Construction of hotel fin XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1895)
Ordered by Baron d'Aigaliers
6 décembre 1949
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 6 décembre 1949 (≈ 1949)
Protected facades and roofs
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Two facades and roofs: inscription by decree of 6 December 1949
Key figures
Baron d'Aigaliers - Protestant Sponsor
Hotel owner and builder
Origin and history
The Hotel d'Aigaliers, located on Place de la République in Uzès, was built at the end of the 18th century by Baron of Aigaliers, an influential Protestant figure of the region. The building is distinguished by its three-storey main façade, resting on three straight-line arcades, rounded to the corners. These arcades support colossal ionic pilasters, rising over the entire height of the facade to support a enclosure adorned with a bare frieze and a modillon cornice. The windows on the first floor, with wrought iron balconies, are protected by a stone cornice, while flat stripes beat the floors horizontally.
The secondary facade, overlooking the Rue de la République, has a more sober composition with only two windows per floor and two colossal pilasters. This private hotel is considered the most successful and best preserved example of the Louis XVI style in Uzès, combining classical elegance and local originality. Its architecture reflects Protestant influence in a region marked by historical religious tensions, while embodying the prestige of its sponsor.
Ranked a historic monument since 1949 for its two facades and roofs, the Hotel d'Aigaliers bears witness to the civil architectural heritage of the late Ancien Régime. Its inscription highlights the heritage value of this building, a symbol of the cultural and social influence of Uzès in the 18th century. Ornamental details, such as wrought iron balconies or cornice models, illustrate the artisanal know-how of the time and the adoption of the aesthetic canons of neoclassicism in Provence.
The location of the hotel, between Place aux Herbes and Place de la République, makes it a central part of the Uzetian urban landscape. Its exceptional state of conservation allows us to study the constructive techniques and stylistic choices peculiar to the Protestant bourgeoisie of the Gard, in a context where private hotels served as both a residence and a social marker. The absence of ostentatious religious decorations, typical of Protestant sponsors, contrasts with contemporary Catholic buildings in the region.
