Café du Taureau

Café du Taureau

Information
Location	221 Rue Saint-Jacques Les Artistes, Punta Santiago, Alduria
Type	Coffeehouse, performance venue
Genre	Folk, jazz, poetry, political discourse
Owner	Famille Delacroix
Capacity	120
Renovated	1711 AN, 1723 AN

The Café du Taureau (commonly known as "Le Taureau") is a coffeehouse and cultural institution located in the Les Artistes district of Punta Santiago, Alduria. Since its establishment in 1689 AN, it has served as one of the primary gathering places for the Nouveau Wave movement and has been instrumental in launching the careers of numerous artists, musicians, poets, and political activists. The venue is particularly noted for its role in developing Nouvelle Alexandrie's progressive folk music scene and as an incubator for environmentalist and technocratic political thought.

History

The Café du Taureau was founded by Marcel Delacroix, a former literature professor from Geneva, Alexandria, who envisioned creating a space that would combine Alexandria's café culture with Wechua and Santanderian folk traditions. The establishment's name ("Café of the Bull") was chosen as a deliberate contrast to the more delicate and ornate names of traditional Alexandrian cafés, reflecting Delacroix's vision of a more egalitarian and robust cultural space. The café quickly became popular among university students and young intellectuals from the nearby University of Punta Santiago. For its first three decades, Le Taureau operated as a traditional literary café, hosting poetry readings and philosophical discussions while building a reputation for intellectual discourse.

A group of young intellectuals, led by philosopher Sofia Huaman and economist Jean-Michel Lavergne, began regular meetings at Le Taureau to discuss alternatives to traditional economic and social structures. These gatherings, initially called "Les Soirées Progressives" (Progressive Evenings), laid the foundation for what would become the Nouveau Wave movement. The movement gained momentum after the landmark "Manifesto for a Technocratic Future" was drafted at one of these meetings in late 1721 AN. The manifesto, which called for a fusion of socialist economics, environmental stewardship, and technocratic governance, was first read publicly at Le Taureau and rapidly spread throughout Nouvelle Alexandrie's urban centers.

Under the management of Claire Delacroix, granddaughter of the founder, Le Taureau has evolved into a sophisticated multimedia venue while maintaining its role as the Nouveau Wave's cultural epicenter. The 1723 AN renovation added a digital recording studio and modern performance equipment, enabling the café to broadcast performances and discussions globally while preserving its intimate atmosphere.

See also

• The Nouveau Wave
• Culture of Nouvelle Alexandrie