The location :
This mansion has been classified as a historic monument since July, 22, 1914.
It is the work of the famous Toulouse architect " Nicoloas Bachelier " , painter and sculptor trained at the Italian School.
It is located at " Place d'Assézat " between " Place Esquirole " and the " Pont Neuf ", on the right going up " Riede Metz " towards the Garonne.
It is considered one of the beautiful mansions in Europe.
Wenn tou arrive, your eyes will immediately be drawn to a high wall pierced by a luxuriant door and a flamboyant Renaissance window.
If you look up, you will notice the presence of gargoyles.
All of this result in you being drawn like a magnet to the interior courtyard of the most beautiful mansion in Toulouse : " L'hôtel d'Assézat " .
A little history :
At this location, under ancient Rome, archaeological excavations have shown the presence of an arena, where the gladiators fought to the death.
You can go and observe remains at the " Saint-Raymond " museum which is located on the square of the " Saint-Sernin Basilica " .
This is the toulouse Romanesqe art museum .
This private mansion was built by the family of a large merchant who made a fortune in the pastel trade " Pierre d'Assézat ", hence the name of this mansion.
After the death of its architect " Pierre Bachelier " in 1562, his son " Dominique " took over construction.
On the death of " Pierre II d'Assézat" , the mansion was rented out, then sold in 1761.
It was the Baron " Puymaurin " who acquired it, modernizing it whit the trasformation particular the facades, the modification of the internal distribution and the raising of the loggia.
30 years later, the mansion was sold again and became a trading and storage building for trading compagnies, which lasted until 19th. century.
In 1895, tge rich banker " Thédor Ozenne " bought it.
When he died , he donated it to the city of Toulouse.
This contruction :
The beautiful Renaissance style mansion known throughout the history of numerous construction phases.
The mansion is organized aroud a square courtyard made up of 4 wings.
In this magnificent mansion, which is loggia, we find all the element that make up a Renaissance mansion like in " Château de Caumont and the courtyard of the Louvre " .
The facades :
It rises in bays delimited by twin columns or superimposed over the floor of the Donic , Ionic and Corinthians orders which are inspired by ancient models like the Colosseum.
The decorations :
They are exceptional and relate to both classical architecture and mannerism.
The copitals and windows come from the fourth book by 1537 by " Sebastiano Sernio " , a famous interpreter at the court of François 1er.
They follow the rule of superposition of orders : Doric at the bottom, Ionic in the middle and corinthians on the height.
The columns are fluted but also roughened with skicks up to their height.
Presence of " antique " masks on the loggia and the " passageway " .
Horn pods from consoles.
Lion's mittens, two antique models, are placed on the upper cornices to evacuate rain water from the roofs.
In the loggia there are two Lion sculptures decorating in entrance which are part of the " Bemberg foundation " .
The family's orders are repreated almost everywhere in the mansion.
The loggia :
When " Nicolas Bachelier " died, the site was taken over by his son.
In 1560, he created the loggia and the corridor, who form the court.
He sets up a decor playing on stone and brick polychromy.
For many years, in Toulouse, land of the terracotta brick construction, the use of so-called luxurious white stone was frowned upon.
The loggia, which is inspired by that which can be found in Italian mansions, had the function of being an observesion point of the bustle of the courtyard.
It brought pleasure to outdoor life in the summer.
The passageway:
It allowed merchants to reach his office and was punctuated by arches decorated with diamond tips in stone.
It is supported by large consoles decorated with iconic plant thumbs, grotesque masks resting on a lion's paw and pieces of Pilasters decorated with a rose.
The entrance gate :
The arch of the door is composed of toned pilasters decorated alternately and tipped with diamonds and vermiculated stone which give a precious function.
We can notice a magnificent frieze with very careful details and the ornaments of the upper windown surrounded by Ionic Pilasters.
More surprising, presence of Indian heads.
The reason is simple when you made a your fortune, it was a sign that you were a cultured person who was interested in the world.
The tower :
The brick crowning of the tower makes in the tallest of Touluse's private mansion.
It has two terraces and a walkway.
It has the shape of an Italian " Tempietto ".
From the top, the view over Toulouse is splendid.
The interior of this chapter house staircase is monumental, as you can see the photo.
The walls are made of terracotta bricks and there are magnificent sculpted curves on the ceiling.
In the corridors of this magnificent Renaissance-style mansion, you will notice frisee, sculptures of acanthus, flowers , faces and presence of magnificent capitals.
Pierre d'Assézat " ( 1515/1581 ) :
He was a rich pastel marchant, who became a capitoul, city administrator.
He cultivates the plants from which pastel comes in the Lauraguais region.
At the time, the " Port of Daurade " which was the commercial port of Toulouse sent pastel productions to many countries around the world.
" Pierre d'Assézat " only had one problem in his life.
In fact during the wars of religion, being a Protestant, he was chased out of Toulouse by the king of France and his trade stopped.
He will now wait for the king's pardon and will have to convert the Catholicism to resume his profitable business.
The academy of floral arts :
Under the porch at the end of the courtyard, a door gives acces to the temple of centuries-old poetry : the famous academy of floral arts.
It is the oldest literary society in Europe, crated in 1323. It was granted acdemy status in 1694 by Louis XIV.
Heir to tradition of the century, today it aims to promote poetry in all its forms.
Every May 3, she presents flowers to the various winners in the all of the Capitol office.
From great authors have received them like : Victor Hugo, Ronsard ans Chateaubriand .
Even today, many prizes are still awarded and the spirit of the troubadours of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries is still present....They who were great poets.
Bemberg foundation :
Inside the mansion there is a succession of numerous lounges and offices.
This foundation, which is a museum, is present in the most famous Renaissance monument in Toulouse : " Assézat mansion " .
One century later in the 1980th., the collector " Georges Bemberg" of Argentinian origin was looking for a place to exhibit his magnificent collection of works and objects.
The city of Toulouse gave it part of the building to fulfill this fonction.
" Georges Bemberg " collection consists mainly of oil canvas paintings from all periods.
At the end, he collected many impressionist painters.
Otherwise, you will be able to admire paintings, furniture, precious books, crockery and magnificent bronze sculpture.
This museum which deserves to be seen, was inaugurated in 19995.
The mansion underwent two renovations in 1990 and 1994.
BONUS PHOTOS :
BONUS PHOTOS :
That, my friends is all for today.
I hope you enjoy discovering this magnificent emblematic renaissance style building in our city.
It is quite the most beautiful mansion in Toulouse, not to be missed, if you come to visit our beautiful pink city.
Adresse : 7 Place d'Assézat 31 000 Toulouse.
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The blog from Toulouse.
Greetings Franck.
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