Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The former department store Aux Dames de France, located in Bourges, was founded in 1905. This commercial style building of the first half of the 20th century is distinguished by its structure on two floors, a high floor and two basement levels. It was equipped with an electric machine for ventilation and elevator, and its mahogany spokes even included a reading room and a correspondence room. The exterior architecture, made of cut stones, is marked by carved mists and large rectangular bays.

Between 1984 and 1985, the store was bought by a Paris real estate company, which substantially reorganized it. The interior volume was cut into trays, and the ground floor divided into eight shops. Despite these transformations, the exterior appearance has been preserved, as have some interior elements, although the original glass roof has been replaced by light wells on the roof.

Ranked a Historic Monument in 2005 for its facades and roofs, the building reflects the evolution of department stores in France. Today owned by a private company, it retains a strong heritage value, combining architectural heritage and contemporary adaptations.

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