Ancien palais épiscopal, aujourd'hui palais de justice de Béziers

English translation

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History

The episcopal complex with the cathedral of Saint-Nazaire, destroyed in the early 13th century, was largely rebuilt in the 13th and 14th centuries, then several times over the course of the centuries. The episcopal palace forms one body with this complex. The old building was reconstructed under the episcopate of Pierre de Bonsi between 1663 and 1669. The design of the residence is that of a French hôtel: main dwelling between courtyard and garden with symmetrical wings. The garden is limited to two levels of terraces, the highest of which is enclosed between two short wings. The boundary wall on the street was remade in the 18th century. The arrangement of the apartments is classical: salons and reception rooms occupy the central axis and the intimate rooms are on the sides. With regard to the roof, Bonsi chose the option of low roofs with cornices of local tradition, not having the resources (absence of carpentry tradition and windy climate) to attempt the large roof space which would have given the much-prized French note. At the end of the 18th century, new fittings were carried out and retouching was done in the 19th century. The interiors, although greatly transformed by successive administrative uses (courthouse since 1945, major works in 2002) retain an important collection of remarkable plasterwork of the late 18th century (great hall of the principal level and the room known as the 'bishop's chamber').