Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house at 15 Grande-Rue in Nîmes is a corner building whose documented history dates back to 1617, when its owner was mentioned for the first time. In 1671 the property already included a house, a courtyard and a garden, and in 1680 the owner acquired the adjacent corner house. These elements suggest a gradual evolution of the building, probably linked to wealthy families in the city.

The major transformation took place in 1751, during the widening of Rue Poise, when the present façade was probably rebuilt. It is distinguished by its corner chains, monumental entrance and wrought iron curved balcony, typical of the 18th century rock style. The curved windows, decorated with keys carved with shells, and the entrance door with vantals decorated with rock motifs and canned pilasters, illustrate the architectural refinement of the era. The balcony, supported by coiled consoles, serves only the central window holder on the first floor, while its ironwork features an oval openwork medallion with elegant volutes.

The wooden frame of the door, carved with a large cartridge and a partially erased motif, as well as the garlands and foliage of the keys, testify to a neat craft. The symmetry of the bays and the richness of the exterior decorations reflect the social status of the owners, probably the nîmes notables. The partial protection of the monument, which took place by order of 4 March 1964, specifically concerns the street door (including thevantaux) and the wrought iron balcony, highlighting their heritage value.

The location of the house, in the historic centre of Nîmes, is located in an area marked by 18th-century urban planning, when the city is experiencing an economic boom linked to trade and crafts. The private hotels of that time, like this one, served both as residence and symbol of prestige for the bourgeois or local aristocratic families. Their presence helped shape the image of a dynamic city, mixing Roman heritage and modernity of the Enlightenment.

External links