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Origin and history

Diane de Poitiers House is a Renaissance building located in Etampes, Essonne, Île-de-France. Dated from 1554 thanks to an inscription on a skylight of the inner courtyard, this building illustrates the refined architecture of the sixteenth century. Its facade, marked by a curved door with rectangular pediments and Corinthian capitals, as well as windows decorated with delicate sculptures, bears witness to remarkable artistic know-how. Inside, a bas-relief representing the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, attributed to John Goujon, reinforces its exceptional character.

The building, nicknamed Hotel Diane-de-Poitiers in the 19th century, housed a museum from 1883 and a library in the 20th century. Although his assignment to Diane de Poitiers remains hypothetical (according to historian Henri Stein), it has been profoundly reshaped: the staircase was remodelled in the 18th century, and works in 1886-1888 (by architects Letavernier and Anjubert) raised the south wing and restored the skylights. The Renaissance Gate, which has been protected separately since 1939, and the entire building, which has been registered since 1926, make it a preserved heritage.

Today dedicated to the valorisation of heritage, the hotel retains major architectural elements, such as the canned columns of the door or carved cartridges. Its history reflects the urban transformations of Etampes, between residential, cultural (museum) and memorial functions. The sources, including Stein (1890) and Guibourgé (1957), underline his artistic importance, although his relationship with Diane de Poitiers remains a debate among historians.

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