Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Bordeaux Navy food store is a neoclassical architectural complex built at the end of the 18th century for the Royal Military Navy. Commanded in 1785 and designed by engineer Joseph Teulère, famous for his work as the lighthouse of Cordouan, he was intended for storage, processing and delivery of food for crews. The complex, originally located on the banks of Garonne, included slaughterhouses and several functional buildings, reflecting the strategic importance of the port of Bordeaux, which was then booming thanks to the trade in wine, cereals and colonial products, including participation in triangular trade.

In the 19th century, urban transformations, including the construction of docks and river basins, led to the partial destruction of the site and its gradual distance from the river. The store lost its military use in the late 19th century. Despite further destruction in 1980, the remaining buildings — a large central building and two symmetrical pavilions (the Navy garage and the Marine slaughterhouses) — were classified as historic monuments in 1991. Their neoclassical facade, decorated with maritime and military attributes, as well as the inscription "Livings of the Navy", testify to their original function.

Today, the site is undergoing major rehabilitation: the main building houses the law firm River and associates, while the other spaces are converted to a cultural place called "The Foods of Art". This dual vocation, both heritage and contemporary, illustrates the desire to preserve this testimony of Bordeaux maritime history while integrating into current urban life. The facades and roofs of the three remaining buildings have been protected since 1991, guaranteeing the sustainability of this architectural heritage.

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