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Origin and history

Place Gambetta, formerly Place Dauphine, is one of the most important urban ensembles in Bordeaux with the Place de la Bourse. Designed in the second half of the 18th century, it embodies the classical ordinance imposed by the authorities of the time. Its rectangular layout, lined with buildings with uniform facades, reflects a desire for architectural harmony and beautification of the city.

Around 1745, the intendant of Tourny initiated the project to develop this square on lands west of the Dauphine and Dijeaux gates, as part of a broader policy of sanitation and modernisation of Bordeaux. In 1750, the Jurats of the city contracted a loan to finance the construction of the facades, organized on a ground floor with arcades, a noble floor, an attic and an attic. The original plans, more decorated, were simplified in 1762 by an unnamed architect in the sources: the forebodies and balustrades were removed in favour of a despicable entanglement and a discreet height.

The works lasted from 1770 to 1780, although the style of the buildings remained characteristic of the first half of the 18th century. Each corner of the square overlooks major arteries, emphasizing its central role in the Bordeaux old network. The stone-cut facades feature remarkable elements: arches with bosses on the ground floor, window doors decorated with mascarons carved on the first floor, and wrought iron balconies. Some buildings have a second floor, slightly varying this uniformity.

Gambetta Square has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1927, with specific protection for facades and roofs of buildings (cadastre KW 0220). Its main address, 38 Place Gambetta, and its Insee code (33063) clearly place it in the department of Gironde, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Although the sources mention an approximate location (28 Gambetta place), the cartographic accuracy is considered poor (note of 5/10).

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