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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The hotel Leclerc, originally called Hotel Garesché, is a mansion built in the 18th century, located at 18 rue Réaumur in La Rochelle. Ranked a historic monument in 1944, it is distinguished by its symmetrical architecture, its entrance gate flanked by pavilions, and its remarkable interior elements like a wrought iron staircase and carved woodwork. It should not be confused with the nearby hotel, the hotel Giraudeau and then Garesché, located at number 16 of the same street.

The hotel dates from the middle of the eighteenth century and was acquired by Daniel Garesché (1737-1811), shipowner, slave shipowner and future mayor of La Rochelle. After 1778, Garesche had the south-east end of the wings built and the body opened on the street. The building then passed by inheritance to the Leclerc family, remaining in the same family since the 18th century. It is the only hotel in Rochelais to have retained this family continuity.

Hotel Leclerc's architecture combines classic elegance and functionality. The ground floor is furnished with bosses, while the first floor features windows framed with chambranles, topped by a table decorated with garlands. The upper floor, in low attic, completes the elevation. Inside, the right wing chamber is completely covered with carved wooden panels. The covered passage vaulted in the cove-de-panier and the symmetry of the plan make it a notable example of civil architecture of the 18th century in La Rochelle.

The Leclerc Hotel is classified as a historical monument by order of 12 July 1944 and also includes its garden in the protection. This ranking underscores its heritage importance, both for its history related to the slave trade and for its preserved architecture. Today, there remains a major testimony of the rock heritage and the influence of shipowners in town planning.

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