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Origin and history

The Hotel Faulquier, classified as a Historic Monument, is distinguished by its interior staircase in Second Empire style, built in the second half of the 19th century. This monumental staircase, with straight flights, is preceded by a vaulted vestibule decorated with niches housing marble vases. The stairwell, of great decorative richness, uses noble materials such as red marble, onyx for handrails, and golden mosaics. The arcades on the ground floor are based on mosaic pillars, while those on the first floor are based on twin columns in red marble, topped by golden Corinthian capitals.

In the centre of the gallery on the first floor, a semi-circular loggia in green marble adds to the elegance of the whole. The mosaic medallions and carved masks (a man on the ground floor, a woman on the floor) highlight the theatrical inspiration of architecture, clearly influenced by the Opéra Garnier in Paris. This staircase, protected by decree of 29 October 1975, perfectly illustrates the architectural fascist of the reign of Napoleon III, mixing luxury of materials and decorative exuberance.

The building, located at 6 rue Boussairolles in Montpellier, also retains remarkable interior elements such as walls covered with embroidered scarlet velvet. Although its exact location is considered mediocre (accuracy note: 5/10), it remains an exceptional testimony of 19th-century Montpellierian civil architecture, now protected for its staircase and decor.

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