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Origin and history

The Hotel de Malibran is a private hotel built from the last quarter of the 16th century, then profoundly redesigned in the 17th century (ca. 1660?) and in the 18th century. Located at 47 Denfert-Rochereau Street in Pézenas (Hérault), it is distinguished by its monumental central staircase occupying a third of the surface, illuminated by wrought iron balcony windows. The facades, classified in 1944, combine elements from the 17th and 18th centuries: bosses, ionic pilasters at the entrance, guardrails with palmettes and modern motifs (vases, garlands). The building reflects the importance attached to light in the private architecture of the modern era, with large bays and oculi under the attic.

The hotel derives its name from Malibran, negotiating in wine and deputy of the Hérault after the Revolution, resulting from a dynasty of Piscene merchants linked to the local aristocracy. The ground floor, treated as a base with defensive grids, housed the communes, while the noble floors were reserved for housing. The entrance door, framed with pilasters and a table carved, as well as the curved (1st floor) and straight (2nd floor) balconies, highlight the prestige of the house. The ironwork of the guardrails, of exceptional quality, combine traditional motifs (palmettes, lattice) and more modern ornaments (grecques, repelled sheet metal), probably dating from the last quarter of the eighteenth century.

Inside, the stairway rotating at rest, carried by four nuclei, rests on creeping arches between the columns of the bearings. The flights, on the empty side, create a spectacular effect, while the carved staples and foliage consoles adorn the windows. Although located on the outskirts of the historic city centre, the hotel embodies the splendor of the market houses of Pézenas, a prosperous city thanks to the wine trade. Ranked for its facades, balconies, roofs and stairs, it now belongs to a private company, without regular public access.

The sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) underline its architectural interest: symmetrical ordinance of facades, mixture of styles (late birth, classic, rock), and rarity of private hotels preserved in the area. The accuracy of its location (5/10) and its current state (private property) limit the data available on its contemporary vocation (guestrooms, events).

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