Hôtel Daviel
MonumentHidden Treasure
Hôtel Daviel, located in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), 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
- Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.2973, 5.3695
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081348
A jewel of 18th-century civil architecture in Marseille, the classical façade of the Hôtel Daviel stands in the heart of the Panier district. A rare example of Provençal Baroque elegance, it was listed as a Historic Monument in 1945.
History
Nestling in the winding streets of the Panier district, the Hôtel Daviel is one of the few 18th-century town houses to have survived the major urban transformations that have reshaped Marseille since the Revolution. Where most of the middle-class residences of Old Marseille have disappeared under the blows of modernity or war, this building stands as a precious vestige of a commercial and cultured city, proud of its position as the leading city of the Midi. What makes the Hôtel Daviel so special is the alliance between the classical rigour that characterises French architecture of the Grand Siècle and the warmth of Provençal stone, gilded by decades of Mediterranean sunshine. The composition of its façade, punctuated by regular bays and carefully moulded window frames, bears witness to the ambition of its patrons: to display in stone the success of a family closely linked to the magistracy and commerce of Marseille. The experience of visiting the hotel is a rare journey back in time. Stepping over the threshold of the Hôtel Daviel is like stepping out of the hustle and bustle of the nearby Old Port into a world where carved stone, intricate ironwork and Mediterranean light create an atmosphere of almost unreal serenity. The interior staircase, with its wrought-iron banister worthy of the finest Provencal workshops of the time, is a masterpiece of craftsmanship in its own right. The setting of the Panier district adds an extra dimension to the visit. Marseille's oldest district, perched on a hill between the Old Port and La Major, offers a backdrop of colourful alleyways, shady squares and illustrious neighbours - Pierre Puget's Vieille Charité is just a stone's throw away. The Hôtel Daviel is part of an exceptional heritage complex, making the walk as rich historically as it is architecturally.
Architecture
The Hôtel Daviel belongs to the great tradition of 18th-century Provencal town houses, which combine French classicism with Mediterranean architectural sensibility. The main façade is composed of a rigorous arrangement of vertical bays, with windows in moulded frames whose proportions testify to a consummate mastery of the Vitruvian rules then in force in the architectural workshops of the Midi. The materials used - light-coloured limestone typical of the quarries in the Marseilles region - give the whole building that luminous blond hue typical of Provençal architecture, which literally bursts into flames in the setting sun. The interior layout follows the canonical plan of the French private mansion: a main building distributed around a grand staircase, the centrepiece of the interior composition. This staircase, whose wrought iron banister with finely chiselled plant and geometric motifs is the jewel in the crown of the residence's craftsmanship, leads to the different levels with a generosity of proportions typical of the bourgeois taste of the Age of Enlightenment. The reception areas on the first floor - the noble floor par excellence - were to feature stucco decorations, painted woodwork and earthenware tiles typical of the Provencal art of living at the time. The roof, according to local custom, was to be covered with glazed hollow tiles or canal tiles, forming the discreet but authentically Mediterranean crowning touch to an architecture that, while in keeping with national canons, asserts loud and clear its roots in the building culture of the Midi.
Related Figures
Jacques Daviel (1696-1762) — chirurgien-oculiste marseillais, inventeur de l'opération de la cataracte par extraction, figure de renommée européenne liée au patronyme de l'hôtelLouis XIV — dont le règne vit l'affirmation du modèle classique français qui inspira l'architecture des hôtels particuliers provinciauxPierre Puget (1620-1694) — sculpteur et architecte marseillais génial, dont l'œuvre (la Vieille Charité, toute proche) définit le cadre architectural du quartier du PanierLes architectes anonymes de l'intendance royale de Provence — maîtres d'œuvre locaux qui diffusèrent les canons classiques parisiens dans l'architecture civile marseillaiseLes magistrats et officiers royaux de la famille Daviel — commanditaires et premiers occupants de la demeure, représentants de l'élite juridique et commerciale marseillaise du XVIIIe siècle
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hôtel Daviel located?
Hôtel Daviel is located in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Hôtel Daviel built?
Hôtel Daviel dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Hôtel Daviel open to visitors?
Hôtel Daviel is currently closed to visitors.