Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a royal square and a uniform facade of the docks along the Garonne gradually emerged. In 1746, intendant Claude Boucher obtained the agreement of the jurats to create a first dock. In 1729, the architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three projects, before building in 1731 the Quai de la Douane and its facades bordering the river. This initial project marked the beginning of a coherent architectural order, characterized by arches in the middle of the hanger and carved motifs.

At the death of Boucher, intendant Aubert de Tourny launched the project with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques Gabriel. In 1748, a monumental perspective was completed, extending the Place Royale (now Place de la Bourse) towards the Garonne. The facades, structured on the ground floor with arcades, two square floors and a Mansard attic, today retain their original character despite the disappearance of some wrought iron balconies. The arcades, partially altered by shops, remain a testament to this urban ambition.

The building at 9 Place Bir-Hakeim is part of this protected architectural complex. Its facade and roof, inscribed in the Historical Monuments since 1951, illustrate the heritage of Gabriel and Tourny. The sculpted details, such as the keys to the arcades or the larmies, underline the fascist of the 18th century Bordeaux, when the city affirmed itself as a major port and a center of economic exchanges.

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