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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Harrouys Hotel, also known as the Paulus du Fonteny Hotel or the Goulaine Hotel, is an emblematic building of the Nantes heritage. Located at 14 rue du Château, it is distinguished by its imposing size and exceptional state of conservation for a 17th century mansion. Its facade, stretching over eight spans, combines granite and tuft, with a central gate adorned with rustic bosses, bucranes and a grimacing mascaron. The ensemble, inscribed in the historical monuments in 1991, houses two original stairwells, vaulted rooms and a courtyard serving stables and housing.

The construction of the hotel was initiated around 1670 by Nicolas Paulus, Sieur du Fonteny, member of the administration of the Duchy of Brittany. This ambitious project involves the acquisition of adjoining houses and the transformation of the park. The date of 1684, engraved on the central skylight, probably marks the completion of the work. Two masterpieces are involved: Étienne Bedoy and Mathurin Grolleau, while Paulus supervises the ensemble. The hotel is unique in its innovative programme: two luxury housing units, served by independent stairs, foreshadowing future developments in the Feydeau and Graslin districts.

In the 18th century, the building underwent major changes: enlargement of the bays, suppression of allegicles, addition of ironworks and redevelopment of the apartments. The courtyard is raised of two levels with courtyards and a turret housing common latrines. In the 19th and 20th centuries, dwellings were divided into smaller entities, but the original elements — doors, gates, stairs — remained visible. A two-phase restoration (2002 and 2019) preserved the facades, porch and courtyard, while the roofs and street façades are still waiting for work.

The rue du Château, where the hotel stands, is an ancient way of Nantes, linking the castle of the Dukes of Brittany to the Place du Pilori. In the 17th century, this area was home to Breton institutions (States, Parliament, Chamber of Accounts) and a dense population, forced by walls and a narrow park. The Hotel Harrouys, with its large land rights, is an exception. Its name varies according to the sources: "Hôtel Harrouys" (1991 order), "Hôtel Paulus" (old documents) or "Hôtel de Goulaine" (current use).

The building illustrates the transition to "relative" private hotels, combining architectural prestige and rental profitability. Unlike traditional hotels (such as Rosmadec or Briord), it incorporates from the beginning two high-end housing units, a model later taken up in the bourgeois districts of Nantes. The noble materials (granit, tuffeau), carved decorations ( lion's heads, fleurons) and the conservation of 17th century carpentry make this a rare testimony of the Nantes urban planning of the Ancien Régime.

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