Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building at 27 rue de la Madeleine in Nîmes is a civil building built in the 4th quarter of the 18th century, after a project of alignment and widening of the street decided in 1768. The city's consuls, assisted by architect Chirol, supervised these transformations. The building stands out for its symmetrical facade, with two floors illuminated by five windows each, and a ground floor occupied by two shops surrounding a central entrance. The entrance door, rectangular and with two vantals, is surmounted by an imposte carved of garlands and an oval medallion, reflecting the decorative taste of the era.

Inside, a corridor leads to a staircase on the right, bordering an inner courtyard. The wrought iron staircase, classified as Historic Monument in 1964, is a masterpiece of craftsmanship: it alternates large panels and pilasters decorated with Greek, with volutes and spacers in half-ovals. Balconies reproduce these patterns, while square irons of pilasters form four-pointed stars. A gallery, lined with wrought iron support, runs along the eastern side of the courtyard, illustrating the attention paid to both aesthetics and functionality.

No vestige remains of the 15th century medieval house that once occupied the site. However, major works were carried out in 1599, well before the reconstruction of the 18th century. The building thus bears witness to several historical strata, from the Middle Ages to the urbanisation of the Enlightenment, marked by street alignments and rational architecture. The protection of the stair ramp underscores the heritage value of this element, representative of the know-how of the blacksmiths of the time.

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