Gift of Duke Louis II 1353 (≈ 1353)
Exchange with the Mousse family for defensive reasons.
4e quart du XVe siècle
Main construction
Main construction 4e quart du XVe siècle (≈ 1587)
Period of construction of the private hotel.
1995
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 1995 (≈ 1995)
Registration by order of 13 February.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
House, including the rooms on the ground floor and the first floor with their monumental chimneys, and with the exception of the former 19th century stables (Box AZ 76): inscription by order of 13 February 1995
Key figures
Louis II (duc) - Builder
The building was given in 1353 to the Mouss family.
Famille Mousse - Historical owner
Receives the hotel in exchange for a property.
Origin and history
The former hotel Mousse is a private hotel located in Hérisson, in the department of Allier (region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes). Built between the 14th century and the 4th quarter of the 15th century, it illustrates late medieval civil architecture, with subsequent modifications in the 18th and 19th centuries. The building forms a quadrilateral around an inner courtyard, where a staircase turret marks the corner. Its roofs, with old frames and 16th century skylights, are a remarkable heritage element. The posterior façade, dated from the 17th century, would hide remains of the original Gothic facade under its coatings.
The Mousse Hotel was given in 1353 by the Duke Louis II to the Mousse family in exchange for a property harmful to the defence of the local castle. He later served as housing for the dean of the chapter, stressing its importance in the religious and social organization of the city. Ranked a historic monument in 1995, the building is protected for its interior rooms (ground floor and first floor), monumental chimneys, and original architectural elements, with the exception of 19th-century stables.
The precise location of the hotel Mousse is indicated as being at the intersection of Gambetta and Nicolay streets (or Rue de Fougières de Nicolai), in the center of Herisson. Its inclusion in the inventory of historic monuments (Mérimée base) attests to its heritage value, although its geographical accuracy is considered poor (level 5/10). The building thus embodies both the medieval history of the city and the architectural transformations of modern times.
