Ancien hôtel du Molant
MonumentHidden Treasure
Ancien hôtel du Molant, located in Rennes (Département 35), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Rennes, Département 35, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.1129, -1.6845
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090698
Joyau discret du Rennes classique, l'hôtel du Molant dévoile un trumeau sculpté à l'effigie de Louis XIV, une cage d'escalier à balustres et un rare plafond peint «Uranie et les Comètes», seul témoin d'un décor dispersé aux États-Unis.
History
In the heart of old Rennes, the Hôtel du Molant is one of the few remaining examples of Breton aristocratic architecture from the Grand Siècle. Built between 1666 and 1670, this mansion elegantly illustrates the stylistic shift that took place in France under Louis XIV: Parisian classicism gradually took hold in the provinces, bringing with it its ordered facades, half-timbered roofs and sculpted decor of rare quality. What sets the Hôtel du Molant apart from its contemporaries in Rennes is above all the coherence and finesse of its decorative programme. The main door, adorned with a carved wooden overmantel dated 1689, immediately strikes the visitor: the bust of Louis XIV is enthroned between medallions celebrating the glories of the reign, a veritable political manifesto in carved wood. Made in the spirit of the Versailles workshops, this piece reveals the ambition of patrons keen to display their loyalty and refinement. The stairwell is another highlight of the visit: its turned balusters frame a generous void, while a trompe-l'œil painted ceiling crowns the whole, creating an illusory verticality that dilates the space with virtuosity. This mastery of architectural trompe-l'œil places the hotel in the tradition of the great civil buildings of the second half of the 17th century. However, a shadow hangs over these interiors: in 1924, most of the woodwork and painted ceilings on the ground floor were sold and shipped to the United States. Only one ceiling escaped this dispersal: the one devoted to the theme of "Uranie et les Comètes" (Urania and the Comets), an astronomical allegory of rare poetry, whose presence here suggests the humanist culture of the original owner. This ceiling, orphaned from its neighbours, acquires all the more symbolic and aesthetic value. A visit to the Hôtel du Molant is a journey through the history of both Rennes and the art market, a journey through what was almost lost and a journey through what, by luck or design, has survived.
Architecture
The Hôtel du Molant is organised around a square-headed plan, typical of 17th-century French town houses: two perpendicular buildings define a main courtyard overlooked by the coach houses and stables, creating a strictly hierarchical layout for domestic life. This plan, inspired by Parisian models, demonstrates a direct knowledge of architectural trends in the capital. The facades are crowned with numerous pedimented dormers, elegantly punctuating the slate roof with its very high eaves, which heralds the so-called "Mansard" roof. This early adoption of the bris in Brittany illustrates the speed with which Parisian innovations spread to provincial parliamentary circles. The modillioned cornice under the attic adds a touch of classical rigour, harmoniously linking the lower and upper parts of the building. The materials used, ashlar and slate, are typical of the prestigious buildings in Rennes. The interiors reveal a remarkably ambitious decorative programme. The centrepiece is the stairwell, a vast space with turned balusters topped by a trompe-l'œil painted ceiling that multiplies the perceived height. The ceremonial door, enhanced in 1689 with its wooden overmantel carved with the effigy of Louis XIV, is an exceptional example of royal portraiture in a civilian setting. Finally, the "Urania and the Comets" ceiling, the only surviving piece from the ground floor décor, illustrates the taste of the parliamentary elite for mythological and scientific subjects, combining ancient allegory with a Baroque fascination for astronomy.
Related Figures
Louis XIV — dont le buste orne le trumeau sculpté de 1689, commandé pour célébrer sa gloireFrançois Mansart — dont l'invention du comble brisé inspire directement la toiture de l'hôtelLes maîtres des ateliers du Parlement de Bretagne — auteurs présumés de la décoration sculptée et peinteLe commanditaire parlementaire rennais (vers 1666) — propriétaire bâtisseur non identifié avec certitudeProsper Mérimée — inspecteur général des Monuments Historiques dont les inventaires ont contribué à la reconnaissance du patrimoine architectural breton
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ancien hôtel du Molant located?
Ancien hôtel du Molant is located in Rennes, Département 35 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Ancien hôtel du Molant built?
Ancien hôtel du Molant dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Ancien hôtel du Molant open to visitors?
Ancien hôtel du Molant is currently closed to visitors.
