Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Santa Maria villa, also known as Villa Narischkine, was built around 1840 in Bagneres-de-Luchon, in a neo-Palladian style marked by sobriety and architectural order. Its main façade, organized around three central spans, features a colossal ionic pilaster forebody, topped by a triangular pediment pierced by a half oculus. The window doors in the middle of the hanger contrast with the rectangular bays, while the facade on the garden is decorated with a loggia framed with two columns and cariatides, probably from the Virebent workshops, inspired by Jean Goujon's models for the Louvre.

Originally, the villa adopts a U-shaped plan, visible on the ancient plans of Luchon, with a central staircase tower. It was built for P. Dosset, then sold in 1852 to E. Levesque, before being acquired in 1853 by Olga de Bekleschoff and her husband Jean de Knorring, a Russian state councillor. Their daughter, Princess Nadedja Narischkine, lived there with Alexandre Dumas son from 1853 to 1859. The property then changed hands several times: General Feodor de Baloudiouski bought it in 1859, then Jacques Couterel, notary, added a loggia connecting the wings and raised the roof to create a second floor around 1865.

The villa is associated with three "Russian chalets" built for the mother of Princess Narischkin, located on the other side of the Pic and operating in connection with her. Seized in 1892, it was bought in 1894 by Hélène Castaing, who gave it its present name. After several transmissions, including that to the Notary Valette in 1940, it was acquired in 1946 by Robert Mesert. Ranked a Historic Monument in 2006 for its facades, roofs, fence wall and gate, it bears witness to the Russian influence and the 19th century seaside thermal architecture in Luchon.

External links