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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a royal square and a uniform facade of the docks bordering the Garonne has gradually emerged. In 1729, the architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three projects, including that of the Quai de la Douane, carried out in 1731. This dock and its facades mark the beginning of an ambitious urban transformation, combining port functionality and monumental aesthetics.

In 1746, intendant Claude Boucher obtained the agreement of the jurats to create a first dock. At his death, his successor, Aubert de Tourny, revived the project with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques Gabriel. Together, they completed in 1748 a monumental perspective extending the Place Royale (future Place de la Bourse), characterized by arches in the middle of the hangar, carved windows and square floors surmounted by attices at the Mansard.

The facades, although partially altered (disappearance of wrought iron balconies or transformation of the ground floor into shops), retain their unit thanks to their original frames and larmies. Their architectural homogeneity reflects the urbanistic ambition of the Enlightenment in Bordeaux, combining royal prestige and commercial dynamism. The façade and roof of 42 quai Richelieu have been protected since 1951.

The project is part of a desire to modernise Bordeaux, then major port of Atlantic trade. The docks, conceived as a showcase of the city's economic power, also symbolize royal control over maritime trade, in a context where the Garonne plays a central role in the flow of goods to Europe and the colonies.

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