Hôtel de Montrieux
MonumentHidden Treasure
Hôtel de Montrieux, located in Angers (Maine-et-Loire), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Angers, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.4694, -0.5483
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00108890
An elegant 19th-century Angers townhouse, the Hôtel de Montrieux captivates visitors with its exceptionally cohesive Neo-Louis XIII décor, a fascinating testament to the historicist taste that permeated bourgeois architecture during the Second Empire.
History
Nestling in the town of Angers, city of the Dukes and capital of Maine-et-Loire, the Hôtel de Montrieux is one of those nineteenth-century private mansions that, far from blending into the anonymity of the stone, assert a resolutely singular architectural identity. Built in the third quarter of the 19th century, it embodies the ambitions of a cultivated provincial bourgeoisie, enamoured of national history and keen to place its home in the great tradition of French classicism. What distinguishes the Hôtel de Montrieux at first glance is the coherence of its neo-Louis XIII decorative repertoire: rusticated pilasters, pedimented dormers, a broken roof, references to early 17th-century architecture distilled with a mastery that goes beyond mere pastiche. The whole exudes a quiet nobility, characteristic of a period in French architecture when historicism was not a weakness but an art in its own right. To enter the Hôtel de Montrieux is to plunge into a carefully composed domestic space, where the interiors reveal carefully crafted decorations: woodwork, fireplaces and ornate ceilings bear witness to the standard of living and refinement of its patrons. The experience is that of an inhabited home, where the architecture is not a static decoration but the setting for an intense and representative social life. Today, the monument is protected as a Historic Monument on two counts - listed in 1986, then classified in 1990 - a recognition that underlines the importance of the building's heritage within the urban fabric of Angers. Angers, with its rich medieval castle and tapestry collections, offers the Hôtel de Montrieux an urban setting worthy of its architectural character.
Architecture
The Hôtel de Montrieux stands out for its rigorous adoption of the neo-Louis XIII vocabulary, a style in vogue in the second half of the 19th century in France. This formal repertoire is characterised by alternating brick and stone, bays punctuated by rusticated pilasters, roofs with high broken roofs pierced by dormer windows with triangular or arched pediments, and an assertive verticality that contrasts with the classic horizontality of 18th-century architecture. The overall effect is a well-ordered façade, with each element contributing to the overall harmony of the building. The interior decorations are the hotel's other strong point. Characteristic of the craftsmanship and decorative skills of the provincial bourgeoisie during the Second Empire, they draw on a varied repertoire: coffered or moulded ceilings, marble or carved stone fireplaces, painted or varnished woodwork and parquet flooring with geometric motifs. These interiors bear witness to the attention paid to quality of life and social representation by the patrons of the period. Although the outbuildings - which once completed the complex by forming an autonomous body of buildings dedicated to the servile and technical functions of the estate - have been demolished, the main body of the hotel retains its architectural integrity. The urban layout of the building, typical of nineteenth-century provincial mansions, probably combines a street-level entrance courtyard with a recessed garden, giving the residence the discreet seclusion and depth that are the hallmarks of large middle-class houses.
Related Figures
Famille Montrieux — commanditaires présumés et premiers propriétaires de l'hôtelArchitecte angevin du Second Empire — maître d'œuvre non identifié, formé vraisemblablement aux Beaux-ArtsResponsables des Monuments Historiques de la région Pays de la Loire — acteurs de la double protection de 1986 et 1990
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hôtel de Montrieux located?
Hôtel de Montrieux is located in Angers, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
When was Hôtel de Montrieux built?
Hôtel de Montrieux dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Hôtel de Montrieux open to visitors?
Hôtel de Montrieux is currently closed to visitors.