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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The former Gironde prefecture hotel, located in Bordeaux, is an emblematic building composed of two private hotels: the Saige hotel and the Legrix de Lassalle hotel. Built in the second half of the 18th century, it was designed by architect Victor Louis, famous for his Bordeaux achievements. The Saige Hotel, built between 1775 and 1777, and the Legrix Hotel, built in the same years, form a homogeneous ensemble with the Journu House, reflecting the architectural style of the period.

In 1808, the Hotel de Saige became the seat of Gironde Prefecture, replacing the former archiepiscopal palace (now Rohan Palace). In 1856, the hotel Legrix-de-Lassalle was integrated into the whole to meet the growing administrative needs. In the 19th century, departmental architects such as Combes, Thiac, Labbé and Valleton made improvements and expansions, transforming the site into an aggregate of 18th and 19th century buildings.

The prefecture occupied the area until 1993, when it was transferred to a new building in Mériadeck, built in 1973. The former prefecture hotel is partially classified and listed as a historical monument: a first inscription in 1935, followed by a ranking in 1997 for its remarkable elements such as the facades, lounges and suspended staircase of Victor Louis. Today, it bears witness to the administrative and architectural history of Bordeaux.

The ensemble is located between Rue Esprit-des-Lois, the Cours du Chapeau-Rouge and Rue Louis. It includes, in addition to the Saige and Legrix hotels, adjacent houses such as those of Journu and Morin, as well as early 19th-century reporting buildings. Some interiors, such as the salon of the 21 Cours du Chapeau-Rouge, are protected for their original decoration.

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