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Origin and history

Hotel Heron is a private hotel located in Moulins, in the department of Allier (region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). Built between 1662 and 1717, it is distinguished by its garden façade, composed of a central house body framed by two pavilions, and its bourbonese polychrome brick walls. The orangery, with geometric patterns of red and black bricks, and the French garden, with a basin of eight meters in diameter, complete this architectural ensemble.

The interior of the hotel reveals a wooden staircase with balustered ramp and a main room decorated with stucco. The fireplace, adorned with a counter-heart with the weapons of Lambert Heron and his wife, recalls the social status of his sponsor. This treasurer of France and receiver general of the king's United Farms had the monument erected in several phases: portal and pavilion north in 1662, expansion of the house in 1701-1702, layout of the vegetable garden in 1705-1706, and renovation of the orange factory in 1717.

As a historical monument in 2009, the Héron Hotel illustrates the life of the provincial aristocracy in the early 18th century. Its architecture, combining classical influences and local traditions (bourbonese bricks), reflects both the prestige of its owner and the adaptation of Parisian codes in the province. The communes, the orangery and the gardener's pavilion, organized around a French-style parterre, underline the importance attached to the symmetry and harmony of the outdoor spaces.

The protection of the building covers the entire hotel, including its decorated interiors, fences, commons, garden with hydraulic facilities, and orangery. This late inscription (2009) bears witness to the heritage recognition of a preserved architectural ensemble, characteristic of the Grand Siècle Bourbonnais. Historical sources, including the work of Max Moulin and Hélène de Rougé, document its evolution and its role in the urban landscape of Moulins.

Located at 44 rue de Paris, the hotel overlooks the axis leading to the capital, highlighting its strategic position in the city. The blend of polychrome bricks, typical of the region, and the interior decorations (stuces, balusters) make this a remarkable example of the adaptation of the versatile models on a provincial scale. The vegetable garden, separated from the garden by a terrace, recalls the food autonomy of the aristocratic houses of the time.

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