Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Garreau Hotel is a neo-renaissance-style mansion built in 1845 in Nantes, at the corner of Dobrée and Damrémont streets. Sponsored by Jean-Pierre Garreau, a prosperous entrepreneur specializing in bourgeois homes, he worked with architect Joseph-Fleury Chenantais to erect this architectural gem. The facades and roofs, remarkable for their decoration inspired by the Italian Renaissance, were listed as historical monuments in 1975.

Jean-Pierre Garreau, admirer of Italian architecture, integrates elements such as medallions, bas-reliefs representing the Colosseum and St. Peter's Basilica of Rome, as well as geminated bays. This project reflects his know-how in outdoor decoration, acquired during his trips. The hotel, backed by the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Port, also illustrates the urbanization of the Nantes city centre in the 19th century, marked by the rise of the industrial bourgeoisie.

The building embodies the social prestige of its sponsor, an entrepreneur who built his fortune by building residences for the local elite. Its inscription in 1975 highlights its heritage value, both for its style and for its history linked to the urban and economic expansion of Nantes. The protections relate specifically to facades and roofs on street and courtyard, according to the decree of 29 October 1975.

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