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Origin and history

The hotel of the connetable of Montmorency, located in Pézenas, was built between 1590 and 1600 in the suburbs of the city, at the initiative of Henri I of Montmorency. In 1614 he donated it to Alphonse de Federico, his Italian hotel master, who undertook important work between 1619 and 1621, transforming the residence into an exceptional residence for the time. The courtyard, separated from the street by a wall under a large arcade, and the facades adorned with flat table bosses – a technique popularized by Philibert de L The monumental entrance door, with its doric pilasters and its broken pediment, also illustrates the influence of Parisian models.

The house, initially large with two courtyards, stables and a garden, was divided after 1672. The western part (now n°13-15 rue Henri-Reboul) returned to Jacques Elix, master of the hotel of the archbishop of Narbonne, who made arrangements there in 1673. The eastern part (9-11), integrated into the dowry of Françoise de Saint-Gilles, was sold in 1695 to Pierre de Montbrun on behalf of Michel-Achard Rousseau de La Valette, intendant of the Prince of Conti and mayor of Pézenas. Despite subsequent changes, the hotel retained remarkable Renaissance elements, such as the snout bays and the vaulted cellar.

The hotel is especially famous for having welcomed Louis XIV on 6 April 1660, stressing his prestige. Traditionally attributed to the surroundings of Henri I de Montmorency, its architectural design owes much to Alphonse de Federico, whose stylistic choices – such as varnished tiles or screw stairs – made it a unique building in Languedoc. Ranked Historic Monument in 1933 and 1992 for its facades, courtyard and porch, it now embodies the fascist of aristocratic residences of the late Renaissance.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the house passed into the hands of local families (Reboul, Epine, Barral d'Arènes), undergoing modifications that partially altered its original appearance. Only the western pavilion of the entrance arcade and some interior decorations (such as bosses or the broken pediment door) recall its past brilliance. The archives also mention the repair work carried out by Federico as early as 1619, involving the master masons Pierre Dupred and Étienne Henry, who contributed to its present structure.

The location of the hotel, originally on the outskirts of Pézenas, reflects the city's urban expansion in the 17th century. His history, linked to figures such as Montmorency or Federico, but also to local personalities (mayors, intendants), makes him a witness to the power networks and cultural exchanges between the Court of France and Languedoc. Today, although partially redesigned, there remains a rare example of Renaissance civil architecture in the region, protected for its most emblematic elements.

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