation compounds from BiCl3 melts (T= 523K) The compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction of the 001 and hk0 pattern. We obtained first (identity period in c direction : 971 pm, a= 904 pm, b= 1935 pm, gamma= 89.8 degrees, delta(a)= 28.3 degrees) and second stage compounds. X-ray absorption measurements at the Bi-L(III) edge showed a decrease in the Bi-Cl bond length from 250 pm to 245 pm. The edge is shifted about 0.8 eV to lower energies in comparison to pure BiCl3.