Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The idea of a royal square and a uniform facade of the docks bordering the Garonne has gradually emerged. In 1746, intendant Claude Boucher obtained the agreement of the jurats to create the first dock. By 1729, architect Jacques Gabriel had proposed three projects, before building in 1731 the Quai de la Douane and its facades. When Boucher died, his successor, Aubert de Tourny, launched the project with Ange-Jacques Gabriel, son of Jacques. Together, in 1748 they realized a monumental perspective extending the Place Royale (future Place de la Bourse), facing the river.

This architectural ordinance is characterized by an arcade base in the middle of the hangar, two square floors and a mansard-drilled roof. The facades, although partially altered (disappearance of wrought iron balconies), retain their unit thanks to the original frames and larmies. The ground floor, often transformed into shops, sometimes damaged the arcades. The ensemble, classified as a Historical Monument in 1951 for its facade and roof, illustrates the urbanistic ambition of the Enlightenment in Bordeaux.

The project is part of a desire to modernise and embellish the city, reflecting its growing role as a major port of Atlantic trade. The docks, conceived as an architectural showcase, also symbolized the royal power and influence of the intendant, lastingly marking the Bordeaux landscape. The carved motifs and the recasts still underline this aesthetic and political ambition.

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