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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Hotel de Castille in Uzès occupies an island formerly dedicated to the currency hotel, where the bishops beat currency in the 15th and 16th centuries. From this period some architectural remains remain, such as mouldings and windows, integrated into the current structure. These medieval elements contrast with the radical transformation of the site at the beginning of the 19th century, when Baron de Castille, heir of the place, erected a mansion in neoclassical style.

The construction is distinguished by its scholarly symmetry, despite an original dissymmetry of the wings. A central body, surmounted by a triangular fronton with Castile-Rohan weapons, dominates the façade. This pediment is supported by an elevated cornice, while three rows of balusters highlight horizontal lines. The balconies, carried by twin columns, reinforce the monumental effect, especially that of the central body, supported by four pairs of columns rising on two floors.

An architectural artifice masks the dissymmetry of the ground floor: a fence wall on Rue Raffin hides the western part, while an elevated passage directly connects the hotel to the adjacent garden. The stages were designed to harmonize proportions, creating a visual rhythm between asymmetrical wings and symmetrical colonnades. This project reflects the ambition of Baron de Castille to mark the urban landscape of Uzès with an imposing aristocratic residence.

The hotel has been partially protected since 1962, with an inscription as the Historic Monuments for its facades and roofs. Its location, close to the episcopal residence, recalls the historical role of this island in the institutional and monetary life of the city. Today, it bears witness to both the medieval heritage of Uzes and the urban transformations of the 19th century, marked by the influence of local noble families.

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