Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a royal square and a uniform facade of the docks along the Garonne gradually emerged. In 1746, intendant Claude Boucher obtained the agreement of the jurats for the creation of a first dock. By 1729 the architect Jacques Gabriel had presented three projects, before building in 1731 the Quai de la Douane and its facades bordering the river. This initial project marked the beginning of an ambitious architectural order, but it was only after his death that the project was resumed and completed.

At the death of Boucher, intendant Aubert de Tourny launched the project with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques Gabriel. In 1748, a monumental perspective was built, extending the Place Royale (now the Place de la Bourse) towards the river. This homogenous ordinance is characterized by a ground floor and an arched basement, topped by two square floors and a Mansard attic. The facades, although partially altered (disappearance of balconies or wrought iron supports), retain their original character thanks to their carved frames and lamers.

The arcades on the ground floor, originally designed for public or commercial use, now house shops. Some changes have affected their integrity, but the whole remains a major testimony of the Bordeaux urban planning of the eighteenth century. The facade and roof of the building located at the 11 quai des Salinières were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 14 April 1951, recognizing their heritage value in this large architectural project.

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