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Origin and history

The Bernard de Rascas Hotel, located in Avignon, is named after Bernard Rascas, owner of a house at this location in the middle of the 14th century. The latter, founder of the Sainte-Marthe Hospital, marked the local history. The current construction dates mainly from the late 15th or early 16th century, although 14th century beams, reused, were identified during restorations.

In the 15th century, the house passed into the hands of the families of Italian merchants: the Galiani (ancestors of Gadagne Galeans), then the Belli brothers in 1498, and Nicolas de Ceps in 1548. In 1568, Jean Ferrier, dit Benoît, a merchant, added a staircase with screws. In the 17th century, the property belongs to the family of the Church, originally from Asti in Piedmont. These changes of owners reflect the importance of Italian commerce and networks in medieval Avignon.

The hotel is distinguished by its wooden and plaster façade, typical of the wood panel constructions prohibited after 1562. A dendrochronological study in 2005 revealed that some beams date from the 14th century, probably re-used. The technique of the armed beam, described by Leon Battista Alberti in 1485, is used for floors. Ranked a Historical Monument in 1967, the hotel illustrates medieval civil architecture and the influence of Renaissance architecture treaties.

The 2005 restoration made it possible to clarify the dating of the building, while confirming its hybrid style between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The current address, 40 rue des Marchands, recalls its link with the historical commercial activity of Avignon, then crossroads between Provence and Italy. The hotel remains a testament to the cultural and economic exchanges of the time.

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