Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Chalets Spont, located at the top of the driveway from Etigny to Bagnères-de-Luchon, form a set of three buildings built between 1848 and 1855. Their quinconce layout on the mountainous side reflects an adaptation to the relief, with various orientations: south for the large chalet, is for the medium, and south-east for the small one. These chalets, inspired by Swiss architecture, embody a major trend in 19th-century Luchonese urban planning, opposed to dominant neoclassicism. Their warm style, marked by wooden decorations, met the demand of wealthy curists for privacy, while inaugurating the worldly season of the spa.

The origin of the chalets was linked to Dr Simon Spont and his wife Hortense Soulerat, who, returning from their honeymoon in Switzerland, had these residences built between 1848 and 1855. The medium chalet (1848) and the small chalet were built first, followed by the large chalet in 1855, whose facade bears the initials S. S. (Spont-Soulerat) and the engraved date. Designed as report buildings, the two smallest cottages welcomed an affluent clientele, marking the beginning of the seasonal rental in Luchon. The architect Edmond Chambert, known for his work at the thermal baths, is probably their designer, evolving from neoclassical to Savoyard style for this project.

These chalets also symbolize the cultural heritage of the Pyrenees: Henri Spont (1869–1945), nephew and heir of Simon, was an influential Pyrenean writer who contributed to their fame. Their protection in 1993 (façades and roofs listed in the Historical Monuments) underscores their heritage value, combining local history, picturesque architecture and memory of the thermal society of the Second Empire.

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