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Hôtel des Trésoriers de France in Montpellier dans l'Hérault

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine urbain
Hotel particulier classé
Hérault

Hôtel des Trésoriers de France in Montpellier

    5 Rue des Trésoriers-de-France
    34000 Montpellier
Hôtel des Trésoriers de France à Montpellier
Hôtel des Trésoriers de France à Montpellier
Hôtel des Trésoriers de France à Montpellier
Hôtel des Trésoriers de France à Montpellier
Hôtel des Trésoriers de France à Montpellier
Hôtel des Trésoriers de France à Montpellier
Crédit photo : Albertvillanovadelmoral - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

Bas Moyen Âge
Renaissance
Temps modernes
Révolution/Empire
XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1400
1500
1600
1700
1800
1900
2000
vers 1448
Initial construction
1537
Stay of François I
1632
Acquisition by Treasurers
1676
Major reconstruction
1690
Ceiling painted by Jean de Troy
11 mars 1931
Historical Monument
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

Hôtel des Trésoriers de France (or hotel in Lunaret), with the exception of the Attique : by order of 11 March 1931

Key figures

Jacques Cœur - Great silversmith of Charles VII Initial sponsor of the building around 1448.
Simon de Beaujeu - Architect Designs the hotel for Jacques Coeur.
François Ier - King of France Stayed in 1537 during his trip.
Louis XIII - King of France Lodge in 1632 after the siege.
Ponce Alexis de La Feuille - King's engineer Reconstructed the hotel from 1676.
Jean de Troy - Painter Author of the allegorical ceiling around 1690.

Origin and history

The Hôtel des Trésoriers de France, also known as the Hotel de Lunaret or Palais Jacques-Coeur, is one of the oldest private hotels in Montpellier. Located between the streets of the Treasurers-de-France and Jacques-Coeur, it was originally built around 1448 by architect Simon de Beaujeu for Jacques Coeur, great silversmith of Charles VII. The latter made it a nerve centre for his commercial activities in Languedoc. The building will then house the Court of Aids in the 15th century, then the Chamber of Accounts in the 16th century, before being acquired in 1632 by the treasurers general of France.

The hotel served as a residence for several visiting sovereigns, including François I in 1537, Henri de Navarre in 1632, and Anne of Austria. Louis XIII stayed there in 1632, after the siege of Montpellier, for twelve days before repressing a revolt in Toulouse. The building was almost entirely rebuilt from 1676 by Ponce Alexis de La Feuille, the king's engineer, who incorporated Parisian architectural influences, such as an imposing facade with doric and Corinthian colonnades, as well as a monumental staircase opening onto a loggia.

The interior decoration includes a ceiling painted by Jean de Troy around 1690, representing the Discovery of Truth through Justice. The building, classified as a Historic Monument in 1931 (excluding attic), was left in 1910 by Henri de Lunaret to the Société archéologique de Montpellier. Since 1992, it has been home to the Languedoc Museum, presenting collections of prehistory in the 19th century. Its architecture, marked by the absence of exterior facades and suns carved in homage to Louis XIV, bears witness to its political and symbolic role under the Ancien Régime.

The hotel preserves medieval elements, such as a 15th century vaulted passage, and decorated beams ceilings of the 17th century. After the Revolution, it was acquired by Jean-Jacques Tandon, then by the Lunaret family in the 19th century. Its quadrilateral plan around a central courtyard, with a monumental staircase, reflects the codes of the great Montpellieran hotels of the time. Today, he illustrates both Jacques Coeur's legacy and the influence of royal institutions in Languedoc.

External links