Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hotel Desaix, located in Riom in Puy-de-Dôme, is a 17th and 18th century monument, typical of Auvergne architecture. Originally built by the Chazeron family, it consists of two building bodies surrounding an inner courtyard. The main body, dating from the 17th century, was completed in the 18th century by an extension along the street, connected by a paved passage of Volvic slabs. The interior staircase, once decorated with a wrought iron ramp with neo-classical inspiration, bears witness to the refinement of the time. This hotel, associated with the Dufraisse Hotel in Cheix, has been home to part of the collections of the Mandet Museum since 1983, including Mediterranean antiques and decorative art objects.

The Desaix Hotel was integrated into the Mandet Museum following a major donation in 1983 by the spouses Richard, who offered 5,500 works, enriching the collections of goldsmiths, paintings and sculptures. The building, registered as a historic monument in 2020, completes the Hôtel Dufraisse du Cheix (Louis XV style) where the museum was founded in 1866 by Francisque Mandet. The two hotels form a coherent set, illustrating the architectural and cultural evolution of Riom, between courtyard and garden, while sheltering collections ranging from Antiquity to the 19th century.

The restoration completed in 2010 allowed to develop educational spaces and a research library, while highlighting the permanent collections: Roman, Greek and Egyptian antiques, medieval works, Flemish and Dutch paintings of the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as a department dedicated to contemporary decorative arts. The Hotel Desaix, with its rooms dedicated to temporary exhibitions, plays a key role in disseminating the artistic and historical heritage of the Auvergne.

External links