Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a royal square and a uniform façade along the banks of the Garonne in Bordeaux has gradually emerged. As early as 1729, architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three projects, then built in 1731 the Quai de la Douane and its facades bordering the river. This initial project, supported by intendant Claude Boucher, marks the beginning of an ambitious urban transformation.

When Boucher died, intendant Aubert de Tourny took over the project in 1748 with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques Gabriel. Together, they realized a homogeneous monumental perspective, extending the Place Royale (now Place de la Bourse) towards the Garonne. The facades, characterized by an arcade base in the middle of the hangar, two square floors and an attic at the Mansard, form a coherent architectural ensemble, despite some later alterations (disappearance of balconies, commercial occupation of the ground floor).

The elements protected since 1951 include the facade and roof, reflecting the heritage importance of this urban ordinance. The arcades, originally designed to unify the public space, now house shops, while the carved motifs and splits partially preserve the original spirit of the eighteenth century. The exact location at the 15 quai des Salinières confirms its anchoring in the Bordeaux landscape, although the cartographic accuracy remains limited (level 5/10).

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