Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The house at 28 Gambetta Boulevard in Nîmes is an example of an 18th-century urban hotel built between 1760 and 1780. It is the result of a real estate grouping of three modest houses visible on a feudal plane of 1671, leading to a more imposing building with a terrace overlooking the boulevard, a facade adorned with a wrought iron balcony and a rear exit on Rue de la Ferrage. The terrace, supported by shops on the ground floor, precedes a main wall structured in three levels: an elevated ground floor, a first floor with five windows and a central window door with a curved balcony, and a second floor with smaller windows.

The balcony on the first floor, listed as a Historic Monument in 1964, is a masterpiece of ironwork. Its central oval medallion has a monogram framed with symmetrical volutes, while spirals interlaced with circles and diamonds form a unique pattern. The rounded corners of the balcony correspond to curved panels whose volutes harmonize with the central pattern. The pavement of the balcony takes over the undulations of ironwork, highlighting the artistic unity of the ensemble. This decor reflects the architectural refinement of the Nîmes mansions in the Enlightenment century.

The exact address, 28 Gambetta Boulevard, is confirmed by the Merimée base, although GPS coordinates suggest an approximate location near (4 Corconne Street). Only the ironwork of the balcony (cadastre L 50) enjoys official protection, demonstrating the heritage value of this specific element. The building illustrates the urban evolution of Nîmes, where real estate groupings have transformed medieval plots into aristocratic or bourgeois residences.

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