Maison, ou Hôtel Saint-Clar
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison, ou Hôtel Saint-Clar, 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
- 44.8889, 1.2156
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082969
In the heart of Sarlat, the Hôtel Saint-Clar boasts a 15th-century Gothic façade adorned with delicate sculptures and a consular iron ring, an enigmatic vestige of medieval municipal power.
History
Tucked away in the labyrinth of golden streets for which Sarlat-la-Canéda is famous, the Hôtel Saint-Clar is one of those discreet buildings whose façade tells the story of several centuries of urban and political history. Built in the 15th century in the blonde limestone characteristic of the Périgord Noir region, this medieval town house is one of a remarkable constellation of Gothic residences that make Sarlat one of the best-preserved medieval architectural ensembles in France. What sets the Hôtel Saint-Clar apart from its already prestigious neighbours is the old ironwork attached to its façade: a 15th-century iron ring, once a symbol of consular power, anchored to the left of the second-floor window. This tiny but eloquent detail transforms the reading of the entire building - we are no longer looking at a simple bourgeois residence, but the possible seat of a town consul, i.e. one of the magistrates who governed Sarlat in its golden age. The façade itself is well worth a closer look: its finely carved mullioned windows frame two sculpted motifs of the highest quality, testifying to the care taken by Périgord craftsmen in late Gothic architectural decoration. The stone, worked with an almost lapidary precision, plays with the light depending on the time of day, offering photographers stunning shots in the early morning or late afternoon. Inside, a Louis XIII-style staircase is a reminder that the building has undergone successive alterations, its successive inhabitants adapting the spaces to the tastes and uses of each era. This staircase, sober and elegant, introduces a classical note into a resolutely Gothic ensemble, creating the dialogue between the centuries that is so characteristic of the grand residences of the Sarlat region. A visit to the Hôtel Saint-Clar as part of a stroll through Sarlat means going beyond the postcard to enter into the intimacy of medieval power. The monument has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1931, a testament to its recognised heritage value.
Architecture
The Hôtel Saint-Clar features a late Gothic façade built from Périgord limestone, the light, honey-coloured limestone that gives Sarlat its distinctive atmosphere. The most striking feature is the mullioned window on the second floor, framed by two carved motifs arranged symmetrically on either side of the opening. These sculptures, carefully worked into the mass of stone, bear witness to the mastery of 15th-century Périgord stonemasons, who were able to combine Gothic tradition with a decorative sensibility specific to the region. The consular iron ring, fixed to the left façade of the same window, is an exceptional piece of ironwork whose rarity and symbolic significance make it an architectural feature in its own right. The composition of the façade follows the canons of southern Gothic civil architecture: controlled verticality, carefully proportioned openings and decoration concentrated around the architectural focal points, the windows. The multi-storey layout distinguishes the residence from more modest buildings and affirms the social status of its patron. Inside, the Louis XIII staircase is the second major architectural feature of the building. Its structure, characteristic of 17th-century French classicism, is distinguished by the sobriety of its balusters and the rigour of its banister, providing an elegant counterpoint to the exuberant Gothic decoration of the façade. The whole forms a rare architectural palimpsest, where two centuries and two aesthetic sensibilities coexist without contradicting each other.
Related Figures
Famille Saint-Clar — lignée bourgeoise ou nobiliaire périgourdine ayant donné son nom à l'édifice et vraisemblablement lié à l'exercice des fonctions consulaires à Sarlat au XVe siècleConsuls de Sarlat (XVe siècle) — magistrats élus qui gouvernaient la ville et dont l'un résida probablement en ces murs, y apposant l'anneau de fer symbole de leur autoritéProsper Mérimée — inspecteur général des Monuments Historiques, initiateur des grandes campagnes d'inventaire du patrimoine français qui permirent la reconnaissance de l'architecture civile médiévale sarladaise
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison, ou Hôtel Saint-Clar located?
Maison, ou Hôtel Saint-Clar is located in Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Maison, ou Hôtel Saint-Clar built?
Maison, ou Hôtel Saint-Clar dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Maison, ou Hôtel Saint-Clar open to visitors?
Maison, ou Hôtel Saint-Clar is currently closed to visitors.