Hôtel Pams, Private mansion in Perpignan, France

Hôtel Pams is a mansion at 18 rue Émile-Zola in Perpignan, built on a square plan with two floors above ground and an attic. Its street facade has eight window bays, rectangular on the first two levels and curved on the second, where each bay opens onto a private balcony. The beige and pale brown stucco rises from a darker brown base; a tall arched entrance with a dark double door is flanked by windows with curved black iron grilles, and long patterned iron balconies run above the street.

Pierre Bardou initiated construction in 1852, creating workshops; his son-in-law Jules Pams transformed the building into a residence in the 1890s. This conversion marked the shift from commercial to private use.

The name JOB comes from the initials of Jean Bardou, Pierre's father, who founded the cigarette-paper firm in 1849. Jules Pams kept the left wing as his private rooms and used the right wing to receive guests, making the house a social centre for Perpignan's wealthy elite. The first-floor salons now serve as reception rooms for the city.

The building functions as a conference center and office space, opening to visitors only on special occasions such as European Heritage Days. Plan your visit during these special exhibitions or events to explore the interior.

The inner court holds a marble nymph signed Bastet and dated 1896, set against a ceramic frieze with floral decoration; a bronze statue of a young flute player stands before it. Because the ground slopes, the rear of the first floor above the street entrance opens directly onto this court, which is lined on two sides by a portico of alternating Ionic columns and wall sections.