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Origin and history

The Dumay hotel is a Toulouse mansion built in 1585 for Antoine Dumay, renowned doctor of Marguerite de Valois (first wife of Henri IV) and regent of the medical school of Toulouse. Born from a pre-existing house, it was enlarged by its sons in the 17th and 18th centuries, combining brick, stone and polychrome marbles. The S façade, flanked by a turret, and the trapezoidal courtyard with doric galleries make it a remarkable example of the Toulouse Renaissance architecture. The interiors, redesigned in the 18th century, incorporate gypsum and a French ceiling.

In 1914, Dr Siméon Durand, a military doctor, acquired the hotel and left it in 1948 at the Toulouse Les Toulousains association, provided that their museum was set up there. Open to the public in 1955, the Museum of Old Toulouse has been presenting collections on local history, ceramics and family life. The building was classified as a historic monument in 1950 for its facades and roofs, and was registered in 1992 for its interior decorations.

The hotel preserves notable architectural elements: a splint window decorated with an atlante and a cariatide, a wooden staircase screw under a wooden vault, and marble columns. The Dumay family, owner until 1728, expresses its wealth in prestigious materials. Subsequent transformations (redesigned windows, redistribution of spaces) reflect changes in tastes in the 18th and 20th centuries.

Today, the Dumay Hotel, located 7 rue du May near the Capitol, remains a testimony of Toulouse's history, mixing architectural heritage and museum vocation. Its protection as historical monuments underlines its importance in the cultural landscape of the city.

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