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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Durbé Hotel, also known as the Durbé and Collin Hotel, is a neo-classical mansion built in the middle of the 18th century in Nantes. Located at the corner of the Quai de la Fosse and Rue Mathurin-Brissonneau, in the Dervalllières-Zola district, it was built on a plot originally acquired by the merchant Claude Durbé in 1752, and then completed by a second purchase in 1755 by Jacques Collins. The architect Pierre Rousseau, known for his later work on Feydeau Island, is awarded as the project manager.

The construction, completed in 1756, used local materials such as tuffeau and granite. A phenomenon of soil subsidence during work gives the building its slightly sloping appearance. Although often mistakenly associated with the Compagnie des Indes, the site was actually owned by the latter between 1719 and 1733, before being sold to traders. The façade of the hotel was listed as a historic monument in 1926.

The Durbé Hotel illustrates the civil architecture of the eighteenth century, marked by the influence of maritime and colonial trade. Its neo-classical style, materials and history reflect the opulence of traders of the time, active in transatlantic trade. The protection of its façade in 1926 underscores its heritage importance in the urban landscape of Nantes.

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