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Origin and history

The Hotel de Sorans, originally called Hotel Casenat, is a private hotel built in the 2nd quarter of the 18th century in Besançon, Doubs department. It is distinguished by its classical architecture, with three bodies of parallel buildings and two internal courtyards. The main house, on the street, has two square floors and a vaulted basement in a cradle, while the commons house stables, sheds and houses. The building, made of stone and stone, features notable decorative elements such as bas-reliefs under the windows and a carved gate. Its garden, once located on the other side of the street, has now disappeared.

The hotel was erected in 1737 by architect Jean-Pierre Galezot for Antoine-François de Rosières, Marquis de Sorans, on the site of an old 16th-century hotel, the Casenat Hotel. The latter kept a fireplace dated 1565, now moved to the Dole museum. Major transformations took place at the end of the 19th century, with the addition of a large staircase and interior decorations. The building has been partially listed as historic monuments since 1994, protecting its facades, roofs, stairs, vaulted stables and a hooded fireplace.

Over the centuries, the hotel has changed owners and undergone various changes. In 1739 the Marquis de Sorans obtained permission to build a gate for his garden, which had disappeared in 1783. In 1775, the count of Beaufort, a new owner, asked for facilities to clean up the buildings in the backyard. In the 19th century, works transformed the staircase, added a high floor and remodeled the interior decor. Some original elements, such as paneling, were removed in the 20th century, but the second floor of the main house retains its period layout and decorations.

The Hotel de Sorans illustrates the evolution of the urban houses of bisontine, mixing medieval heritage (thirteenth century route) and transformations of the 18th and 19th centuries. Its architecture reflects the social status of its owners, Marquises and Counts, while its successive developments testify to the adaptations to the residential and aesthetic needs of the eras traversed. Today, there remains a remarkable example of Besançon's civil heritage, protected for its most significant elements.

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