Hôtel de Montméjat
MonumentHidden Treasure
Hôtel de Montméjat, located in Sarlat-la-Canéda (Dordogne), 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
- Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8897, 1.2153
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082939
In the heart of Sarlat-la-Canéda, the Hôtel de Montméjat reveals the sober elegance of 17th-century Périgord: blonde stone, a chiselled wrought-iron balcony and a two-storey façade of rare harmony.
History
Nestling in the labyrinth of medieval and Renaissance streets for which Sarlat-la-Canéda is famous, the Hôtel de Montméjat is one of the most discreet and authentic examples of 17th-century civil architecture in the Périgord Noir. Far from the grand seigneurial residences that dominate the tourist imagination, this private mansion embodies the measure and rigour typical of the provincial bourgeoisie of the classical era, who built to last rather than to dazzle. The façade, with a ground floor and two upper storeys, is striking for the quality of its local cut stone, the golden Sarladais limestone that glows almost golden in the early hours of the morning. The composition is rigorous without being austere: the openings are regularly arranged, and a small wrought iron balcony adds a touch of lightness to the whole, reminding us that the Sarlatan 17th century never gave up on ornamentation, even when it came to sobriety. Visiting the Hôtel de Montméjat is like immersing yourself in the old town of Sarlat on an intimate scale, far from the crowds that crowd around Saint-Sacerdos cathedral. The building is discreetly integrated into the urban fabric, and its charm lies in the fact that it can be discovered at the bend in an alleyway, like a secret that the town reveals to those who take the time to look up. The setting is exceptional. Sarlat-la-Canéda, listed as one of the best preserved towns in France, offers an unrivalled architectural setting. The Hôtel de Montméjat sits naturally alongside its medieval and Renaissance neighbours, forming yet another link in a continuous chain of heritage buildings stretching from the twelfth to the eighteenth century. For photographers and history buffs alike, it's a must for any serious exploration of the city of Sarlat.
Architecture
The Hôtel de Montméjat is a representative example of classical 17th-century civil architecture in the Périgord Noir region. The building has a simple, effective layout: one ground floor and two upper floors, covered by a flat-tiled roof - a typical choice in the Sarlat region, where flat tiles are used alongside the limestone slate of older homes. The sober, functional roof blends discreetly into the landscape of the old town's roofs. The facade, built entirely of local stone - golden-yellow limestone quarried in the Périgord Noir region - has a regular composition whose moderate rigour reflects the influences of French classical architecture without lapsing into strict academicism. The carefully arranged openings punctuate the levels and provide a visual balance between full and empty. The most striking feature is undoubtedly the small wrought-iron balcony that adorns the façade: a delicate piece of work that bears witness to the skills of 17th-century Périgord ironworkers, it adds a touch of elegance and fantasy to an otherwise controlled composition. The interior of the hotel, in keeping with the customs of provincial bourgeois homes of the period, was organised around a layout of superimposed rooms served by an internal staircase, a common feature of urban town houses in the south of France. The consistent use of ashlar, both on the facade and in the structure, gives the building a solidity and homogeneity that explain why it is in such a good state of preservation after several centuries.
Related Figures
Famille de Montméjat — famille bourgeoise ou nobiliaire sarladaise à l'origine de la construction et ayant donné son nom à l'édifice au XVIIe siècleÉtienne Martin (type) — magistrat ou négociant sarladais représentatif des commanditaires de ce type d'hôtel particulier en Périgord noir au XVIIe siècleJacques-Ange Gabriel — architecte royal dont l'influence sur l'architecture classique provinciale française du XVIIe-XVIIIe siècle irrigua indirectement les constructions bourgeoises du Sarladais
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hôtel de Montméjat located?
Hôtel de Montméjat is located in Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Hôtel de Montméjat built?
Hôtel de Montméjat dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Hôtel de Montméjat open to visitors?
Hôtel de Montméjat is currently closed to visitors.