Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Chaban-Delmas Stadium, located in Bordeaux, is an iconic sports building built in the second quarter of the 20th century. It is part of a vast urban modernist project initiated by Mayor Adrien Marquet, including infrastructure such as the Judaic labour exchange or swimming pool. Its bold architecture, designed by Raoul Jourde and then Jacques d'Welles, is distinguished by covered stands without pillars, a technical innovation made possible by engineer Egidio Dabbeni. The stadium, inaugurated in 1938, is marked by an Art Deco style, with geometric elements and visual signals inspired by the automobile.

The stadium first hosted multiform events, including football matches, rugby to XIII, cycling races and athletics competitions. It became the site of the Girondins of Bordeaux from 1938 to 2015, then that of the Union Bordeaux Bègles (rugby) since 2015. Several renovations, notably for the 1998 World Cup, have modernized its equipment while preserving its historic architecture. In 2022, it was included in the inventory of historic monuments, recognizing its heritage value.

The stadium was the scene of major events, such as the "Battle of Bordeaux" during the 1938 World Cup, or rugby matches to XIII in the 1930s-1950s. He also hosted concerts (Dire Straits, Johnny Hallyday) and international competitions, including the 1999 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. Its 120-metre access tunnel, the longest in Europe, and its giant screens installed in 2007 make it a unique place.

The sports space of the Lescure Park, whose stadium is the central element, has been designed to be versatile, with a velodrome and a athletic centre. The architects combined radical modernism (Raoul Jourde) and classicism (Jacques d'Welles), creating a coherent architectural ensemble. René Buthaud's monumental vases and geometric motifs reinforce his Art Deco identity. Despite renovation projects aborted in 2016, the stadium remains a symbol of Bordeaux's sporting and architectural heritage.

The Chaban-Delmas Stadium is today a place of sports and cultural memory. He saw the evolution of legendary clubs such as the Girondins de Bordeaux and the UBB, while welcoming various events, from international matches to concerts. Its inscription in historical monuments in 2022 devotes its importance to the urban and architectural history of Bordeaux, as well as its role in the social and sporting life of the region.

External links