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Origin and history

The Hotel d'Assézat, located in Place d'Assézat in Toulouse, is a Renaissance mansion built between 1555 and 1562. He was commissioned by Pierre d'Assézat, a rich pastel and capitoul merchant, and was designed by architect Nicolas Bachelier and completed by his son Dominique after his death in 1557. The building combines brick and stone, with facades decorated with the three classical orders (doric, ionic, Corinthian), inspired by the treatises of Sebastiano Serlio. The interior courtyard, loggia and monumental stair tower make it a Renaissance hotel model, comparable to the square courtyard of the Louvre.

Pierre d'Assézat, converted to Calvinism, was dispossessed from his hotel in 1562 after an attempt to deliver Toulouse to Protestants. Although acquitted in 1563, he remained involved in religious conflicts and was imprisoned in 1572 before abjuring. The hotel remained with his family until 1761, when he was sold to Nicolas-Joseph Marcassus de Puymaurin, who added Louis XVI elements. In the 19th century, he passed into the hands of several families before being bequeathed to the city in 1894 by Théodore Ozenne.

Ranked a historic monument in 1914, the hotel has been home to the Bemberg Foundation since 1994, which exhibits a collection of 1,100 works of art (paintings, sculptures) from the 15th to the 20th century, including paintings by Bonnard, Monet, Picasso and many others. It also hosts the Union of Academies and Scientific Societies of Toulouse, including the Floral Games, founded in 1323, considered the oldest literary society in Europe.

Architecturally, the hotel is distinguished by its staircase with straight ramps, its handler loggia and its monumental portal inspired by Serlio. The stairway tower, visible from afar, symbolizes the power of its sponsor. The facades, adorned with columns superimposing ancient orders, bear witness to a classical erudition rare in the province. The courière, decorated with masks and diamond tips, connects private and public spaces, reflecting the duality of aristocratic life.

The history of the hotel is marked by the wars of Religion and changes of owners. After the Assézat, he passed to the Marcassus of Puymaurin, then to the Sabatier and Gèze families. In the 20th century, its restoration and modern extension made it a major cultural place. Today, it embodies both the Toulouse architectural heritage and a living artistic and intellectual centre.

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