Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The hotel of Audessan, also known as Hotel de la Vieille Intendance, is one of the first French-style hotels built in Eastern Languedoc. Its original U-shaped plan, partially preserved, is distinguished by remarkable architectural elements: passerby skylights, ionic cornice, and a monumental staircase with its original access door. These details, although rare today, bear witness to his original ambition and his characteristic 17th century style.

The hotel was built for René d'Audesan, former king's hotel master and then adviser to Montpellier's Court of Accounts, Aides and Finance. This sponsor illustrates his high social status, linked to both the Royal Court and the provincial administration. Later, between 1685 and 1718, the hotel will house Nicolas Lamonion de Basville, intendant of the province, which earned him his nickname of Old Stewardship. This change in function reflects the political and administrative importance of the building at the time.

In terms of heritage, the hotel has been protected since 2021: its facades, roofs, courtyard, large staircase with its vestibules, as well as the vestiges of its garden on terraces and its hydraulic facilities are listed or classified. The property, now shared between a private owner and the municipality, thus retains tangible traces of its prestigious past, mixing local history and exceptional architecture.

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