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Origin and history

The Hôtel de la Bourse de La Rochelle was built in the 18th century to replace a previous building destroyed by a fire in 1716. This building, designed by architect Matthieu Hue, was to bring together the stock exchange, consular jurisdiction and chamber of commerce, reflecting the economic importance of the port city. The works, led by the entrepreneurs Jean and Henri Tourneur, ran from 1764 to 1766, with interior improvements and a chapel added this last year. The facade on courtyard was decorated with sculptures at the top and bas-reliefs by Levasseur, while the carpenter Pierre Chevalier realized the wooden door of the rue du Palais.

The monument, inscribed with historical monuments in 1929, illustrates the classical architecture of the period. Its rectangular plan includes a central courtyard with an up-to-date portico connecting two wings, as well as a facade on the rue du Palais marked by five arcades and a noble floor with crossette windows. Inside, the large hall, decorated with ionic pilasters and allegorical landscapes, bears witness to the fascination intended to impress traders and merchants. Today the building retains its judicial function, housing the La Rochelle commercial court.

Prior to its construction, the stock exchange was open-air in the canton of the Flemish, a public space dedicated to trade. The 1716 fire, which ravaged the consular jurisdiction built by architect Denis, accelerated the project of a unified building. Although discussed in 1743, it was only in 1760 that Hue's plans were adopted, marking the beginning of an ambitious project. A new estimate, drawn up by Henri Tourneur in 1784, allowed the colonnade and the last arrangements to be completed between 1784 and 1786, thus consolidating the central role of the Hotel in the economic life of Rochelais.

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