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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Hotel de Noailles is a private hotel located in Aurillac, in the Cantal department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Originally built in the 16th century as a house, it was enlarged between 1609 and 1614 for the Noailles family, and then rebuilt in the middle of the 17th century. Its facades on courtyards, marked by unsymetric stalls and openings, reflect these successive architectural changes.

Inside, the hotel retains remarkable elements such as a vaulted staircase, a French painted ceiling, and a wooden fireplace decorated with biblical inscriptions. The decoration of the large living room, dating from the 17th century, was partially dispersed in 1942, including its woodwork and parquet floors, but some elements such as the ceiling and fireplace remain.

The Hotel de Noailles has been partially listed as historical monuments since 19 March 1982, protecting its facades, roofs, stairwells and large living room. Its exact address, 5 rue de Noailles, makes it a central heritage landmark in the historic heart of Aurillac, a city marked by its medieval and reborn past.

The family of Noailles, at the origin of the enlargements, belonged to the sword nobility and played an influential role in the region. Their architectural intervention at the beginning of the 17th century illustrates the adaptation of urban homes to the new standards of comfort and social representation of the period.

Changes made in the mid-17th century, although less documented, reflect a desire for modernization, perhaps linked to changes in tastes or functional needs. These changes are part of a regional context where Aurillac, then an administrative and religious centre, sees its built heritage transformed under the influence of local elites.

Today, Hotel de Noailles remains a significant example of 16th and 17th century civil architecture in Haute-Auvergne, mixing late medieval heritage and Renaissance innovations. Its designation as historic monuments underlines its importance in the Cantalian heritage landscape.

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