Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hotel de la Chanterie, also known as Chantrerie, owes its name to the Grand Chantre in charge of religious offices, who would have occupied this building. Built in the late 12th or early 13th century, it is one of the oldest monuments in the medieval centre of Montferrand, now integrated in Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme). Its stone façade of Volvic, typical of the region, combines Romanesque openings in the middle of the first floor and broken Gothic arches on the second, surmounted by carved tympanums. These architectural features suggest a construction sponsored by a rich merchant, inspired by Italian palaces, with shops on the ground floor.

Partially listed as historical monuments since 1922 (northward elevation and chimney) and then fully listed in 2022, the building has undergone multiple transformations. In the 15th century, a fireplace decorated with a mysterious coat of arms (piper, shrub or tree of life) was added, without its sponsor being identified. In the 16th and 17th centuries, major changes – such as the addition of stud windows, the construction of a screw staircase, or the lowering of floors – altered its structure, reflecting changes in usage, including a period as a prison.

Since 2012, the association Le Conservatoire de la Chanterie, composed of catering professionals, has made this place a centre dedicated to the professions of built heritage. The renovations undertaken since 2016, including on the north façade, have enabled the restoration of Gothic bays and medieval elements, using again the Volvic stone. The façade, which has become structurally autonomous from the rest of the building, has been treated as a "decorative wall" to preserve its historical coherence. Today, the hotel hosts trainings, exhibitions and heritage events, while still being restored.

Archaeological and architectural studies revealed a complex chronology, marked by superpositions of styles (Roman, Gothic, Renaissance) and modifications related to various uses: bourgeois habitat, prison, and then cultural place. Research on painted decorations and models has confirmed the initial dating, while recent investigations have highlighted the dissociation between the facade, preserved as a decorative element, and the interior, profoundly redesigned. This monument thus illustrates the evolution of constructive techniques and urban functions throughout the centuries.

Future

Since 2012, this house belongs to the association "Le Conservatoire de la Chanterie" which has made it a place dedicated to the professions of built heritage.

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