Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a royal square and a uniform facade of the banks of the Garonne in Bordeaux has gradually emerged. In 1729, the architect Jacques Gabriel proposed three projects, including that of the Quai de la Douane, carried out in 1731. This wharf and its facades bordering the river mark a first step towards a monumental perspective, combining ground floor with arcades, two square floors and a Mansard attic.

In 1746, intendant Claude Boucher obtained the agreement of the jurats to create a first dock. At his death, Aubert de Tourny took over the project with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques Gabriel. In 1748, the monumental perspective was completed, extending the Place Royale (future Place de la Bourse) by a homogeneous ordinance: arching underlay in the middle of the hangar, square floors and stone skylights. The façades, although partially altered (disappearance of balconies or wrought iron supports), retain their original character thanks to the frames and larmies.

The arcades on the ground floor, originally designed to unify the whole, have sometimes been modified by the installation of shops. Despite these transformations, the building of 37 quai Richelieu illustrates the 18th century urban ambition in Bordeaux, combining port functionality and architectural prestige. The façade and the roof, with a return to the course of Alsace, have been protected since 1951.

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