Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a royal square and a uniform facade along the banks of the Garonne has gradually emerged. In 1729, architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three projects, then built in 1731 the Quai de la Douane and its facades. This initial project, supported by intendant Claude Boucher, was validated in 1746 by the jurats of Bordeaux. After Boucher's death, his successor, Aubert de Tourny, took over the project with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques.

The monumental perspective was completed in 1748 under the impulse of Tourny. It extends the Place Royale (now the Place de la Bourse) and imposes a homogeneous order: a ground floor with arches in the middle of the hangar, two square floors, and an attic with the Mansard pierced with skylights. The facades, enriched with splits and sculptures, retain their original character despite the partial disappearance of wrought iron balconies.

The arcades on the ground floor, designed to house shops, have sometimes been altered by these commercial occupations. Despite these changes, the whole has remained protected since 1951, with an inscription covering the facade and roof. The building is part of an ambitious urban project, symbolizing the prestige of Bordeaux in the Enlightenment century.

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