Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Senecé hotel, originally named Hotel de Marnay, was built in the early eighteenth century (circa 1706 or 1710) by Jacques Delaporte, seigneur of Marnay. Originally, the central building did not have the lateral wings, which were later added. Its rock-style architecture is distinguished by a two-winged framed courtyard and a string of lounges decorated with furniture and tapestries from Aubusson.

In 1759, the property passed to the family of Senecé, giving it its present name. The Académie des Arts, Sciences et Belles-Lettres de Mâcon became its owner in 1896. In the 20th century, the hotel was home to Bernard Barny de Romanet (1894–1921), an ace of the First World War, who had the world record for airspeed in 1920. Between 1969 and 2016, it hosted the Lamartine Museum, then transferred to the Ursulines Museum.

The Senecé Hotel was declared a historic monument on 22 November 1962 and underwent major renovation between 1987 and 1992 (cost: 6 million francs). Today, there remains an architectural testimony of the 18th century Mâconnais, marked by its noble, military and cultural history. Its courtyard floor and structure are protected as historical monuments.

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