Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a royal square and a uniform facade along the Garonne gradually emerged. In 1746, intendant Claude Boucher obtained the agreement of the jurats to create the first dock. In 1729, the architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three projects, before building in 1731 the Quai de la Douane and its facades bordering the river. This initial project marked the beginning of a coherent architectural order, characterized by arches in the middle of the hang, slits and ornamental sculptures.

At the death of Boucher, intendant Aubert de Tourny launched the project 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. The facades, structured on the ground floor with arcades, two square floors and a Mansard attic, today retain their original character despite the partial disappearance of wrought iron balconies. The arcades, sometimes altered by shops, remain a testament to this urban ambition.

The building at 21 Quai des Salinières, whose facade and roof have been protected since 1951, illustrates this architectural uniformity. The motifs carved with the keys of the arcades and the original larmies highlight the base, while the stone dots pierce the top. This heritage reflects the influence of Gabriel, fathers and sons, and the intention of the intendants to modernize Bordeaux in the Enlightenment century.

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