Construction of hotel vers 1636 (≈ 1636)
For Gabriel de Guenebaud by Jacques Lemercier.
XVIIIe siècle
Development of communes
Development of communes XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1850)
Turned into houses.
1932
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 1932 (≈ 1932)
Facade and roof protected by arrest.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facade and roof: inscription by decree of 9 June 1932
Key figures
Cardinal de Richelieu - City commander
Initiator of the urban project.
Jacques Lemercier - Architect
Designer of the house and the city.
Gabriel de Guenebaud - First owner
Lord of Plessis Belleville, treasurer.
Origin and history
The house in Richelieu is part of the ambitious urban project launched by Cardinal Richelieu in the 17th century. The latter transformed his native village into a planned city, entrusting the plans to the architect Jacques Lemercier, known for his work on the castle. The regular route, with its ditches, ramparts, monumental gates and symmetrical streets, reflects a will of order and greatness, characteristic of the achievements of the time.
The mansion, built around 1636, was originally built for Gabriel de Guenebaud, lord of Plessis Belleville and treasurer of savings, according to Lemercier's plans. Although deeply reworked by an office of H.L.M., it retains its original main staircase. The communes, on the other hand, were built into houses in the 18th century. The façade and roof of the building were protected by an inscription to the Historic Monuments in 1932.
Richelieu, as a new city, embodies the 17th century urban ideal, combining functionality and classical aesthetics. The aligned houses, like this one, participated in a global architectural harmony, while sheltering an administrative and financial elite close to the royal power. Today, this heritage bears witness to the legacy of the cardinal, a statesman and patron, whose influence marked the region for a long time.
