Watershed Creation Order 1867 (≈ 1867)
Official authorization for Bacalan Basin.
1876-1885
Construction of the first form
Construction of the first form 1876-1885 (≈ 1881)
157 m shape for transatlantic vessels.
1892-1906
Construction of the second form
Construction of the second form 1892-1906 (≈ 1899)
Smaller shape adjacent to the first.
1997
Closure of refit forms
Closure of refit forms 1997 (≈ 1997)
Temporary cessation of repair activities.
31 janvier 2008
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 31 janvier 2008 (≈ 2008)
Protection of forms and their machinery.
2016
Reopening of forms of refit
Reopening of forms of refit 2016 (≈ 2016)
Return to their original function.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The two forms of refit in total, with their machinery, in total, including the building that houses them (see Box 2). non-cadastre, public domain): registration by order of 31 January 2008; The following components of the river basins, in accordance with the plan annexed to the Order: the two river basins in their entirety, located on sections SA and SW of the cadastre, outside the cadastre zones, the two whole estacades, located for the south-west estacade on parcel 41, section GK of the cadastre, and for the north-east estacade on section GL of the cadastre, outside the cadastre zones, the whole locks, located on section SA of the cadastre, outside the cadastre zones, the building housing the machinery of the pertuis and its platform, in whole, situated at the boundary between sections SA and SW, outside the cadastre zones, the facades and roofs of the former labour and toolwork offices, located on parcels 18 and 19, section GK of the cadastre, the facades and roofs of the G2 hangar, located on section SA of the cadastre, located on the cadastre areas, on the cadastre areas, on the cadastre areas, on the cadastre areas, on the cadastre areas, on the cadastre areas, the These elements are listed in Cadastre sections GK, GL, SA, SB and SW: registration by order of 14 February 2023
Key figures
Jean-Baptiste Courau - Manufacturer from Bordeaux
Created a floating pool in 1847.
Philippe Dorthe - Counsellor General of Bordeaux
Opposing the Lesieur Island project.
Alain Juppé - Mayor of Bordeaux (2015)
Involved in discussions with UNESCO.
Origin and history
The two forms of water basins in the port of Bordeaux were built at the end of the 19th century, as part of the development of the first Bacalan river basin. This infrastructure, intended for the maintenance and repair of ships, met an increasing need linked to the intensification of maritime traffic on the Garonne River. Prior to their construction, ships were simply stranded on strikes for maintenance, an inefficient method for large vessels.
The first form of refit, 157 metres long and 20 metres wide, was built between 1876 and 1885 to accommodate large transatlantic ships. A smaller form was added between 1892 and 1906 to complement the port's capabilities. These facilities were equipped with steam machinery to empty the basins, while vessel hulls (supports) were maintained during repairs. Their location on the Moroccan wharf in the Bacalan district linked them directly to the water basin and the Garonne.
The forms of refit played a key role in the port activity of Bordeaux until their closure in 1997, before being reopened in 2016 after debates about their preservation. Classified Historical Monuments in 2008 with their machinery, they were the subject of controversy in 2015 during the project "Islot Lesieur", which planned the construction of a 60-metre tower in their UNESCO protection perimeter. The intervention of ICOMOS helped to avoid this project, stressing the importance of maintaining the morphological and cultural integrity of the river basins.
The site also includes ancillary elements protected since 2023, such as locks, labour offices, a semaphore and hangars, illustrating the entire historical harbour system. The shapes of refit, built of cut stone with staircase walls, could accommodate ships of various sizes: the first shape (155 m long) was dedicated to ships and yachts, while the second (105 m) was used for pleasure boats. Their common machinery, located between the two basins, managed filling and discharge.
Their reopening in 2016 marked a return to their original function, while keeping in mind a dynamic of valuing Bordeaux' industrial heritage. This site, combined with river basins, rotating bridges and other port infrastructure, is an exceptional testimony of Bordeaux's maritime golden age, between technical innovation and adaptation to the growing needs of transatlantic trade.
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