Bayonne, FR - Staircases

My first tour in Bayonne was with a young man who only spoke a “leetle” English. Since I only speak a “leetle” French, we communicated minimally with words and the rest with gestures and body language. It worked out fine. I got to see a part of Bayonne that isn’t visible to most…the extensive renovation work that is going on inside of some very old and sometimes elegant, but all, very closed doors...also got to meet some of the local business owners. We HAD to stop for refreshment occasionally!










As near as I could understand from my guide, many 17th and 18th century buildings are being renovated in such a way as to create atrium like areas in the middle of the buildings. It wasn’t clear to me if this was originally one building or several, but I did understand that sometimes buildings or parts of buildings were demolished to create this open space. The unique feature is that the top or ceiling of the atrium is often glass…in essence a huge skylight and protection from the elements. In creating the open atrium space, the apartments are given light and a secure entry into their homes. Some of them even have enough space to create patio-like areas for some of the living spaces.

Apartments have been created in the buildings surrounding the open atrium, giving people the opportunity to live in the heart of the city. Entry into the atrium area is through one door which opens onto the street. A key pad is embedded in the door (with a little cover over it to preserve the look of the door) or attached to a side wall. Access is gained by entering a code which, I’m guessing, is only given to the residents.

We visited at least a dozen of these areas which, if my understanding is correct, are being financed by independent investors. The designs of the staircases in these areas are varied and, in many cases, quite beautiful. They range from a rugged and utilitarian look to elegant to ultra modern with many looks in between. I was fascinated with these hidden architectural structures and could have taken photos all day. They were complex and often difficult to photograph. The spirals made me dizzy enough to have to lean against walls or sit down to photograph.


It’s a great idea that is used in many cities to create secure living spaces for many people within the city, while still preserving the historic exterior look of the area. Plus it gave me a great opportunity see the city, to meet some friendly people and to photograph one of my favorite subjects…architecture!