Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hotel de la Cité is a five-star neo-Gothic establishment built in the early twentieth century within the medieval city of Carcassonne, Occitanie. It is adjacent to the Basilica of Saint-Nazaire-et-Saint-Celse and occupies the site of the former Episcopal Palace, transferred in 1764 to the lower town by Bishop Armand Bazin de Bezons. The site, sold as a stone quarry after the Revolution, was purchased in 1795 by a merchant.

Inaugurated in 1909, the hotel was created by Jules Cadenat, a restorer, and Michel Jordy, an archaeologist and promoter of local tourism, with the support of the Société de la Cité (1911). This project was part of the dynamics of the first French palaces, such as the Negresco in Nice, and became a popular stage between the Basque coast and the French Riviera. Occupied by the Germans during World War II, he regained his prestige after 1945 under the direction of François Lassere, before declining in the 1970s-1980s.

Purchased in 1989 by Jean-Michel Signoles, the hotel was modernized and its restaurant revived with the starred chef Michel Del Burgo. In 1997, the Orient Express Group undertook a major renovation to meet international standards, expanding the establishment with the annexation of the Hotel Dame Carcas. The ground floor, decorated in a neo-medieval style (paintings of Henri Sivade, mosaics, panelling), was classified as a Historic Monument in 1998. The hotel got its fifth star in 2010.

The gourmet restaurant La Barbacane, starred at the Michelin Guide on several occasions (in particular under Franck Putelat and Jérôme Ryon), and the 8 000 bottle cellar illustrate its excellence. The establishment welcomed personalities such as Walt Disney, Grace de Monaco or Johnny Depp, and served as the setting for the 2003 Franco-Spanish summit. Since 2011, it belongs to the Cité Hôtels group, led by the Pujol family.

Neo-Gothic architecture, inspired by the 15th century, and interior decorations (tables by Jacques Ourtal, frescoes by Henry Pringuet) reflect a desire to celebrate the medieval history of Carcassonne. The hotel also has a spa, swimming pool and a conference area of 580 m2. Its bar-library, renowned for its cocktails, and its internal bakery complete its high-end services.

After a fire in 2011 and property changes, the hotel remains a symbol of luxury tourism in Occitanie, linked to the Carcassonne Festival and local heritage. Its history combines entrepreneurship, art and diplomacy, while preserving an exceptional architectural framework.

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