Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Doubs Prefecture Hotel, also known as Hotel de l'Intendance, is an iconic public building in Besançon, Franche-Comté. Built at the end of the 18th century, it was originally used as the headquarters for the stewardship of the Besançon Generality. After the Revolution, he became the prefecture of the Doubs department and the Franche-Comté region. Its classical architecture, designed by Victor Louis and Nicolas Nicole, reflects its historical and administrative importance.

The building was erected between 1771 and 1778 for the intendant Charles André de Lacoré, according to the plans of Victor Louis, with Nicolas Nicole as architect of execution. After the Revolution, it was transformed into a prefecture, with notable modifications in the 19th century, such as the suppression of the chapel in 1833 and the addition of an orangery in 1812. Several parts of the building were classified as historical monuments between 1923 and 2020.

Located at 8 bis rue Charles Nodier, in the city centre of Besançon, the building consists of a main house body between courtyard and garden, surrounded by two low wings. The court of honor is bordered by a monumental portal in the form of triumphal arch. The garden, originally French, was transformed into an English garden in the 19th century. The set, built of cut stone, combines classic elegance and administrative function.

During the Revolution, the furniture was dispersed and the garden destroyed. Under Napoleon I, the building became definitely prefecture in 1810. Extensions were added in the 19th and 20th centuries, including a depository in 1884 and a modern wing between 1968 and 1970. A sculpture by Georges Oudot, representing the Franche-Comté, now decorates the facade.

The facades, roofs, interior decorations and the garden are protected by several stops of classification and inscription to historical monuments. The building remains a symbol of local administrative power, mixing royal heritage and republican functions.

The bisontin artisans involved in its construction include Richard Deneria (masonry), J.B. Belgingue (carpentry), and Marc Simard (coverage). Their work contributes to the architectural richness of this monument, still in operation today.

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