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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house of Richelieu is a mansion built in the 2nd quarter of the 17th century according to the plans of architect Jacques Lemercier, as part of the ambitious urban project of Cardinal Richelieu. The latter, born in the original village, decided to transform it into a new city with a geometrical layout, with ditches, ramparts, monumental gates and symmetrical streets. The hotel, with its appentious commons and adjacent wing, is part of this rational planning plan, reflecting the classical influence of the time.

In the 18th century, the building underwent notable renovations, including the addition of a hollow stone staircase, decorative stone balloons, stone fireplaces and a room with plaster ceiling. These elements reflect an evolution of tastes towards more interior ornamentation, while maintaining the original structure. The façade and roof, characteristic of 17th century architecture, were classified as Historic Monument by decree of 9 June 1932, highlighting their heritage value.

The location of the house, 21 Place des Religiouses, places the building in the heart of the ideal city designed by Richelieu. Its strict alignment with other houses and its integration into the orthogonal old network illustrate the desire for control and architectural harmony peculiar to the cities founded ex nihilo under the Ancien Régime. Today, the monument remains a rare testimony of French Baroque urbanism, mixing military rigor and aristocratic elegance.

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