The gates of Bordeaux are worthy remains of a time when Bordeaux boasted of being unassailable, protected by its walls.
The PORTE CAILHAU (or Porte du Palais, or Porte Royale because of its role of welcoming princes, is shaped like a triumphal arch. It was in fact the first Bordeaux monument to glorify a king: Charles VIII for his battle at Fornoue) is one of these gates,
It was also a defensive structure. Built between 1493 and 1496, it stayed for nearly 2 centuries the city's main entrance.
But its life wasn't always rosy, so to speak.
Because its « practical » function quickly took over the rest, to the point of wanting to widen its passage under intendant Tourny's pressure.
A widening that weakened its structure and cracked many of its walls.
And that's not all!
During the Revolution, it was partly stripped of its decorations, deemed too « royalist ».
In spite of all that, it held on and even became, for a time, a set of three flats rented out, respectively, to a salt weigher, a shoemaker and a public letter-writer.
It took until 1882 for this iconic Bordeaux gate to start being restored. Bordeaux architect Charles Durand was put in charge of the mission.
By the way, did you know there are several stories explaining its name?
My favourite? Well, this gate takes its name from the name of the quay where it stands. That spot was once called Quai dal Cailhau. Indeed, this quay was made up of pebbles from the river.
