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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Café-bourloire du Cercle Saint-Paul, located in Wattrelos, Hauts-de-France, is an emblematic building of the first quarter of the 20th century. This monument is distinguished by an architecture adapted to the local topography, with a bourloire track located below the street level due to the slope of the terrain. It also has two separate entrances, a peculiarity linked to the block and the configuration of the premises.

The bourloire, a traditional game from the North of France, was an important place of sociability for the inhabitants of Wattrelos at the beginning of the 20th century. These spaces allowed local workers and artisans to find themselves after work, strengthening community ties in a region marked by increasing industrialisation and urban transformation.

The Café-bourloire du Cercle Saint-Paul was included in the inventory of Historic Monuments by order of 19 April 2006. This protection concerns the entire building, including its exit on Saint Joseph Street, highlighting its heritage importance. The official address recorded at the Mérimée base is 22 rue Jean-Jaurès, although GPS coordinates indicate a nearby location at 9 rue Saint-Joseph.

The accuracy of its geographical location is considered poor (note 5/10), which may reflect uncertainties in archives or subsequent urban changes. Despite this, the monument remains a rare testimony of local cultural and architectural practices at the turn of the twentieth century.

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