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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Vareilles hotel, also known as the Lavallière hotel, is a private hotel located in Blois, Loir-et-Cher department. Built in the early 16th century, it embodies the architectural evolution of the reign of Louis XII (1498–1515), a period during which many medieval houses in the city were renovated or rebuilt. The building blends traditional Gothic elements, such as the dogive vaults and guardrails of the galleries, with emerging italianizing influences, visible in pilasters or arabesques. These characteristics reflect the cultural exchanges of the time, while at the same time testifying to the persistence of medieval styles.

The hotel preserves the remains of a 13th century medieval building, including a vaulted cellar, but its current structure dates mainly from the transition between the 15th and 16th centuries. Organised around a central courtyard, it consists of three bodies of quasi-independent buildings, connected by a screwed staircase turret and a covered gallery. The interior and exterior decoration is rich, with symbols such as the letters "L" and "A" (for Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne), hermines, as well as sculptures depicting human, animal and plant figures. These elements adorn the entrance door and the stair tors.

Ranked and listed as historical monuments (1928 for remains, 1963 for facades and roofs), the Vareilles hotel remains a private property. His later history included interior developments in the 18th century (woodworks, chimneys) and an association in the 17th century at Marie-Anne de Bourbon, known as Mademoiselle de Blois, a legitimized daughter of Louis XIV and Louise de La Vallière. Although her name refers to the latter, there is no direct evidence that she owned it, although the local tradition evokes it.

The building is distinguished by its hors-oeuvre staircase in masonry, its arched galleries, and its varied iconographic repertoire, combining religious, mythological and decorative motifs. The door on the courtyard, surmounted by a leafed cladding and flanked by pilasters, illustrates this fusion of styles. Despite its protected status, the hotel is not open to visit, thus preserving its integrity while respecting the privacy of its current owners.

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