Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The hotel of Esterno, originally named Hotel Bouchu, was built between 1641 and 1643 for Jean Bouchu, the first president of the Parliament of Dijon. The latter, which had been in office since 1638, acquired several adjoining plots as early as 1640 to erect the building. The works are carried out by local entrepreneurs Jean Braconnier and, potentially, Guillaume Tabourot, although an old attribution to architect Pierre Le Muet was challenged by recent research. The hotel, in the Louis XIII style, quickly became a place of prestigious receptions.

Upon the death of Jean Bouchu in 1653, the hotel passed to his son Claude Bouchu de Lessart, then to his grandson Étienne-Jean. In 1715, by the marriage of Marie-Élisabeth Bouchu with René-Mans de Froulay, Count of Tesse, the building entered this family. He then changed hands via the Richards of Montaugé, before being passed on to the d'Esterno in 1805. Ferdinand-Charles of Esterno, last heir, remained the owner until his death in 1883, without descendants.

Acquired by the city of Dijon in 1884, the hotel has various vocations: high school for girls, conservatory of music, and headquarters of the 8th army until 2000. Since 2024, after a complete renovation led by heritage architect Fabien Drubigny, it has hosted the headquarters of the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV). The building, protected since 1928, combines a court of honour, a public garden and historical outbuildings.

The hotel's H-shaped architecture extends over 1,200 m2 with four levels, including a vaulted basement and noble floors. The main living room, adorned with Versailles parquet and Louis XVI decors, bears witness to subsequent changes, such as the monumental portal added in 1785. The latter, flanked by doric columns and cherubs, marks the entrance to Monge Street. The leisure garden, accessible to the public, complements this emblematic collection of Dijon heritage.

External links