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Key figures

Origin and history

The Viguiers House, also known as the Reynès Hotel or Guise House, is a Renaissance mansion located on Timbal Street in Albi, Tarn. Built in the 16th century by the Reynes family, enriched by the pastel trade, it combines a sober facade on the street with an inner courtyard with a gallery-loggia. The latter is adorned with the busts of Francis I and his second wife, Eléonore of Austria, probably added after the family's annoyance in the late 16th century. The monumental portal, typical of Louis XIII style, opens on a passage leading to a courtyard organized around a screw staircase and a three-storey house body.

The hotel was erected in 1521 by Roger Reynès on an island acquired near the Vigan gate, as evidenced by his mention on the cadastre of 1525. The local tradition evokes an aborted stay of the royal couple in 1533, although the busts were probably later carved. Owned by the Reynes until 1816, the house was classified as a Historic Monument in 1862, but its condition deteriorated due to lack of maintenance. In the 20th century, it was partially bought by the Chamber of Commerce (1928), which undertook two restoration campaigns (1930-1945 and 1965-1969). Becoming the property of the General Council in 2012, it benefits from a final phase of work.

Architecturally, the house of the Viguiers is distinguished by its facade with bosses and mascarons, its pediment portal interrupted, and its loggia supported by a low arch. The cross windows, aligned in regular spans, illuminate the floors of the north house body. At the northeast corner, a curved door allows access to the adjacent plot. The building thus blends defensive elements (scaling tower) and Renaissance decorations, reflecting the ascending social status of its sponsors, merchants who became noble.

The pastel, "blue gold" of the Tarn, plays a key role in enriching the Reynes. Bertrand Reynes, Roger's father, launched the dynasty in this lucrative business at the end of the 15th century. His sons, Jean and Roger, extend the European family network, allowing the construction of this hotel. The anonymization of the Reynes in the 16th century marked their integration into the local aristocracy, symbolized by the royal busts of the court. These elements highlight the link between economics (pastel), power (noblesse) and heritage (architecture) in the Renaissance Albigeois.

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