Hôtel particulier abritant la Chambre départementale des Notaires du Pas-de-Calais
Monument
Hôtel particulier abritant la Chambre départementale des Notaires du Pas-de-Calais, located in Arras (Pas-de-Calais), 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
- Arras, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 50.2896, 2.7730
- Mérimée Reference
- PA62000069
A discreet jewel of the Second Empire in Arras, this private mansion, set between courtyard and garden, will charm you with its refined sculpted decor, elaborate ironwork and remarkably well-preserved period interiors.
History
Nestling in the urban fabric of Arras, the town house that today houses the Pas-de-Calais Notaries' Chamber is one of the finest examples of Second Empire bourgeois architecture in the region. Built on the site of the former Jesuit College, it embodies the architectural ambitions of an era when the provincial bourgeoisie rivalled the glitz and glamour of Paris. What immediately sets this building apart from its contemporaries in Arras is the exceptional scale of its ashlar façade and the rigorous organisation of its grounds: a main courtyard flanked by two pavilions - one of which was once used as a stable - giving the whole complex an almost aristocratic presence, unusual for a middle-class residence in the town at the time. Attentive visitors will be captivated by the quality of the sculpted decoration on the elevations and by the ironwork on the balconies, whose elegance is deliberately in keeping with the tradition of 18th-century private mansions. Inside, the original decor has survived the decades with remarkable integrity: wood panelling, parquet flooring, monumental fireplaces and ornate ceilings form a coherent whole that bears witness to the taste of a bourgeoisie keen to follow in the footsteps of the great noble houses. Today, the notary's office gives these rooms an added solemnity, in perfect keeping with their original character. The rear garden, probably a legacy of the vast Jesuit conventual spaces, is a pleasant extension to the discovery of this monument, which was listed as a Historic Monument in 2006. For lovers of nineteenth-century architecture, this hotel is an irreplaceable testimony to the lifestyles and aesthetic aspirations of the Artois bourgeoisie under Napoleon III.
Architecture
The town house is a classic example of a residence set between a courtyard and a garden, a common feature of French residential architecture from the 17th century onwards. The courtyard façade, built of ashlar, extends over a length that was unusual for Arras at the time, giving the building a scale similar to the aristocratic mansions of the previous century. The elevations, punctuated by regular bays, are crowned by French-style roofs, the profile of which underlines the fact that the style belongs to the eclectic repertoire of the Second Empire. The sculpted decoration is one of the building's major attractions: pediments, brackets, mascarons and ornamental foliage adorn the window surrounds with a generosity that deliberately evokes the ornamental vocabulary of 18th-century Parisian and Artesian town houses. The wrought ironwork on the balconies, which is particularly carefully crafted, continues this historicist reference, while at the same time testifying to the skills of local craftsmen of the period. Two pavilions flank the courtyard of honour, one of which once housed the stables, forming a coherent whole that reinforces the semi-rural character of this urban residence. Inside, the reception flats have retained their original decor: herringbone or solid oak parquet flooring, painted or varnished panelling and woodwork, marble fireplaces with sculpted mantels, and coffered or stuccoed ceilings make up an ensemble of rare stylistic coherence. The main staircase, the centrepiece of any Second Empire bourgeois residence, probably has a handrail of wrought ironwork that continues the exterior decoration of the balconies.
Related Figures
Napoléon III — dont le règne (1852-1870) définit le cadre politique et esthétique dans lequel l'hôtel fut construitLes Jésuites d'Arras — occupants historiques du site pendant plus d'un siècle avant la construction de l'hôtelCommanditaire bourgeois (identité à préciser) — maître d'ouvrage de l'hôtel au troisième quart du XIXe siècleArchitecte régional (nom à identifier) — concepteur de l'édifice, probablement formé à l'École des Beaux-ArtsChambre départementale des Notaires du Pas-de-Calais — institution actuelle gardienne et occupante du monument
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hôtel particulier abritant la Chambre départementale des Notaires du Pas-de-Calais located?
Hôtel particulier abritant la Chambre départementale des Notaires du Pas-de-Calais is located in Arras, Pas-de-Calais department, Hauts-de-France region, France.
When was Hôtel particulier abritant la Chambre départementale des Notaires du Pas-de-Calais built?
Hôtel particulier abritant la Chambre départementale des Notaires du Pas-de-Calais dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Hôtel particulier abritant la Chambre départementale des Notaires du Pas-de-Calais open to visitors?
Hôtel particulier abritant la Chambre départementale des Notaires du Pas-de-Calais is currently closed to visitors.