Maison dite hollandaise
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison dite hollandaise, located in Bordeaux (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
- Bordeaux, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8504, -0.5702
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00083868
Facing the Garonne, two twin 17th-century houses with scrolled gables are a reminder of Flemish architecture in the heart of Bordeaux - a rare reminder of the port city's cosmopolitan trading culture.
History
On the banks of the Garonne, in Bordeaux's historic quarter, two twin houses stand out like a Nordic interlude in the urban landscape of Aquitaine. Built at the end of the 17th century by a visionary merchant, these so-called "Dutch" houses are an exceptional architectural testimony to the intense commercial and cultural mix that animated the port of Bordeaux in the modern era. They are among the few surviving examples of the Flemish and Dutch influence on French civil architecture. What makes these houses truly unique is the sophistication of their river-side facades: gabled walls with cornices and railings, framed by scrolled fins and sculpted lions' heads, are precisely reminiscent of the canal houses of Amsterdam or Ghent. Far from being a mere decorative borrowing, this architecture reflects the close commercial links that Bordeaux maintained with the ports of northern Europe, with Dutch and Flemish merchants making regular stopovers in the Gironde city. The composition of the façades follows a rigorous logic inherited from the architectural treatises of the Grand Siècle: a robust ground floor, a well-proportioned upper storey, then a second storey housed under Mansard-style roofs, all punctuated by flat horizontal bands that give the whole an elegant legibility. This accentuated vertical organisation contrasts with the horizontality of the dominant French classicism, all the more emphasising the northern identity of these buildings. A stroll down rue du Couvent or rue Latour takes you back through the centuries to a Bordeaux where the international wine trade dictated its laws and tastes. The deliberately sober rear facades are a reminder that the stage was set for the river - a veritable showcase for commerce and success. Listed as Historic Monuments since 1990, these buildings are now part of the city's protected heritage, even if they remain discreet in the Bordeaux landscape, reserving their secrets for attentive walkers.
Architecture
The Dutch houses in Bordeaux are part of an architectural movement that draws on the building traditions of the Netherlands and Flanders, adapted to local conditions in the last quarter of the 17th century. Their layout, organised into twin units set between two parallel streets, reflects a rational conception of urban space typical of the merchant housing estates of the period. The main façades, facing the Garonne, are the architectural showpiece of the complex. They are built on three levels: a ground floor with regular openings, a main floor of generous height - the noble floor where the performances take place - and a second floor built under a Mansard roof, a 17th-century French technical solution that allowed the attic space to be fully converted. Flat horizontal bands precisely mark the transition between each level, providing a clear, hierarchical view of the façade. The most spectacular crowning feature is the gable wall with its cornices and ramps: this silhouette, characteristic of Flemish facades, framed by elegantly curved scrolled fins and adorned with sculpted lions' heads, creates a striking visual effect that immediately sets these houses apart from their surroundings in Bordeaux. The side and rear façades, on the other hand, are treated with total sobriety, devoid of any ornamentation - a reminder that the architectural setting was intended exclusively for the view from the river.
Related Figures
Hilaire Renu — marchand bordelais, acquéreur des terrains en 1679-1680 et commanditaire des deux maisons hollandaisesLes administrateurs de la Ferme Générale — institution fiscale de l'Ancien Régime ayant installé un bureau de contrôle au n°29 en 1738François Mansart — architecte français dont le système de toiture à double pente (toit à la Mansart) est utilisé sur ces édificesLes négociants hollandais et flamands de Bordeaux — communauté marchande influente dont ces maisons reflètent les goûts architecturaux
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison dite hollandaise located?
Maison dite hollandaise is located in Bordeaux, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Maison dite hollandaise built?
Maison dite hollandaise dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Maison dite hollandaise open to visitors?
Maison dite hollandaise is currently closed to visitors.
