During the XVIIIth century, the city
was no longer considered to be solely
for living and commerce, it was also
expected to offer a quality of life
for its inhabitants.
It was for this reason that in 1746,
the Intendant Tourny decided to create
what is today the Jardin Public on a
site that was previously invaded by
weeds, poor vines and some gardens.
The first trees were planted in 1749,
and the architect Voisin built a terrace
with three entrances, decorated by Masset
and Laconfourque, while the architect
J. Ange Gabriel designed the classical
French gardens.
A place for promenades and meetings,
there was even a space for horse training.
However, after the revolution, the gardens
were transformed into the Champ de Mars
where official ceremonies took place.
The creation of the parks allowed the
area of Saint-Seurin to be linked to
the city, as well as the quarter of
the Chartrons. Under Napoleon III the
gardens were transformed into a traditional
English formal garden, and extended.
This is the present form of the gardens.
On passing through the wrought iron
gates, opposite the cours de Gourgue,
one notices the elegance of the mansions
to the left, and on passing the terrace,
one arrives opposite the Champ de Mars.
After passing the statue of Rosa Bonheur,
19th century naturalist painter, one
reaches the Hôtel de Lisleferme
(built by F.R. Bonfin in 1778) that
is home to the Museum of Natural History.
Behind the gallery of the greenhouses
that no longer exist, with the Palladio
style arc, one reaches the botanical
gardens.
On crossing the little bridge, under
which the swans and ducks swim, one
can see the beautiful line of mansions
that were built in the 19th century.
Those in the rue Daviau recreate certain
elements of XVIIIth century art, creating
an architectural coherence all around
the garden. But, beyond the commemorative
statues, such as those of Léon
Valade and Maxime Lalanne, beyond the
gardens that change every season with
the constantly changing flowers, it
is the very soul of Bordeaux that can
be felt, a certain art de vivre, so
close to the Chartrons quarter that
can be visited by leaving the garden
and taking the cours Xavier-Arnozan,
what was once the "Pavé
des Chartrons". |
| Bruno
BALONDRADE |
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