Hôtel de La Villestreux, Neoclassical private mansion in île Feydeau, Nantes, France
The Hôtel de La Villestreux is a five-story neoclassical mansion on Île Feydeau featuring twelve facade sections and around 180 window openings, crowned by a central projection with a pediment. Two grand staircases in the north and south wings connect several spacious apartments, each containing between 15 and 20 rooms.
This house was built between 1743 and 1754 for the wealthy merchant Nicolas Perrée de La Villestreux. It later sheltered Jean-Baptiste Carrier, an official during the Reign of Terror, reflecting the building's shifting role through the French Revolution.
The interior courtyards display carved heads of Mercury and Neptune, showing how maritime trade shaped the identity of 18th-century merchants in this city. These decorative elements remain visible reminders of the commercial world that once defined this neighborhood.
Access to the building is restricted since it remains a private residence with historical protection status. Visitors can appreciate the facade and exterior details from the surrounding square and street level without entering the property.
The mansion sits on a specially engineered wooden raft foundation called a 'gril,' designed to support the structure on soft ground near the Loire River. This hidden engineering solution explains how builders could construct such a large house on one of the city's most challenging building sites.
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