Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The passage Pommeraye is an iconic shopping gallery in Nantes, built between 1840 and 1843 by Louis Pommeraye, an ambitious notary, and his partner Charles Guilloux. Inaugurated on July 3, 1843, this covered passage is distinguished by its bold architecture, designed to overcome a steep gradient of 9,40 meters thanks to three levels connected by a monumental central staircase. Although its realization led to the financial ruin of Pommeraye, the passage quickly became a symbol of the commercial and architectural dynamism of the city.

The project is born in a context of hygienist urbanization and post-1830 real estate speculation in Nantes. Pommeraye and Guilloux acquired old land and buildings between 1838 and 1840, with the aim of creating a link between the business district (place du Commerce) and that of culture (place Graslin). Despite technical difficulties, such as gas lighting or stairway stability, and conflicts with residents, the crossing is completed in three years. Its immediate success contrasted with the bankruptcy of its promoters in 1849, the victim of the economic crisis of 1848.

The architecture of the passage, signed by Jean-Baptiste Buron and Hippolyte Durand-Gasselin, rests on a structure in the form of "Y" with three galleries (Fosse, Santeuil, Régnier) and a central staircase adorned with allegorical sculptures by Jean Debay. The glass windows, innovative for the time, bathe the places with sieved natural light, supplemented by gas lighting from the opening. Ranked a historic monument in 1976, the passage benefited from a major restoration between 2013 and 2015, regaining its original brilliance while adapting to modern standards.

Over the decades, the Pommeraye Pass has housed mythical shops such as the Beaufreton bookshop or the Hidalgo boutique, specialized in pranks and catch. He also inspired artists, from Flaubert to Jacques Demy, who shot scenes from Lola (1961) and Les Paramluies de Cherbourg (1964). Today, it remains a must-see place for Nantes tourism, attracting thousands of visitors every year for its preserved aesthetic and unique atmosphere.

In 2016, the opening of the annex passage Coeur-de-Nantes extended its commercial influence, while highlighting historical remains such as the house of the Fountain of Heredia. Managed by a condominium of sixty members, the passage combines heritage and modernity, confirming its status as an architectural and cultural jewel of the Pays de la Loire region.

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