Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Amédée-Larrieu fountain, located in Place Amédée-Larrieu in Bordeaux, is an emblematic monument of the early twentieth century, erected thanks to the legacy of Eugene Larrieu in memory of his father. Designed by architects Raymond Barbaud and Édouard Bauhain and carved by Raoul Verlet, it is distinguished by its triangular shape and its integration into an Art Nouveau building made of stone and wrought iron. The central fountain, surrounded by two side fountains, celebrates Bordeaux's flagship activities: viticulture (represented by harvesters, pamps and barrels) and maritime trade (symbolized by tritons, anchors and boats).

Inaugurated in 1901, the fountain is a masterpiece of details, including mascarons, shellfish, and marine animals such as dolphins or lobster. The 150,000 francs bequest of Eugene Larrieu, Member of Parliament for Gironde, allowed it to be realized after a competition won by Verlet, who won the grand prize at the Universal Exhibition of 1900. The square, once a market, was listed as a historic monument in 1975, protecting the fountain, the market wall and the two side fountains. Today, it serves as a space for relaxation, although modernization projects are limited by its protected status.

The allegorical sculptures combine mythology and realism: a 1900-style nymph dominates the south face, surrounded by putti collectors, while the north face evokes a harbour dock with a nymph lying on a boat loaded with goods. The side fountains, adorned with a nymph on a shell and a triton terrorizing a flying fish, reinforce the link between water, wine and trade. Water spitting mascarons, one in the shape of a human shell, the other joufflu, add a fantastic touch to this ensemble, reflecting the artistic eclecticism of the time.

Amédée-Larrieu Square, recently renovated to facilitate its maintenance, remains a place of life for the neighborhood. Local residents, via the association The residents of the street of Pessac, campaign to reduce parking and animate the space with local markets or festivals. However, classification at the Historic Monuments complicates structural changes, such as fencing or adding a terrace, due to costs and preservation constraints. This monument thus illustrates the tensions between heritage and adaptation to contemporary uses.

The 1975 inscription, although less ambitious than the classification originally proposed by Inspector Jean Sonnier, saved this unique testimony of Art Nouveau Bordeaux. The architects Barbaud and Bauhain, as well as the sculptor Verlet, merged stone, iron and symbols, creating a work both utilitarian (fontaine) and artistic. Naturalistic details, such as snails or turtles, reveal meticulous attention to realism, while the wine and maritime elements recall Bordeaux's economic identity at the turn of the century.

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