Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Hotel Fontfreyde, also known as the Lucrèce House, is a historic monument located on Rue Jules-Guesde, in the Montferrand district of Clermont-Ferrand. Built in the 16th century by Pierre de Fontfreyde, adviser to the court of aids in 1557, he owes his nickname to Lucrece, wife of the owner. The building is distinguished by its lintels carved with the arms of the Fontfreyde family, notably on the door of the staircase turret and a door at the back of the courtyard. These decorative elements, typical of the Renaissance, underline the social status of its sponsors.

On the south side of the north wing, three medallions adorn the support of a gallery, including the central one representing Lucrece piercing her breast, a mythological reference to Roman virtue. A curved column, later added, bears the date of 1781 on its capital, engraved long after the initial construction. The hotel was declared a historic monument on 18 March 1920, recognizing its heritage and artistic value.

It should not be confused with another Fontfreyde hotel, located on rue des Gras in Clermont-Ferrand and now transformed into a photographic centre. The exact address of the house of Lucrèce is 28 rue Jules-Guesde, in the department of Puy-de-Dôme (63), in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. The legal protections concern the entire house, including its carved elements and its characteristic architecture.

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