Destroyer fire 23-24 avril 1893 (≈ 24)
Main body of the ravaged building.
1806-1818
Construction under the First Empire
Construction under the First Empire 1806-1818 (≈ 1812)
Edited by Marie-François Cormier for the prefecture.
1965
Building extension
Building extension 1965 (≈ 1965)
Addition of a wing to the west.
10 juin 1991
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 10 juin 1991 (≈ 1991)
Partial protection of facades and interior decorations.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Façades and roofs of the prefectoral hotel and the two wings in return on the courtyard of honor; the following rooms with their decoration: entrance hall excluding the stairwell; Honorary salon on the first floor (Box AN 168): registration by order of 10 June 1991
Key figures
Marie-François Cormier - Architect and engineer
Manufacturer of the prefecture under Napoleon.
Origin and history
The Vendée Prefecture Hotel, located in La Roche-sur-Yon, is a building built under the First Empire between 1806 and 1818. Designed by engineer and architect Marie-François Cormier, it embodies Napoleonic administrative architecture. This building, originally intended to house the prefectural services of the Vendée department, has undergone major changes over the centuries.
On the night of 23-24 April 1893, a fire ravaged much of the main body of the prefecture. The premises are then restored, with some structural modifications. In 1965, an extension was added west of the building to meet the growing needs of the departmental administration. These developments reflect the continuous adaptation of the monument to its public use.
On 10 June 1991, the Prefecture Hotel was partially listed as a historical monument. Protected elements include facades, roofs, the vestibule (excluding stairwell) and the first floor honorary lounge, with their original décor. This recognition underscores the heritage value of the building, both for its architecture and its role in local history.
Today, the prefecture remains a symbol of departmental power and a testimony of urban planning impulsed by Napoleon I. Its location in La Roche-sur-Yon, a town rebuilt on a geometrical plane under the First Empire, reinforces its importance in the historical landscape of the Pays de la Loire. The property of the building still belongs to the Vendée department.
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