Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The consular house of Saint-Flour has its origins in the institutional history of the city. Established in 1249, the consuls of Saint-Flour initially occupied premises close to the cathedral. Between 1430 and 1439, they acquired and grouped several houses to create a unified city hall. An inscription kept on the building mentions architect POYETAL, witness to this period of construction. The building, organized in three U-shaped buildings around an inner courtyard, has a sober sculpted decoration inspired by the Renaissance, reflecting a stylistic transition between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

During the French Revolution, the consular house was transferred to private individuals, thus losing its initial public service. After World War I, she was acquired by Alfred Douhet, a passionate collector. When he died, he bequeathed the building to the Savings Bank, which installed the Alfred Douhet Museum there in 1968, thus perpetuating his cultural heritage. The building retains remarkable elements such as woodwork, carved chimneys (including one attributed to Peuch), and a room of the Consuls, testimonies of its prestigious past.

The monument was protected in the 20th century: the façade and the roof on the street were classified in 1928, followed by all the facades and roofs in 1996 (excluding those already classified). In 1992, the house in its entirety — apart from classified parts — was listed as historical monuments, thus preserving its architecture and decor. Today, this site combines consular history, architectural heritage and museum vocation, embodying almost eight centuries of local history.

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