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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Ponsardin Hotel is a private hotel built in 1780 in Reims by Baron Nicolas Ponsardin, a wealthy merchant and mayor of the city. Located at 30 rue Ceres, near Place Royale, it was designed as a private residence. Its architecture is distinguished by a stone façade of Courville, a slate roof decorated with oval windows, and a wrought iron ramp. The property is also remarkable for its historic fireplaces and lounges, some of which have been protected since 1950.

Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine stayed there in 1803 during an official visit to Reims. Later, in 1810, the hotel was prepared to welcome Marie-Louise of Austria, the future wife of Napoleon I, although she made only a brief stop. In 1825, he received the family of the Duke of Orléans, future Louis-Philippe I, who had come to the priesthood of Charles X. These events underline its role in the political and social history of France.

The hotel then passed into the hands of emblematic figures, including the famous Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin, daughter of the Baron, then her descendants: Countess Marie-Clémentine de Mortemart and the Duchess of Uzès. In 1880 it became the property of the Chamber of Commerce of Reims. Modified in the 20th century for technical uses by the PTT, it was restored in 1933 by the Marquis de Mun, then again in 2003, thus regaining its original fascist.

The protection of the hotel extends to several elements: the facade on garden and its roof (classified in 1950), the living rooms on the ground floor, the stairwell, as well as the gate and entrance gate. These successive classifications, including the last of 2023, demonstrate its exceptional heritage value.

The architecture of Hotel Ponsardin reflects the luxury and know-how of the eighteenth century. The noble materials, such as the Courville and Lardian stone, as well as the decorative details (ferronries, chimneys), make it a remarkable example of the aristocratic art of living of the time. Its history, linked to prominent personalities and national events, makes it a must-see monument to the Remois heritage.

Today, the Hotel Ponsardin embodies both a prestigious family heritage and a symbol of the history of Reims. Its evolution, from private residence to public monument, illustrates the urban and social transformations of the city, while preserving its unique historical and architectural character.

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