Ancien évêché ou ancien palais épiscopal

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Ministère de la Culture, in French. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Ministère de la Culture; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

History

Part of the foundations could date back to the 12th century as certain blocks bear stonemason marks identical to those of the stairway of the cathedral bell tower which adjoins the building. In the 14th century, a tower of the fortification, called the "tower of prisons", formed one body with the old bishop's palace. The building was entirely rebuilt in the early 18th century. In 1734, the facade on the quay was recomposed in the classical style. The terrace would date from the end of the 18th century. At the Revolution, the palace was sold as national property. In the 19th century, the building was divided into two bodies by an opening made in its middle to allow the outlet of the bridge towards the town. The southern part, cathedral side, was completely transformed in the late 1950s by the establishment of a neo-Gothic style hotel. The northern part remained in its 18th-century state until its destruction in 1982. Only the lower parts or foundations of the ground floor on the quays remain. The building followed a very elongated rectangular plan and rose to two storeys above ground floor. The elevation of the north wing was punctuated by five bays of French windows surmounted by windows on the upper storey, all round-arched. It was decorated with sculptured keystones. On the facade facing the river, the storey was served by a terrace bounded by a wrought iron grille. The south wing retains vestiges of exterior decoration. Four original beams were uncovered, two bearing painted decoration (arabesques, putti, cartouche with Roman landscape, bouquets...).