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Hôtel du Dauphin
Listed or registered (CNMHS), Classical, Civic building
in Douai
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The Hôtel du Dauphin was built between 1754 and 1756 by the Parisian architect Montalay, on the site of the former hôtellerie du Dauphin. Around 1757 or 1759, Douai housed its Gouvernance (court of first instance) on the first floor. From 1790 to 1791, the District Court replaced the Gouvernance. In 1794, the Hôtel du Dauphin was temporarily called the Pavillon de l'Egalité. Despite the military and judicial functions of the Dauphin, the town managed to also site here the fire brigade, the...
The Hôtel du Dauphin was built between 1754 and 1756 by the Parisian architect Montalay, on the site of the former hôtellerie du Dauphin. Around 1757 or 1759, Douai housed its Gouvernance (court of first instance) on the first floor. From 1790 to 1791, the District Court replaced the Gouvernance. In 1794, the Hôtel du Dauphin was temporarily called the Pavillon de l'Egalité. Despite the military and judicial functions of the Dauphin, the town managed to also site here the fire brigade, the guillotine, the library, the music conservatory, the drawing school... It is today the only 18th century reminder of the Place d'Armes.
The Hôtel du Dauphin is built of sandstone and brick, with a white stone façade. The ground floor, made of sandstone from Gouy-en-Artois, is treated like a base and is decorated with a bossing. The five bays of the first floor are pierced by semi-circular bays framed by Ionic columns. The French window in the central bay is set in a highly decorated rectangular recess. The remarkable ‘rocaille’ façade incorporates scrolls in the bas-reliefs where curves and counter-curves dominate giving the impression of a fine lace. The sculpted decoration harmoniously blends two major themes:
In the spandrels of the side windows, the classical themes of ornamentation, reserved for civic buildings: garlands, Ionic and Corinthian motifs, smiling figureheads, putti figures, shells, foliage, ribbons, medals...
In the central panels and in the upper sculpture, military themes reserved for military and royal buildings: trophies, armour, helmets, flags, rifles, pistols, swords, trumpets, bows and arrows, spears...
On the first floor, a large, curved balcony features wrought iron railings, formerly decorated with gilding, delivered on 1 May 1757 by Mariette, master ironworker of Cambrai. Restoration of the Hôtel du Dauphin occurred from January 2015 to April 2006, supervised by architects SCP Perrissin & Sailly.
