Galerie Bordelaise
MonumentHidden Treasure
Galerie Bordelaise, located in Bordeaux (Gironde), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Bordeaux, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8415, -0.5740
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00083185
The jewel in Bordeaux's commercial crown, the Galerie Bordelaise features Corinthian arcades and a majestic glass roof in the heart of rue Sainte-Catherine, a glittering vestige of the Paris of Bordeaux-style covered passageways.
History
In the heart of historic Bordeaux, the Galerie Bordelaise is one of the most beautiful covered shopping arcades in France. Nestling between rue Sainte-Catherine and rue des Piliers-de-Tutelle, it offers walkers an architectural setting of rare elegance, where light filters through a large glass roof to bathe a strikingly ornate décor in light. What makes this place truly unique is the profusion of its decorative vocabulary: paired Corinthian columns in real marble support an entablature adorned with palmettes, musical instruments, torches, thyrses and crotales - all Dionysian and Apollonian symbols that give the gallery an atmosphere halfway between an ancient temple and a refined bazaar. The spandrels of the arches, crowned with plants embracing a stylised rose, add a touch of botanical grace to this monumental ensemble. The visit is like strolling through time. Enter through one of the three semi-circular arches, enclosed by elaborate railings, and you are immediately transported into the hushed atmosphere of elegant 19th-century commerce. The fifteen bays of arcades are home to boutiques whose shopfronts, for those who care most about the place, respect the spirit of the gallery. On the second level, discreet rectangular windows with wooden lattice work hint at a more secretive inner life, above the hustle and bustle of the shops. The Bordeaux setting amplifies the gallery's charm: a stone's throw from rue Sainte-Catherine, one of Europe's busiest shopping streets, the Galerie Bordelaise offers a peaceful, luxurious counterpoint. It's a haven for those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre while remaining right in the heart of it all. Photographers, architecture enthusiasts and curious strollers will find something to marvel at with every step.
Architecture
The Galerie Bordelaise is fully in keeping with the neoclassical style of the first half of the 19th century, with a decorative sensibility that flirts with romantic exuberance. Its layout is that of a traditional covered passageway: a longitudinal gallery running right across a built-up block, with monumental entrances on each of its two streets. On the rue des Piliers-de-Tutelle side, a single vestibule precedes the passage; on the rue Sainte-Catherine side, two vestibules mark the entrance, giving the design a slightly asymmetrical function. The supporting structure rests on paired Corinthian columns in real marble, a rare element of prestige that sets the gallery apart from most of its provincial counterparts. These columns support an entablature of exceptional ornamental richness, sculpted with an abundant symbolic inventory: palmettes, musical instruments, torches, thyrses and crotales make up an iconographic programme to the glory of the arts and commerce. The fifteen bays of semicircular arches, demarcated by pilasters, house the shops; their spandrels are filled with wrought-iron infills, a characteristic alliance of the nascent industrial era with ancient forms. The crowning feature is a large skylight that bathes the gallery in diffused natural light, creating the indoor-outdoor effect that is the irresistible charm of covered passageways. On the second level, a stringcourse separates the main arches from rectangular windows with wooden lattice sills, while a cornice with modillions concludes the elevation with authority. The capitals, adorned with finely worked stucco, bear witness to the excellence of Bordeaux's 19th-century stucco artists.
Related Figures
Les promoteurs privés bordelais (années 1830) — investisseurs anonymes à l'origine du percement de la galerieLes artisans stucateurs bordelais — auteurs du riche décor intérieur en stuc et marbreLes sculpteurs ornementalistes locaux — créateurs du programme iconographique de l'entablementLes commerçants de la galerie au XIXe siècle — figures de la bourgeoisie marchande bordelaiseLes inspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (1975) — artisans de la protection officielle de la galerie
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Galerie Bordelaise located?
Galerie Bordelaise is located in Bordeaux, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Galerie Bordelaise built?
Galerie Bordelaise dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Galerie Bordelaise open to visitors?
Galerie Bordelaise is currently closed to visitors.