Temple du Goût, 18th century private mansion in Nantes, France
The mansion spreads across six levels, with granite on the ground floor and tuffeau stone on upper floors creating a distinctive facade. A central courtyard with a monumental staircase forms the heart of the building's interior layout.
Built in 1753 by architect Pierre Rousseau for merchant Guillaume Grou, the house reflects Nantes' prosperous shipping trade of that era. The building received protected monument status in 1945.
The facade displays three mascarons showing human faces with maritime trade motifs that reflect Nantes' economic roots. These decorative elements tell you something about the prosperity and connections of the family who lived here.
The mansion is private property and generally closed to visitors, located on Duguay-Trouin and Kervégan streets. You can usually see inside during Heritage Days celebrations when buildings open their doors.
The building incorporates Dutch-style foundation grids, an innovative construction method adapted to the marshy soil beneath Feydeau Island. This technique shows how builders creatively solved the challenging ground conditions of the area.
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