Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The hotel, also known as the Hotel Courtois de Viçose, is an 18th century architectural gem located at 3 rue Mage in Toulouse, in the Saint-Étienne district. Considered the most beautiful example of Toulouse civil architecture of this time, it stands out for its monumental portal concealing a courtyard of honour, its harmonious facades with pilasters and pediments, and its interiors preserving Louis XV decorations, marble fireplaces and original panelling. The building also illustrates technical innovations for the time, such as ceilings in brick vaults cemented with plaster, designed to limit the risk of fire.

The building of the hotel began around 1750 for Félix-François d'Espie (1708-1792), cavalry officer and count from a rich family in Portugal. Originally designed by the Bordeaux architect Hyacinthe of Labat de Savignac, the project was interrupted in 1755 by the earthquake in Lisbon, which ruined the d'Espie family. The hotel was then sold to Henri Auguste de Chalvet, Marquis de Merville, who completed the work before ceding it in 1772 to the Irish Count Justin MacCarthy-Reagh. The latter installs a remarkable library and completes interior arrangements.

In the 19th century, the hotel became the residence of the Prefect Augustin-Laurent de Rémusat under the Restoration, serving as the administrative seat before passing into the hands of the family of Courtois bankers of Viçose. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1932 and in 1992, it now houses the Belgian Consulate. Its French-style staircase, adorned lounges and period decors make it an exceptional testimony of Toulouse's fascist under Louis XV.

The hotel's technical innovations, such as the absence of traditional structures replaced by brick partitions, reflect the concerns of the time over urban fires. The building also embodies the European networks of the Toulouse elite, with successive owners linked to Portugal, Ireland and local finance. Its history thus combines architectural grandeur, financial setbacks and political adaptations, from its construction to its present vocation.

External links