Hôtel d'Assézat, Renaissance mansion in city center, Toulouse, France
The Hôtel d'Assézat is a Renaissance mansion in the heart of Toulouse featuring a three-tiered facade with classical columns arranged in vertical sequence. The exterior displays the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders stacked from base to top, creating a harmonious proportioned elevation.
Pierre d'Assézat, a merchant who made his fortune from the woad trade, commissioned architect Nicolas Bachelier to build this residence in 1555. The mansion rose during Toulouse's golden age when textile merchants invested in grand urban homes to display their wealth.
The Bemberg Foundation displays paintings and sculptures from the 15th to the 20th century within its rooms. The collection shows how a merchant family's taste evolved over centuries through works spanning multiple artistic movements.
You can explore the inner courtyard without charge and observe how the architecture is arranged around the central space. Information panels throughout the courtyard explain the classical architectural elements and help you understand the building's design.
The mansion's tower stands as the tallest private building in Toulouse and is crowned with a distinctive lantern structure. This small domed cupola at the top of the tower was an unusual choice for its time and makes the building instantly recognizable from afar.
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