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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hotel de Faillonnet, located in Saint-Mihiel in the Great East, is an emblematic monument of the Renaissance, built in 1554 as attests a date engraved on a central gargoyle. Its street façade, made of cut stone, extends over 7 spans (21 meters) and has a refined decor, with modillons and pilasters. The four central spans, dated 1554, appear to be earlier than the other three, suggesting a two-phase construction. The modillon cornice and the absence of a cellar under the lateral spans reinforce this hypothesis. The sponsor remains unknown, but architectural analysis reveals a stylistic unit typical of the mid-16th century.

In the 18th century, the hotel was redesigned by its owners, influential jurists: the masters Jannot and Rouvois (the latter being Vice-President of the Tribunal). These works include the re-introduction of the posterior façade, the reconstruction of the commons in the backyard, and an interior redevelopment of the house. In the 19th century, the hotel passed into the hands of Baron de Faillonnet, mayor of Saint-Mihiel from 1814 to 1815, then to his son-in-law, Nicolas de la Cour, master of applications to the Council of State. These transformations reflect the adaptation of the building to the residential and social needs of local elites throughout the centuries.

The Hotel de Faillonnet consists of a house on street, a courtyard, communes and a terraced garden. Ranked a Historic Monument, it is protected for its façades and roofs (1994), as well as for all its buildings and garden (1991). The Renaissance façade, with its zoomorphic gargoyles and carved leather in the form of a shield, bears witness to remarkable artistic know-how. Subsequent changes, especially in the 18th century, illustrate the evolution of tastes and uses, while preserving the original architectural identity.

The location of the hotel at 3 rue Raymond-Poincaré (formerly rue de la Vau), in the department of Meuse, makes it a key element of the urban heritage of Saint-Mihiel. Its conservation status and geographical accuracy (noted 8/10) facilitate its study and recovery. The protected elements include the house body, the courtyard, the commons and the garden, offering a complete example of a Lorrain mansion combining residential function and architectural prestige.

The zoomorphic gargoyles of the facade, in addition to their ornamental role, recall the artistic influences of the Renaissance, mixing symbolism and aesthetics. The date of 1554, engraved between the legs of the central gargoyle, is a precious chronological marker, while the absence of archives on the original sponsor leaves a mystery about the exact origins of the building. The transformations of the 18th and 19th centuries, documented by successive owners, shed light on its social and legal history.

Today, the Hotel de Faillonnet embodies both a testimony of Renaissance civil architecture and a palimpsest of later eras. Its classification and designation as Historic Monuments underline its heritage importance, while its structure — house, courtyard, commons and garden — reflects the spatial organization characteristic of the mansions of modern times. His story, marked by local figures such as Rouvois or the Baron de Faillonnet, is part of the history of Saint-Mihiel and Lorraine.

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