Hôtels of Montpellier
Encyclopedia
The city of Montpellier
, in southern France
, has a large number of noteworthy historical Hôtels in its old centre. These Hôtels are listed on this page with a short description. Most of them were built during the period that Montpellier was capital of the Languedoc
, under the reign of king Louis XIV
.
Take note that hôtel in French
and in this context means 'estate' or 'mansion' rather than 'hotel'.
Built 1777, with a flowery façade in Louis XVI style.
19th century example of a Second Empire hôtel
Built between 1723 and 1730 by architect Jean Giral
, for the then mayor of Montpellier, Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès
.
Late 17th century. Home of the count of Manse, also treasurer to the king of France. The interior façade is designed by Italian
artists.
This hôtel was built for Charles de Boulhaco in 1676, incorporating fragments from previous buildings on the site. In 1692, Georges Richer de Belleval took over residence. In 1816 the building was acquired by the city to serve as the town hall. It is located on the Place de la Canourgue, facing the Hôtel de Cambacérès.
Built between 1752 and 1756, by Jean Giral
. The hôtel was built with money from François Gigot de la Peyronie
, surgeon of Louis XV
, and used as a surgery until 1792 when it was closed in the turmoil of the French Revolution
. There is an anatomical theatre inside. From 1801, the building is used as a Chamber of Commerce
.
From 1636, nicknamed Maison de la Coquille or 'shell house'.
Early 17th century, with a noteworhty porch ceiling
Jacques Coeur, treasurer of the French king, lived in this hôtel from its construction in 1432. He let build the vaulted
cellars and coffered ceilings in the building. In the 1675, the Trésoriers de France bought it, an administrative body in charge of the royal estates in Languedoc
, and they added the impressive staircase and façade
. It is also known under the name of Lunaret, after Henri de Lunaret who bequeathed the hôtel to the city of Montpellier. The building now houses the Musée Languedocien.
By Jean Giral
, also known as the Hôtel Rodez-Benavent. The building has two courtyards with a grand open staircase.
18th century, with exuberant decoration consisting of wreath
s and cherubs
Originally Medieval, renovated and façade added in the 18th century. The interior consists of several rooms with Gothic
rib vault
s and ancient Romanesque columns from a church previously located here. The 14th century Salle Pétrarque
is the official reception hall of the city of Montpellier.
Home of sociologist
Auguste Comte
and writer Paul Valéry
.
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
, in southern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, has a large number of noteworthy historical Hôtels in its old centre. These Hôtels are listed on this page with a short description. Most of them were built during the period that Montpellier was capital of the Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
, under the reign of king Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
.
Take note that hôtel in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and in this context means 'estate' or 'mansion' rather than 'hotel'.
Hotels
- Hôtel Baudon de Mauny
Built 1777, with a flowery façade in Louis XVI style.
- Hôtel de Cabrières-Sabatier d'Espeyran
19th century example of a Second Empire hôtel
- Hôtel de Cambacérès
Built between 1723 and 1730 by architect Jean Giral
Jean Giral
Jean Antoine Giral was a French architect from Montpellier. He designed a number of buildings and structures in this city.- Works :* 1715 Château de la Mogère, Montpellier * 1723 Hôtel de Cambacérès, Montpellier...
, for the then mayor of Montpellier, Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès
Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès
Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès, 1st Duke of Parma was a French lawyer and statesman during the French Revolution and the First Empire, best remembered as the author of the Napoleonic code, which still forms the basis of French civil law.-Early career:Cambacérès was born in Montpellier, into a...
.
- Hôtel de Manse
Late 17th century. Home of the count of Manse, also treasurer to the king of France. The interior façade is designed by Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
artists.
- Hôtel Richer de Belleval
This hôtel was built for Charles de Boulhaco in 1676, incorporating fragments from previous buildings on the site. In 1692, Georges Richer de Belleval took over residence. In 1816 the building was acquired by the city to serve as the town hall. It is located on the Place de la Canourgue, facing the Hôtel de Cambacérès.
- Hôtel St-Côme
Built between 1752 and 1756, by Jean Giral
Jean Giral
Jean Antoine Giral was a French architect from Montpellier. He designed a number of buildings and structures in this city.- Works :* 1715 Château de la Mogère, Montpellier * 1723 Hôtel de Cambacérès, Montpellier...
. The hôtel was built with money from François Gigot de la Peyronie
François Gigot de la Peyronie
François Gigot de la Peyronie was a French surgeon who was born in Montpellier, France. His name is associated with a condition known as Peyronie's disease....
, surgeon of Louis XV
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
, and used as a surgery until 1792 when it was closed in the turmoil of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. There is an anatomical theatre inside. From 1801, the building is used as a Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
.
- Hôtel du Sarret
From 1636, nicknamed Maison de la Coquille or 'shell house'.
- Hôtel de Solas
Early 17th century, with a noteworhty porch ceiling
- Hôtel des Trésoriers de France
Jacques Coeur, treasurer of the French king, lived in this hôtel from its construction in 1432. He let build the vaulted
Vault (architecture)
A Vault is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that require a counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required...
cellars and coffered ceilings in the building. In the 1675, the Trésoriers de France bought it, an administrative body in charge of the royal estates in Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
, and they added the impressive staircase and façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
. It is also known under the name of Lunaret, after Henri de Lunaret who bequeathed the hôtel to the city of Montpellier. The building now houses the Musée Languedocien.
- Hôtel des Trésoriers de la Bourse
By Jean Giral
Jean Giral
Jean Antoine Giral was a French architect from Montpellier. He designed a number of buildings and structures in this city.- Works :* 1715 Château de la Mogère, Montpellier * 1723 Hôtel de Cambacérès, Montpellier...
, also known as the Hôtel Rodez-Benavent. The building has two courtyards with a grand open staircase.
- Hôtel d'Uston
18th century, with exuberant decoration consisting of wreath
Wreath
A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs and/or various materials that is constructed to resemble a ring. They are used typically as Christmas decorations to symbolize the coming of Christ, also known as the Advent season in Christianity. They are also used as festive headdresses...
s and cherubs
CHERUBS
CHERUBS is a Non-Profit Organization. It was founded in February, 1995 for families of children born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, a severe and often lethal birth defect. It was founded and currently led by Dawn M...
- Hôtel de Varennes
Originally Medieval, renovated and façade added in the 18th century. The interior consists of several rooms with Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
rib vault
Rib vault
The intersection of two or three barrel vaults produces a rib vault or ribbed vault when they are edged with an armature of piped masonry often carved in decorative patterns; compare groin vault, an older form of vault construction...
s and ancient Romanesque columns from a church previously located here. The 14th century Salle Pétrarque
Petrarch
Francesco Petrarca , known in English as Petrarch, was an Italian scholar, poet and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch is often called the "Father of Humanism"...
is the official reception hall of the city of Montpellier.
- Hôtel de la Vieille Intendance
Home of sociologist
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte
Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte , better known as Auguste Comte , was a French philosopher, a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism...
and writer Paul Valéry
Paul Valéry
Ambroise-Paul-Toussaint-Jules Valéry was a French poet, essayist, and philosopher. His interests were sufficiently broad that he can be classified as a polymath...
.