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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Louvre Hotel, also known as the Hotel de La Noue, is an emblematic building in the historic centre of Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine. Built in 1659, it is part of the wave of private hotels erected by Breton parliamentarians in the seventeenth century, marking the city's architectural and political development. Its location, in 26 Place des Lices and 21 Rue Saint-Louis, makes it a direct neighbour of Hotel Racapé de La Feuillé, highlighting its anchoring in a prestigious neighborhood.

The building, of sober style, combines stone and wood panels without corbellation, a rare feature for the era. Its southern, main façade overlooks Place des Lices, while its northern, secondary façade opens onto Rue Saint-Louis. The building miraculously escaped the devastating fire of 1720 that ravaged much of Rennes, thus preserving its original architectural integrity.

Ranked a historic monument on October 22, 1962, the Hôtel de la Louvre is distinguished by remarkable elements: an entrance door framed by canned doric pilasters, surmounted by a triangular pediment pierced by a beef eye, and a two-storey lantern with a stairwell. These details reflect the emerging classical influence in Breton architecture of the 17th century, while retaining traditional constructive techniques such as wood strip.

The interior spaces, although partially documented, include a baluster staircase, a central element of the floor distribution. The roof, typical of the aristocratic houses of the time, is decorated with stumps of monumental chimneys, now protected as historical monuments. The building thus bears witness to the way of life of Rennes' parliamentary elites, combining representative function and domestic comfort.

Today, the Louvre Hotel remains a symbol of Rennes heritage, accessible from Place des Lices, the historic heart of the city. Its classification covers facades, roofs, chimney stumps and interior stairway, highlighting its heritage importance. Although the information on its current use (visits, rentals) is fragmentary, its state of conservation and location make it an essential place to understand the urban planning and architecture of Great Century Brittany.

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