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Origin and history

The house is part of the architectural complex of Place Gambetta (former Place Dauphine), second most important of Bordeaux after the Place de la Bourse. Designed in the second half of the eighteenth century, it is part of an ambitious urban planning project launched around 1745 by the intendant of Tourny, aimed at sanitizing and improving the city. The buildings, built according to a classic ordinance, form a rectangular frame around the square, with stone facades and arcades on the ground floor.

In 1750, the Jurats of Bordeaux made a loan to finance the construction of uniform facades, composed of a ground floor with arcades, a noble floor, an attic and an attic. In 1762, the architect proposed a simplified plan, removing the initial forebody and balustrades to adopt a sober entanglement and a discreet height. The square was only completed between 1770 and 1780, although its style reflected that of the first half of the century, with window doors decorated with mascarons and wrought iron balconies.

The facade and roof of this house, located at 43 Gambetta Square, were protected by a registration order under the Historic Monuments on November 15, 1927. This building illustrates the architectural harmony sought by the Bordeaux authorities, in a context of urban modernization where public squares became symbols of prestige and rationality. The arcades on the ground floor, typical of the commercial buildings of the time, probably housed stalls or covered passages, animating the daily life of this central district.

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