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Origin and history

The House of Consuls is a private hotel from the beginning of the sixteenth century, located at the intersection of the streets of the Town Hall and Cruise in Riom. Although his name evokes the consuls, he appeared only in 1870 and never sheltered these magistrates. The Renaissance-style building consists of four houses organized around an inner courtyard, with a spiral staircase and vaulted galleries. His facades bear armorial shields, including those of François I and the Duke of Bourbon, suggesting a construction between 1516 and 1523, before the betrayal of the connétable.

A dendrochronological study conducted in 2002 dated the frame between 1535 and 1540, confirming the construction period. The visible coat of arms, such as the Dubourg family of financiers and court-related magistrates, and subsequent changes (division of floors in the 19th century) reveal a complex history. The house belonged in the 17th century to the Dubois, treasurers of France, then was sold in lots after 1795, partially altering its original structure.

The House of Consuls has been listed as a Historical Monument since 1862, embodying the opulence of the Renaissance riomoese elites. Its skylights, adorned with the necklace of the order of Saint Michael (created in 1516), and its portico with dogive vaults testify to exceptional architectural know-how. The restorations of the twentieth century, such as the replacement of lardoise with flat tiles in 1973, preserved this jewel, while revealing traces of its mixed use (noble logis and commercial activities).

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