Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The museum of the hotel of Espeyran is housed in a private hotel built in 1874-1875 for Count Charles Despous de Paul, figure of the Montpellieran high society. This building, emblematic of 19th-century bourgeois architecture, reflects the aristocratic lifestyle of the time, with richly decorated living rooms and faithfully reconstructed interiors.

In 1967, Renée de Cabrières, the last descendant of Sabatier d'Esseyran and the grand-niece of Cardinal de Cabrières, left the hotel and its collections to the city of Montpellier. This legacy preserves an exceptional furniture heritage, including furniture, ceramics and goldsmith's pieces, illustrating the opulence of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Transferred to the Montpellier Agglomeration Community in 2003, the hotel is undergoing major restoration (€3.6 million) to become the decorative arts department of the Fabre Museum. The works aim to highlight the original decorations and to recreate the atmosphere of aristocratic salons, offering an immersive testimony of past worldly life.

Today, the museum completes Montpellier's cultural offer by offering a journey through time, through bourgeois interiors and collections that evoke the refinement of Montpellieran elites. Its integration with the Musées de France network and its label underline its heritage and educational importance.

External links