Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a royal square and a uniform façade along the banks of the Garonne in Bordeaux has gradually emerged. In 1729 the architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three projects, before building in 1731 the Quai de la Douane and its facades. This initial project, supported by intendant Claude Boucher, was validated in 1746 by the city's jurats. After Boucher's death, intendant Aubert de Tourny took over the project with Jacques' son, Angel-Jacques Gabriel, to complete this monumental perspective.

In 1748, under the impulse of Tourny, a homogeneous architectural ordinance was erected, extending the Place Royale (now Place de la Bourse) towards the river. This complex is characterized by a ground floor and an arcade basement, topped by two square floors and a Mansard attic. The facades, although partially altered (disappearance of balconies or wrought iron supports), retain their unit thanks to their original frames and larmies. The arcades, sometimes obstructed by shops, still bear witness to this ambitious urban project.

The building located in 7 Bir-Hakeim Square, with a return to the Victor-Hugo course, sees its facade and roof protected by a decree of 14 April 1951. This monument illustrates the heritage of Gabriel (father and son), major architects of the eighteenth century, and Tourny, whose vision marked the Bordeaux landscape. The sculptures adorning the keys of the arcades and the recasts underline the care taken to this base, symbol of an aesthetic and functional will.

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