Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building located Richelieu quai in Bordeaux is part of the urban project to create a royal square and a homogeneous dock along the Garonne. This project, initiated at the beginning of the 18th century, aimed at modernizing the river front of the city. In 1729 the architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three plans, then built in 1731 the Quai de la Douane and its facades. The idea of a uniform architectural ordinance, combining ground floor with arcades, two square and attic floors at the Mansard, gradually emerges under the impulse of the intendants Claude Boucher and then Aubert de Tourny.

The final realization took place in 1748 under the direction of Aubert de Tourny, in collaboration with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques Gabriel. The latter resumes and completes the paternal project by extending the Place Royale (future place de la Bourse) with a monumental perspective facing the river. The facades, characterized by arches in the middle of the wall, slits and sculptures adorning the arch keys, form a coherent whole despite subsequent alterations (disappearance of balconies, commercial occupation of the ground floor).

Ranked a Historic Monument in 1951 for its facade and roof, this building illustrates the urban ambition of the Enlightenment in Bordeaux. The architectural party, combining classical rigour and carved decorations, reflects the influence of Gabriel, the 18th century major architects. The arcades, originally designed for port or commercial use, have been partially preserved despite the transformations associated with the installation of shops. The location on the Richelieu wharf, near the Cour des Aides, highlights its integration into the administrative and economic fabric of the city.

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