Hôtel Grou, Neoclassical private mansion in Ile Feydeau, Nantes, France
The Hôtel Grou is a neoclassical private mansion at the corner of Kervégan Street and Petite-Hollande Square, built with limestone and granite. The building features two separate entrances, one on the square and the other at number 32 Kervégan Street.
Guillaume Grou, a ship owner and royal secretary at the Parliament of Brittany, had this private mansion built between 1747 and 1752. The construction reflects the rise of maritime wealth and merchant power in Nantes during that period.
The building reflects the tastes of wealthy Nantes merchants in the 18th century, who favored ornate facades and refined interiors. Walking around it today, you can see how merchants wanted to display their success and status through architectural details.
The mansion is located on Ile Feydeau, a historic island in central Nantes with good pathways for exploring the area. The two separate entrances allow you to view the building from different angles as you walk around.
The mansion received two separate historical monument registrations, first in 1932 for its facades and roof, then in 1986 for its interior staircase. This dual recognition highlights how different parts of the building earned protection at different times based on their architectural importance.
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