Hotel de Cabre

The Hotel de Cabre or the house of the Alderman of Cabre is the oldest existing house in Marseille. It is located at the corner of the Rue de la Bonneterie and the Rue Grande, in the 2nd arrondissement.

The house was listed for its façades as a Historic Monument by an order of May 2^nd, 1941, the rest of the hotel being registered since November 2^nd, 1926.

History

It is built around 1535 on the outskirts of the Old Port, on command of the Consul Louis de Cabre (? - † ap.1544), an influent notable of the city.

The house lasted through several centuries without too much degradation. During the revolution, the revolutionaries destroyed the fleur-de-lys coat of arms that adorned the house.

In 1943, following the roundup of Marseille, the Germans destroyed almost all the lanes along the north shore of the Old Port. Some historic buildings were preserved including the Maison Diamantée and the Hotel de Cabre.

During the rebuilding of the district in 1954, the house was moved by a block and rotated 90 ° to enter the alignment of Grand-Rue.

Description

This 3-storey house is in a style borrowing Gothic and Renaissance art. The effigy of the owner and his wife can be found on the facade of the first floor, as well as cherub loves and the statue of Saint James, in reference to Jacques de Cabre, Louis de Cabre's father.