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Origin and history

The Hotel de Rigoulène, located in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, is a typical example of neoclassical architecture from the late eighteenth century. Built between 1775 and 1786, it consists of a rectangular house body framed by two perpendicular wings housing commons and stables. The fourth side is closed by a monumental wooden gate, opening onto an inner courtyard. The facade on garden, adorned with a central forebody surmounted by a triangular pediment, is characteristic of this period, with a granite entanglement and a round opening in the eardrum.

The building is attributed to architect Broussaud, although no document formally confirms this paternity. It was commanded by Louis Robert, merchant and bourgeois of Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat. The facades and roofs, protected since 1950, reflect the social status of its owner. The outbuildings, covered with broken roofs and rumps with skylights, complete this harmonious architectural complex, typical of the provincial mansions on the eve of the Revolution.

The entrance gate, made of wood, gives access to an inner courtyard where the house body develops, one wing of services and another dedicated to stables. These last two buildings, of one level, contrast with the main body. The overall, though modest in size, is evidence of the influence of urban models in provincial cities such as Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat, then in full economic expansion through local trade and crafts.

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