Construction of hotel milieu du XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1850)
Estimated construction period of the building.
23 novembre 2004
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 23 novembre 2004 (≈ 2004)
Protection of facades and roofs by stop.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Fronts and roofs (see AK 63): inscription by decree of 23 November 2004
Origin and history
The Moulin de Fontenelle hotel is an iconic building located in Argentan, in the Orne department in Normandy. Built in the middle of the eighteenth century, it perfectly illustrates the architecture of the private hotels of this period, with a classical organization between courtyard and garden. Its facades and roofs, typical of the style of the period, have been preserved and are now protected as historical monuments.
The L-shaped building also retains its commons, making it a complete example of an 18th-century urban residence. Its inscription in the title of the Historic Monuments, effective November 23, 2004, specifically addresses facades and roofs, highlighting their heritage value. The hotel is located at 12 Aristide-Briand Street, a central location in the city of Argentan.
The middle of the 18th century corresponds, in Normandy as elsewhere in France, to a period of prosperity for urban elites, who built private hotels reflecting their social status. These houses, often organised around a courtyard and a garden, served as both a residence and a place of representation. The hotel of the Moulin de Fontenelle is in this context, reflecting the way of life of the affluent classes of the time.
