Hotel Lecomte de Latresne à Bordeaux en Gironde

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Origin and history

The hotel Lecomte de Latresne is a mansion located at 8 rue Cheverus in Bordeaux, built between 1754 and 1756 for Jean-Baptiste Lecomte, Marquis de Latresne, by architect André Portier. The latter, known for his work on the gates of Bordeaux, designs an H-shaped building decorated with sculptures by Claude-Clair Francin and interior paintings by Claude Joseph Vernet. The Marquis, the rich wine owner of the Médoc, finances the construction thanks to the dowry of his wife, Marie-Marguerite du Fayet, and the sale of several of his properties.

Prior to its construction, the property housed a 16th century mansion belonging to the Dussault family of Saint-Laurent. Acquired by alliance by the Lecomte, the land was razed in 1739 after the death of the Marquis' mother-in-law. The hotel, completed in 1756, remained in the family until 1783, when it was sold to Jean-Charles d'Augeard, king's adviser. During the Revolution, the hotel was sequestered because of the flight of the son of Augeard, before being returned and then sold in 1806 to a doctor, Candide Frédéric Antoine Grassi.

In the 19th century, the hotel became the residence of the Archbishop of Bordeaux, Jean Lefebvre de Cheverus, before being transformed in 1859 into the headquarters of the newspaper La Gironde, then of La Petite Gironde (now South West in 1944). The printing hangars, built in the garden, now give way to St. Catherine's Promenade. In 2012, the hotel is listed as a historical monument and restored between 2019 and 2020, now housing apartments and an architectural agency.

The hotel's architecture, typical of the 18th century Bordeaux, includes a rectangular house body flanked by two low wings, forming a closed courtyard. The facades, made of cut stone, have eight spans surrounding a central forebody. The richly decorated interiors once included a chapel, reception halls, and accommodation for servants. The rear wings, destroyed for printing, housed stables, sheds and an aviary.

The protection of the hotel in 2012 covers the entire building, including its interior and exterior decorations. Its history reflects the changes in Bordeaux, moving from an aristocratic residence to an industrial place, then to a report building. Today, it bears witness to the architectural and media heritage of the city, while maintaining its residential and professional function.

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