Construction of hotel 1824 (≈ 1824)
Built by François-Léonard Seheult as Hotel des Cariatides.
16 et 23 septembre 1943
Allied bombardments
Allied bombardments 16 et 23 septembre 1943 (≈ 1943)
Destroyed, hotel spared during World War II.
12 mai 1976
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 12 mai 1976 (≈ 1976)
Full protection of facades, roofs and interior decorations.
2015
Restoration of the southern façade
Restoration of the southern façade 2015 (≈ 2015)
Restoration of original sculptures and huisseries.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Façades and roofs on street and courtyard and following rooms with their decoration: on the first floor, Mrs Boscher's apartment (all); Mr Duteil's apartment (two offices overlooking the Cambronne course, large office and employee office); on the second floor: apartment by Mesdemoiselles Allain (living room); Monsieur Beaud's apartment (living and dining room); on the third floor: Madame Bonamy's apartment (living room); on the fourth floor: Mrs Laffra's apartment (living room and bedroom overlooking the inner courtyard); Mademoiselle Le Masne de Chermont's apartment (living and dining room); Mrs Lallie's apartment (room overlooking the inner courtyard) (Box HM 102): by order of 12 May 1976
Key figures
François-Léonard Seheult - Architect and contractor
Designer of the hotel, inspired by antiquity and eclecticism.
Origin and history
The Hotel Scheult, also known as the Hotel des Cariatides at its origin, was built in 1824 by architect François-Léonard Seheult, known for his work in the Bellay estate. Located in the heart of Nantes, on the Cambronne course and the Rue de l'Heronnière, this neo-classical and eclectic building embodies the theories of its designer. Seheult hierarchyes Egyptian, Greek and Roman references, distributed on the floors, inspired by techniques such as the "collage" of Piranese, discovered during his trip to Italy. The facades, decorated with cariatids and niches engraved with names of artists (Raphaël, Canova, Greek masters), reflect his admiration for antiquity and the great names of French art of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
The monument escaped the 1943 bombings, which destroyed its immediate neighbours during the allied raids of 16 and 23 September. Ranked as a historical monument on 12 May 1976, it is the only building in the Cambronne courtyard to enjoy full protection on its two facades, its roof, and several apartments with their original décor. These spaces, spread over four floors, include lounges, rooms and offices with preserved woodwork and ornaments. The southern facade, completely restored in 2015, has made it possible to rediscover the original brilliance of its sculptures and huisseries, highlighting the richness of this neoclassical architectural manifesto.
The inscriptions and the distribution of styles in the Hotel Scheult illustrate Seheult's educational will, which applies its aesthetic principles. The porch in the middle, the serlians, and the scheduling of registers create a harmony between structure and decoration. The building, originally designed as a personal residence, also bears witness to the urbanization of Nantes in the early 19th century, linked to the development of the Cambronne course. Today, there remains a rare example of architectural eclecticism of the time, mixing neoclassical rigour and decorative audacity.
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