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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The house located Place Gambetta (former Dauphine Square) in Bordeaux is part of a major 18th century urban project. Around 1745, the intendant of Tourny initiated the creation of this square on lands west of the Dauphine and Dijeaux gates, as part of a vast plan of sanitation and beautification of the city. This project aimed to structure the city centre with harmonized buildings, reflecting the classical ideals of the time.

In 1750, the Jurats of Bordeaux made a loan to finance the construction of the uniform facades of the houses surrounding the square. These buildings, designed with an arcade ground floor, a noble floor, an attic and an attic, had to follow a strict order. In 1762, the architect proposed a simplified plan, removing the initial forebody and balustrades to adopt a sober entanglement and a discreet height. The square was only completed between 1770 and 1780, although its style remained representative of the first half of the 18th century.

The buildings of Gambetta Square illustrate the Bordeaux architecture of the Enlightenment century, with cut stone facades, bossed arcades, and window doors decorated with carved mascarons on the first floor. Some buildings have a second floor, adding subtle variation to overall uniformity. The square, rectangular, served as a crossroads for the main routes of the city, highlighting its central role in Bordeaux urban planning.

The façade and roof of this house, located at 47 Gambetta Square, were inscribed in the Historical Monuments by order of 15 November 1927. This classification reflects the heritage value of this architectural ensemble, symbol of Bordeaux's golden age under the Ancien Régime. Today, Gambetta Square remains an emblematic place, although its exact location is considered mediocre (accuracy note: 5/10).

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