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 materialised. As early as 1729, the architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three projects, then built in 1731 the Quai de la Douane and its facades. After the death of the intendant Claude Boucher, who had initiated the project in 1746, Aubert de Tourny resumed work with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques. Together, they realized in 1748 a homogeneous architectural order, extending the Place Royale (future place de la Bourse) towards the river.

This monumental project is characterized by an arcade base in the middle of the hangar, two square floors and an attic with the Mansard pierced by skylights. The facades, although partially altered (disappearance of balconies or wrought iron supports), retain their original frames and larmies. The arcades, sometimes modified by the installation of shops on the ground floor, testify to the urban ambition of the 18th century Bordeaux, mixing port functionality and architectural prestige.

The building at 13 quai Richelieu, whose facade and roof have been protected since 1951, illustrates this desire for symmetry and grandeur. The splits and carved motifs of the arcade keys underline the monumental character of the ensemble, designed to affirm the influence of Bordeaux, then major port of Atlantic commerce. The architects Gabriel, father and son, applied a rigorous classical style, lastingly marking the urban landscape.

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