The huge establishment originally belonging to the Banque de France has been unoccupied since 2016. And while waiting to give it a second life, this little architectural gem of 4400 m2 can be visited with the Roubaix tourist office every month. Other visits are in the cards, not to mention the Banksy exhibition which will take place there in June.
From the entrance, it throws. Built in 1905, at a time when the splendor of the textile industries made Roubaix’s reputation, the bank on Place de la Liberté has kept all its magnificence. Already because there is a lot of marble everywhere. Then because the ceiling height is crazy. Finally, because it remained occupied until 2016. This last detail is important: this is why this former bank remains in a still good state. clean for an old building closed to the public since 2005.
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Today, the place is the property of the Etablissement Public Foncier du Nord-Pas de Calais while waiting for other project leaders in connection with the city to take it over. This leaves time for the tourist office to organize visits that are worth their weight in gold.
Break the bank
Once a month, a group of 25 people can come”break the bank”: you will discover the art-deco counters on the ground floor but also the safe room. Then you climb upstairs to survey the private apartments of the former manager and the cashier.
For 1h30, your guide will tell you the history (past, present and future) of the place and will necessarily teach you a lot about its architecture. “We also plan to set up visits more focused on taking photos“, Explains Loïc Trinel from the Roubais tourist office.
And in addition to also being a filming location for series, the former bank will host a temporary exhibition for the first time at the beginning of the summer: on the occasion of URBX, the festival of urban cultures, from 15 to June 26, a Banksy exhibition around the private collection of François Bernardino will take up residence there. In short, you have not finished hearing about this building.
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To grab a place during the monthly visits organized by Roubaix Tourisme, it’s by here. Count €8 full price and €6.50 reduced price (for people under 25 for example). There are tours scheduled through October.
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