Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bordelaise Gallery, also known as the Torre Gallery, is an iconic Bordeaux shopping gallery built in the 2nd quarter of the 19th century. It is part, with the Sarget passage, of the only two covered passages of the city, rivaling elegance with those of Paris. Its construction, begun in 1833 under the direction of architect Gabriel-Joseph Durand, was completed in 1834, the date of its opening to the public. The gallery is distinguished by its diagonal layout, linking the streets of Sainte-Catherine and the Pillars-de-Tutelle via a vestibule decorated with marble columns and wrought iron grilles.

The initiative of its creation is the responsibility of four Latin American traders exiled to Bordeaux after the Mexican war: the Marquis de la Torre, as well as Messrs Gimet, de Yrigoyen and Caillavet. Ramona de la Torre, from a wealthy family in Veracruz, also plays a key role in its realization. The gallery, a private property divided between 65 co-owners, houses shops under its arches in the middle of the wall, surmounted by a glass roof and decorated with motifs like the horn of abundance. Its classification to historical monuments in 1975 underlines its heritage importance.

The gallery crosses a diagonal island, a rare architectural peculiarity. Its entrances, marked by twin grids and Corinthian columns, lead to a public passage covered with a glass roof. The tympanums of the arcades are decorated with ironwork, while the capitals have carved stucco. A banner separates the commercial level from the rectangular windows on the first floor, all crowned with a modillon cornice. Despite its condition requiring renovations (estimated at €3 million), a first tranche of work started in 2015 was partially financed by the city of Bordeaux and the state.

The Bordelaise gallery embodies the influence of Parisian passages in the province, while reflecting the cosmopolitan history of Bordeaux, marked by the installation of wealthy families from Latin America. Its architecture, combining marble, iron and glass, illustrates the commercial opulence of the 19th century. Today, although its management is complex due to its fragmented co-ownership, it remains a valuable testimony to Bordeaux's urban planning and heritage.

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