Architecture

Hôtel Saige

Bordeaux

Hôtel Saige is an hôtel particulier in Bordeaux, France, located on land acquired behind the Grand-Théâtre and occupying the entire western end of the Louis block. It was built between 1775 and 1777 by the Parisian architect Victor Louis for the wealthy shipowner, merchant, and parliamentarian François-Armand de Saige. Its design is directly inspired by the Palais Mancini, built between 1687 and 1689 on a model by Carlo Rainaldi. The building’s facade includes bossage decoration with refends on the ground floor, Tuscan-order columns framing the carriage door, heavy consoles with volutes supporting balustraded balconies, alternating triangular and segmental pediments over the bel étage windows, and a strong cornice at the top. Saige commissioned the decoration from painter Pierre Lacour in 1781. In 1808, his widow ceded the property to the mayor of Bordeaux, and it became the seat of the Gironde prefecture the same year, a function it retained until 1993. It is now privatized and divided into several apartments.

Map showing the location of Hôtel Saige in Bordeaux
Location of Hôtel Saige in Bordeaux

Nearby Objects

Historic Status of Hotel Saige

Hotel Saige is an hotel particulier located in Bordeaux, France. It has been classified as a monument historique since an unspecified date. In addition, it has been registered as an historic monument on two unspecified dates. These designations indicate its recognized heritage value within the city.

Construction and Later Uses of the Hotel Saige

The Hotel Saige was built between 1775 and 1777 by the Parisian architect Victor Louis for the wealthy shipowner, merchant, and parliamentarian Francois-Armand de Saige. It was erected on land acquired behind the Grand-Theatre and occupies the entire western end of the Louis block. Its construction was completed three years before the inauguration of the neighboring Grand-Theatre. In 1781, Saige commissioned the painter Pierre Lacour to carry out the decoration of the building. In 1808, Saige's widow ceded the property to the mayor of Bordeaux, and the Hotel Saige then became the seat of the Gironde prefecture. It remained in this administrative role until 1993, when it was replaced by the Hotel du Departement in the Meriadeck district. The building is currently privatized and divided into several apartments.

Architecture and later alterations of Hotel Saige

The architecture of Hotel Saige was directly inspired by Palais Mancini, built between 1687 and 1689, and its design was based on a building by Carlo Rainaldi. Palais Mancini was the seat of the Academie de France a Rome, and Victor Louis stayed there as a pensionnaire between 1756 and 1759. He later adapted forms previously used in Bordeaux for Hotel Saige.

The facade combines sober decorative elements with a carefully composed arrangement. The ground floor is marked by bossage decoration with refends, as well as arched and very tall windows, including those of the entresol. Four Tuscan order columns frame the carriage door, while heavy consoles with volutes support balustraded balconies. On the bel etage, the windows alternate between triangular and segmental pediments. The upper floors are simpler and do not have refend lines, and the facade is finished by a strong cornice.

In 1808, the prefecture of Gironde seat was installed in the building. Later, architect Thiac undertook modernization work inside Hotel Saige and removed the garden and portico in order to enlarge the courtyard.