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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Hotel Guimoneau, also known as Hotel Guymoneau, is a private hotel located in Riom, in the department of Puy-de-Dôme. Built around 1530 on a plot of lanyard, it is representative of the Renaissance architecture of the region. Its original plan includes two housing bodies connected by a two-level gallery, covered with arches of warheads. The street façade and elevation date back to the 18th century, marking a later stylistic evolution.

A fire in 1483 had ravaged much of Riom's houses, which could explain the reconstruction or renovation of many buildings, including potentially this hotel. Although its attribution to the Gimoneau family is based on fragile indices (such as a carved figure containing the letter G), no definitive evidence confirms this hypothesis. The major works of the 20th century, notably in 1901 by architect R. Moreau, added a western wing and modified some structures, such as the screw staircase and the gallery.

The hotel was listed as historic monuments on 20 June 1925, recognizing its heritage value. Subsequent restoration campaigns, such as those of 1989-1990, incorporated modern elements, such as a glass window covering the main courtyard and a glass veranda expanding the west wing. These interventions illustrate the successive adaptations of the building throughout the centuries, while preserving its historical character.

The structure of the hotel reveals a special care taken at its western elevation, where the Moreau wing, equipped with a veranda, integrates harmoniously with the whole. The staircase in screws, half-outwork on a small courtyard, distributes the two buildings and bears witness to the architectural ingenuity of the period. The main façade, a false drop-up wall made of cut stone, masks a gable with soft crawling, typical of Renaissance buildings.

Historical sources, such as the works of Paul Gauchery (1916) or Yvonne Thiéry (1935), underline the importance of this hotel in the architectural landscape of Riom. These studies, supplemented by more recent research, offer valuable insight into its evolution, from its construction in the 16th century to its contemporary transformations.

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