Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Castel de Floirac, originally called "Château Ledoux", is a hybrid building built in 1852 for Blondel de Joigny, mayor of Floirac from 1822 to 1829. Originally surrounded by a palus vineyard producing 15 barrels in 1874, the estate belonged to Mr. Lavertujon, editor-in-chief of La Petite Gironde. In 1887, lightning destroyed the castel arrow and the kitchen. The vineyard, ravaged by the phylloxera in the early 20th century, leaves room for a park, while the cellars remain as witnesses to this winemaking past.

In 1924, the Ledoux family acquired the estate and added an Art Deco extension to the east and north, contrasting with the original Gothic Revival style. In the 1930s, Ms. Ledoux demolished the dovecote to create a parlor, entrusted to architect Raoul Jourde, known for the Chaban-Delmas stadium. From February to June 1940, Galerist Paul Rosenberg praised the Castel and received major artists such as Braque and Matisse. During the Second World War, the Germans occupied the site and built a bridge to access a nearby DCA.

After the death of the spouses Ledoux in 1949, the estate was abandoned and then bought by the municipality of Floirac in 1959. It installed public services (central kitchen, library) and demolished the stables to build a post office in 1967. Since 2021, Castel has been listed as a historical monument, and the municipality is undertaking a rehabilitation programme to preserve its architectural and landscape heritage.

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