Timeline

Origin and history

The building at 40 rue du Thursday in Alençon is an example of small private hotels built in the 18th century in this Norman city. These sober but elegant buildings reflect the rise of a trading and enlightened bourgeoisie, characteristic of the provincial urban centres of the time. Their architecture is distinguished by discreet decorative elements, such as wrought iron balconies, while their interiors often retain woodwork and original furniture.

Alençon, like other cities in Normandy, preserved a modest but significant architectural heritage of this period. These private hotels, although less monumental than those of the major capitals, bear witness to a changing society, where the trade and ideas of the Enlightenment are beginning to transform lifestyles. Their location in the city centre highlights their role in local social and economic life, often linked to commercial or craft activities.

Ranked a Historic Monument since 1975 for its facades and roofs on street and courtyard, this building illustrates the attention paid to the conservation of provincial heritage. The protection specifically concerns external elements ( BT 303), while interiors, although mentioned for their woodwork, do not receive such precise legal mention in available sources.

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