Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Café de la Bourse, located at 18th Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle in Autun (Saône-et-Loire), is a monument of the 1st quarter of the 20th century. It is distinguished by its Art Nouveau interior decor, made in the 1910s, blending plaster, stucco and carpentry with floral motifs. Mirrors, framed by women's heads with undulating hairs, cast iron radiators, and panelling with plant decorations illustrate this style. A plaster rosacee and decorated cornices complete this set, partially classified at the Historical Monuments in 1996 under the category "inner decor".

Charles-de-Gaulle Avenue, where the café is located, is a major artery in Autun, pierced from 1869 to connect the station to the city centre. It replaces the former rue de la Halle-au-Blé, created in 1779 for a concert hall also serving as a grain hall. This street, demolished in 1885, gives way to an avenue planted with linden trees and lined with buildings with Art Nouveau and Art Deco facades, like the n°25 decorated with ironwork signed Hector Guimard. The café, behind a sober facade, hides a sumptuous interior, witness to the artistic effervescence of the era.

The area also houses historical remains, such as the remains of Saint John's Church (XVI century), razed after the Revolution, or the Tower of Jouère, a Gallo-Roman monument that disappeared in the 19th century. These archaeological strata contrast with early 20th century buildings, including the Café de la Bourse, a symbol of the modernity and aesthetic renewal of Autun. Its inscription in the heritage reflects the desire to preserve this unique testimony of Art Nouveau in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.

The neighbouring building (#21) features an eclectic façade, combining denticles inspired by architect Claudius Malord and bodyguards decorated with chestnut trees, poppy and sunflowers. Nearby, the house of n°52 bis, built in 1930 by architect Jean Truchot, illustrates the Art Deco style with its monumental entrance and geometric volumes. These achievements are part of an urban context marked by the demolition of ancient remains in favour of a resolutely modern aesthetic, one of which is the Café de la Bourse.

External links