Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The former Aux Dames de France shop, located in Plaza de Catalunya in Perpignan, was built between 1905 and 1907 by architect Georges Debrie for the Parisian sign Aux Dames de France. This Art Nouveau building, with a bold zenithal window, symbolized the commercial modernity of the era. It was set up in a new developing neighbourhood between the old town and the railway station, marking the post-demolition urbanization of the northern walls of Perpignan.

The glass roof, destroyed in 1963, and subsequent changes (such as the replacement of the marquise in 1983) altered its original appearance. Repurchased by Galeries Lafayette in 1987, the building experienced a decline before being saved by its registration in the Historical Monuments in 1999. The town hall of Perpignan acquired in 2000, allowing its rehabilitation with the installation of the Fnac (2004-2019) and other shops.

The store was designed for an easy clientele, with luxurious amenities (lifts, electric lighting) and an eclectic decor combining floral motifs and industrial symbols. Its pentagonal façade, decorated with garlands and cartridges, reflected the influence of the Parisian department stores. After years of transformation, it remains a major architectural testimony of the commercial boom of the early twentieth century in Occitanie.

In 2021, the municipality purchased the building to consider the installation of a school 42, marking a new phase of heritage re-appropriation. The restoration work, such as the dismantling of the hangar in 2002, has partially restored its original character, while adapting space to contemporary uses.

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