Hôtel de Noailles, Private mansion in Aurillac, France

Hôtel de Noailles is a private mansion in Aurillac whose courtyard facades carry windows of differing sizes and heights, set without a regular axis. Inside, rib-vaulted staircases with carved stone ribs connect the floors. The building was inscribed as a monument historique.

The building was constructed in the 16th century and underwent major modifications between 1609 and 1614 under the Noailles family. These works transformed its original structure and shaped its current form.

The grand salon keeps its 17th-century painted fireplace, whose biblical inscriptions were chosen by the Noailles family. The room is still called the grand salon by the owners, and its panelled walls frame the fireplace as the focal point of the house.

Visiting the interior requires prior arrangement, as it is generally only open on designated heritage celebration days. It is best to check ahead before planning a visit.

The grand salon's French-style ceiling is the element to look up for: it predates the 20th-century interior changes that removed much of the mansion's fittings. The 1609-1614 Noailles works gave the house its present shape, and this ceiling is among the few surviving pieces of that campaign.