The former Haussmann Burton of Vannes !!!

Posted in Bretagne, France

So going over my picture vault and realising some are missing from my blog and they should be in it. My trips to our capital city and former job place Vannes are many and so are my posts. However, feel this wonderful building in the old town deserves a post of its own. Therefore, let me tell you a bit more on the former Haussmann Burton of Vannes !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

First, a bit of history I like tell us that before the construction of the Progrès building (now Burton), stood a Château de la Motte which was ceded in 1286 to the bishop. It became the episcopal mansion and was then rebuilt in 1654. In 1790, when Vannes became the capital of Morbihan,(during the French revolution), the building became the residence of the prefects for 60 years.

The Burton building , it is hard not to notice at the corner of Burgault and Billault streets this magnificent Haussmann-style building, The store “Au progress” then “Saint-Rémy” and today Burton are the successive signs of the commercial buildings installed on the ground floor and on the mezzanine of the building. The name of the first sign is carried at the top of the dome in the symbolic representation of progress, Begun in 1914, it will not be completed until 1923 due to the Great War.(WWI). My boys walking by it below pic lol!

vannes Burton store building oct18

Symbol of the birth of department stores, it originally bears the name “Au Progrès” evoking the idea that we had of these stores before becoming Saint-Rémy, then Burton. The building now houses the Burton store and several apartments. Its flagship symbol is the 400 kg zinc dome, remade identically, by a company specializing in roof ornamentation, The spiral part had to be hoisted to the top of the dome 45 meters m) in two stages. The base 2.80 meters wide and nearly 3 meters high then the pine cone of 50 kg which overhangs it.

Update: The final closure of Burton of London, 1 rue Billault who had moved to this prestigious address, 30 years ago, the sales area of ​​609 m², is closed, The Burton store was a classic style ready-to-wear chain for women and men also offering shoes and accessories, Sadly it has closed and now the building is call Au Progrés. At the corner of Billault and Burgault streets, you’ll find high-end kitchen furniture and an interior design agency. Koncept offers contemporary furniture for her.

The city of Vannes on the new Au Progrés building: https://www.mairie-vannes.fr/immeuble-au-progres

There you go folks, a classic building indeed with a nice change of pace in old town nearby are wooden houses going back to the 14C! Of course, we had tried the former Burton store but not our favorite we told you in several posts in my blog its AT…Worth stopping by for its architecture contrast with the neighborhood. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the former Haussmann Burton of Vannes !!! as I 

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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