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. In 1729, the architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three projects, before building in 1731 the Quai de la Douane and its facades. This initial project, supported by intendant Claude Boucher, marks the beginning of an ambitious urban transformation, aimed at structuring the space between the city and the river.

When Boucher died, his successor, Aubert de Tourny, took over the project in collaboration with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques Gabriel. In 1748, a monumental perspective was completed, extending the Place Royale (now Place de la Bourse) towards the Garonne. This architectural ordinance is characterized by an arcade base in the middle of the hanger, two square floors and a Mansard attic, adorned with stone skylights. The facades, although partially altered (disappearance of wrought iron balconies), retain their unit thanks to their original frames and larmies.

The arcades on the ground floor, originally designed to unify the public space, have sometimes been modified by the installation of shops, altering their first appearance. Despite these transformations, the whole remains a major testimony of Bordeaux classic urban planning, combining port functionality and aesthetic ambition. The façade and roof of the building located at 19 wharf of the Salinières have been protected since 1951, highlighting their heritage value.

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