Hôtel de Nicolay (ancien)
MonumentHidden Treasure
Hôtel de Nicolay (ancien), located in Arles (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
- Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.6775, 4.6287
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081152
Au cœur d'Arles antique, l'hôtel de Nicolay dévoile l'élégance discrète de l'aristocratie provençale : une façade sculptée et des intérieurs raffinés témoignant du faste des grandes familles parlementaires d'Ancien Régime.
History
Arles, a city where every stone seems to be in dialogue with two millennia of history, conceals treasures of civil architecture in the narrow streets of the old quarter that are all too often overlooked by visitors in a hurry. The Hôtel de Nicolay is one of these discreet gems: an aristocratic residence whose sober façade conceals the sophistication of a design that is both functional and symbolic, typical of the great houses of the Provençal elite of the 16th and 17th centuries. What sets the Hôtel de Nicolay apart from the many other private mansions in Arles is precisely this typically southern way of combining the influence of the Italian Renaissance - so prevalent in Provence thanks to commercial and intellectual exchanges with the peninsula - with local building traditions, rooted in the use of local limestone and restrained but finely executed ornamentation. Moulded gates, mullioned or transomed windows, an interior courtyard opening onto a spiral staircase or a straight banister: these are just some of the elements that make up the architectural grammar of these prestigious residences. The experience of visiting the Hôtel de Nicolay is tinged with a special atmosphere, that of residences where time seems to have stood still. Strolling through its rooms is a way of understanding how the urban elites of the Ancien Régime lived and represented themselves: the hierarchy of rooms, the distribution between the main building and the outbuildings, the possible presence of gardens or courtyards, all contribute to recreating a way of life that no longer exists. Registration as a Historic Monument guarantees that the most precious elements of this setting have been preserved from untimely alteration. The Arles setting adds even more interest to the visit. Nestling in one of the most beautiful towns in Provence, whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its ancient and Romanesque monuments, the residence is part of an urban fabric with a rare density of heritage. Just a stone's throw away are the Roman arena, the ancient theatre and the church of Saint-Trophime, making Arles one of the richest cultural destinations in the south of France.
Architecture
The Hôtel de Nicolay is in the tradition of Provencal town houses from the Renaissance and early classical periods, characterised by a rigorous layout around an inner courtyard or a main building flanked by secondary wings. The exterior of the street façade is generally sober - in keeping with local custom, which reserved ostentation for the semi-private spaces of the courtyard - but it is distinguished by the quality of its modelling: carefully carved limestone window surrounds, a projecting cornice, and probably an entrance gate whose sculpted treatment betrays the hand of a master builder well-versed in the lessons of learned architecture. Inside, the typical layout of these Arles residences includes a ceremonial entrance hall giving access to the courtyard, a monumental staircase leading to the upper floors, and a succession of adjoining rooms whose coffered or beamed ceilings are often the most spectacular feature. The materials used are those of the Provencal tradition: local limestone for the load-bearing structures and ornamentation, canal tiles for the low-sloped roofs typical of the Midi, and lime renderings for the interior facings. The size of the private mansions built in Arles during this period, which were generally located on densely-packed urban plots, meant that the vertical management of space had to be ingenious: the floors followed one another with decreasing ceiling heights, with the attics housing the services, while the ground floor and first floor were the main performance areas.
Related Figures
Famille de Nicolay — lignée aristocratique provençale à qui la demeure doit son nom, probablement liée aux charges judiciaires ou administratives d'ArlesMaîtres maçons arlésiens des XVIe-XVIIe siècles — artisans anonymes formés dans la tradition de la Renaissance provençaleConsuls d'Arles — représentants de la municipalité qui, comme leurs homologues, rivalisaient en matière de construction d'hôtels particuliers dans la villeInspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (années 1920) — experts qui identifièrent et inscrirent l'édifice au patrimoine protégé en 1928
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hôtel de Nicolay (ancien) located?
Hôtel de Nicolay (ancien) is located in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Hôtel de Nicolay (ancien) built?
Hôtel de Nicolay (ancien) dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Hôtel de Nicolay (ancien) open to visitors?
Hôtel de Nicolay (ancien) is currently closed to visitors.
