Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Toulouse's Modern Style Bookshop, originally known as the Vivès Bookshop-Papetry, was opened in the early 20th century. It is unique in its Art Nouveau front, a rare style in the pink city. This decor, made of stucco, initially covered the entire sub-base of a romantic building built in the second half of the 19th century. Today, after a recent restoration, this facade adorns a hotel of travelers, thus marking a reassignment of the place while preserving its architectural heritage.

The decoration of the front is characterized by a network of winding wooden lines, inspired by the Art Nouveau movement, which extends on the walls and in the upper part of the archature. The consoles supporting the balcony take up this exuberant plant theme, with braces of foliage escaping two carved keys, all on a drapery background lining the facade. This historic monument, classified for its exterior in 1975, bears witness to the influence of the decorative arts of the period in a changing urban context.

The building occupies the site of a former college founded by Pierre de Montruc, Cardinal of Pampelonne, thus highlighting the historical stratification of the site. Although the bookshop has disappeared, its front, classified as Historical Monuments by order of 29 October 1975, remains a remarkable example of the Toulouse Art Nouveau heritage. The accuracy of its location, noted as "a priori satisfactory", and its official address (66 rue Gambetta) make it a point of interest for lovers of architecture and urban history.

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