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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hotel de Bardine, located at 79 rue de Beaulieu in Angoulême, is a remarkable example of neo-classical architecture of the late eighteenth century. Built between 1782 and 1789, it is distinguished by its street façade divided into three parts: a central body framed by two square pavilions with pyramidal roofs. The upper gallery, supported by composite columns decorated with garlands, supports an attic with balusters and decorative urns, reflecting the aesthetic codes of the era. The volutes of capitals and plant motifs underline the ancient influence revisited by neo-classicism.

Behind this facade, the spatial organization is complex, with secondary stairs and differences in levels reflecting successive developments. To the right of the central body, a two-storey building is inserted between the towers, while to the left, a porch leads to a courtyard with stone healers and communes with rounded corners. These outbuildings once housed stables on the ground floor and upstairs dwellings. The rear elevation, with its eleven regular spans, contrasts with the rigorous symmetry of the main facade.

The hotel had a religious function in the early 19th century, serving briefly as a bishopric. Ranked a Historic Monument in 2013, it is now protected for its facades, roofs, gate, courtyard and garden, including a well. Its state of conservation and its location make it a valuable testimony to the Angoumois heritage, marked by architectural precision and rich urban history.

The location of the building, noted as "a priori satisfactory" (level 7/10), and its official address in the Merimée base confirm its anchoring in the city center of Angoulême. The Charente department, integrated with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, offers a historic setting where this type of mansion embodied the prestige of the local elites on the eve of the French Revolution.

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