Ancien domaine de Lachaise
MonumentHidden Treasure
Ancien domaine de Lachaise, located in Bègles (Gironde), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Bègles, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8152, -0.5365
- Mérimée Reference
- PA33000126
Last remaining example of 18th-century Bordeaux country houses, the domaine de Lachaise in Bègles evokes the art of living of the Girondine bourgeoisie on the banks of the Garonne, once accessible only by boat.
History
In the heart of Bègles, on the outskirts of Bordeaux, the former Lachaise estate is much more than a mansion: it's a surviving fragment of a sunken world. Until the nineteenth century, the right bank of the Garonne was dotted with a string of middle-class country houses nestling between the river and the marshes, which their owners reached by boat during the seasonal floods. The Lachaise estate is the only remaining vestige of this aristocratic and commercial landscape. What makes this place so special is precisely this original insularity. The Garonne, capricious and sovereign, dictated the rhythm of life on these estates. Residents had to contend with the tides, floods and mud of the marshes to gain access to their property, making these country retreats veritable retreats cut off from the urban world of Bordeaux. This particular geography has profoundly shaped the architecture and organisation of the estate, designed to adapt to a semi-aquatic environment. Built in the last quarter of the 18th century, the residence reflects the tastes of the Bordeaux bourgeoisie, enriched by triangular trade and business of all kinds. These families of merchants and shipowners, at the height of their prosperity under the late Ancien Régime, liked to have second homes where they could come and breathe the air of the river far from the miasma of the city. Listed as a Historic Monument since 2009, the Lachaise estate offers visitors a rare insight into the art of living in pre-industrial Gironde. The fact that it was listed so late in the day reflects a growing awareness of the value of these little-known witnesses to the Bordeaux way of life, often overshadowed by the wine châteaux and town houses in the city centre.
Architecture
The Lachaise estate is associated with the architecture of the provincial pleasure house of the late Ancien Régime, a style characterised by elegant sobriety and functionality adapted to the constraints of the environment. Probably built of local ashlar - Aquitaine limestone or lime-rendered rubble stone, the dominant materials in eighteenth-century Bordeaux construction - the residence adopts a massed, regular plan, reflecting the neoclassical influence that radiated from Bordeaux under the aegis of the architects of the Victor Louis school. The main facade, facing the Garonne, had to deal with the dual constraints of social representation and flood defence: raised foundations, generous openings to catch the light and breeze from the river, and an interior layout distributing the reception rooms on the first level were all likely architectural solutions for this type of programme. The roofs, with two or four slopes in the Gironde tradition, were covered with hollow tiles or slate, depending on the owner's rank. In addition to the main residence, the estate probably included agricultural outbuildings, a formal or formal garden, depending on the fashion of the time, and facilities for docking on the river. This spatial organisation, designed for a life halfway between a holiday home and a farm, is typical of bourgeois country houses in the Gironde at the end of the 18th century.
Related Figures
Propriétaires bourgeois bordelais du XVIIIe siècle (négociants ou armateurs non identifiés à ce jour)Familles de la bourgeoisie béglaise du XIXe siècleVictor Louis (architecte bordelais dont le style influença la construction régionale de l'époque)L'intendant Tourny (figure tutélaire du rayonnement architectural bordelais au XVIIIe siècle)
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ancien domaine de Lachaise located?
Ancien domaine de Lachaise is located in Bègles, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Ancien domaine de Lachaise built?
Ancien domaine de Lachaise dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ancien domaine de Lachaise open to visitors?
Ancien domaine de Lachaise is currently closed to visitors.