Today, Bordeaux Confidentiel picks up the "BORDEAUX, WAS IT BETTER BEFORE!" series and looks at the Allées de Tourny.
So the Allées de Tourny, was it really better before?
A bit of history?
The Allées de Tourny did not always have the two sides you know. The eastern side (Place des Grands-Hommes side) was only built later.
We all owe this creation (the Allées de Tourny) to a councillor at the Bordeaux Parliament, Thibaud-Joseph de Gobineau.
65 metres wide and 265 metres long, it is lined with Louis XV-style buildings, most of them raised after the demolition of the Château Trompette (which will get its own article in our "Bordeaux Secrets" series) at what is now Place des Quinconces.
Why the name 'Allées de Tourny'?
Simple, really: the Allées de Tourny are called the Allées de Tourny (note the magnificent sentence) because they took the name of Louis de Tourny, who laid them out during the 18th century.
Why were the Allées de Tourny created?
Jacques-Ange Gabriel designed the Allées de Tourny in 1746. Louis de Tourny wanted to give Bordeaux promenades. The Minister of War approved the construction but limited the houses to one storey plus attic. It took until the 19th century for the city to allow those houses to be raised.
And today?
Today, the Allées de Tourny keep evolving. Place Tourny has just been redone, the tram now runs through it, and the statue of the Marquis de Tourny is back in place.
It is one of the three arteries that make up the Triangle d'Or. One of the spots where all of Bordeaux meets.
A gorgeous promenade where Bordeaux Confidentiel loves to wander.
