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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The mansion at No. 6 of Place Général-Mellinet in Nantes was built between 1828 and 1856, as part of an ambitious urban project launched in 1827. Designed by the architects Blond and Amouroux, it is part of a set of eight identical hotels bordering an octagonal square, symbolizing the extension of the city to the west and the port. This real estate programme, carried out under the Restoration, represents a unique case in Nantes by its architectural unit and its landscape integration with parks at the back of the buildings.

The building first belonged to Charles Lechat, before being taken over by his son-in-law, industrial Arthur Benoît, whose family had also built a adjoining house on Boulevard Saint-Aignan in 1895. The Mellinet square itself was built on the site of the former Launay property, reflecting the urban transformations of Nantes in the 19th century. The hotel was listed as historical monuments by order of 18 April 1991, protecting its facades and roofs, marked by the architectural style of the period.

Architecturally, the hotel is part of a coherent whole where each building shares identical facades, reflecting a desire for urban harmony. The architects Blond and Amouroux helped shape an iconic neighbourhood, mixing bourgeois residences and green spaces. Today, the building is owned by a public institution, perpetuating its role in the Nantes heritage.

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