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Origin and history

The Magon de la Lande Hotel, also known as the Hotel of Asfeld, is a 1st quarter of the 18th century mansion located in Saint-Malo, Brittany. Built between 1723 and 1725 for the shipowner and slaver François-Auguste Magon de la Lande, it is one of the last hotels of shipowners in the murals spared by the destruction of the Second World War. His current name comes from the rue d'Asfeld, named after Claude François Bidal d'Asfeld (1665-1743). The building, in the granite of Chausey, reflects the military influence of the time, with sober architecture and preserved panelling.

Sponsored by Magon de la Lande, director of the Compagnie des Indes orientales, the hotel illustrates the classic Parisian model, adapted to Malouin merchants: courtyard, garden, shops on the ground floor and rich interior decors. It has 60 rooms, 30 with fireplace, and an area of 684 m2. The building retains remarkable elements such as a staircase with a right ramp, walled apartments, and a trehori (household room in half floor). Its portal and facades, marked by continuous bosses, bear witness to the influence of military engineers such as Simeon Garengeau.

Neglected in the 20th century, the hotel was bought in 2005 by historian Olivier Chereil de La Rivière. Ranked a historic monument since February 25, 2000, it embodies the golden age of the Malouin maritime trade, mixing bourgeois luxury and architectural rigor. The stone, imposed after the fire of 1661 (Grande Brulerie), and the Paris distribution of the apartments underline its exceptional status in the local heritage.

The house is also distinguished by its history linked to the slave trade, Magon de la Lande being a shipowner involved in this trade. In 1787 she belonged to the Nouail du Fougeray family. Today, the hotel remains a rare testimony of Saint Malo's shipowner hotels, combining residential functions, commercial activities (stores on the ground floor) and social prestige.

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