Hôtel d'Avelin

Hôtel d'Avelin stands in Lille at 22 rue Saint-Jacques, right on the corner with rue des Jardins and a few steps from Place aux Bleuets. Despite the name, this isn't a hotel in the modern sense — it's a "hôtel particulier," a grand private townhouse, now converted into residential apartments.

When was it built, and by whom?

The current building dates to 1777, designed by architect Michel-Joseph Lequeux after the earlier Hangouart d'Avelin townhouse on the same plot was torn down. Lequeux drew inspiration from the Hôtel de Saint-Florentin in Paris, producing what's considered the first neoclassical townhouse in Lille. The result is a strikingly restrained, symmetrical facade with a monumental entrance that still sets the building apart from its surroundings in the old town.

Who lived there first?

The Hangouart family, wealthy members of Lille's nobility, gave the house its name and were its first owners. Their property was seized during the French Revolution, and ownership then passed through several hands over the course of the 19th century.

What links the building to a French king?

The house's most famous moment came on the night of 22–23 March 1815. Fleeing Paris as Napoleon returned from exile on Elba, King Louis XVIII stopped in Lille and stayed at the mayor's residence — this very building — before continuing on to Ghent, where he took refuge during the Hundred Days. That single night ties the townhouse to a pivotal moment in French national history, well beyond its local significance.

How did the city end up owning it?

In 1887, the City of Lille acquired the building and installed the offices of the regional education authority, the Rectorat. It remained in that role for well over a century, only vacating the premises in 2011. Throughout that stretch, the townhouse combined an administrative function with its status as one of the city's notable civil architecture landmarks.

Why is it a protected historic monument?

The building was listed as a monument historique by a decree (arrêté) dated 14 March 1944. The protection covers the facades facing both the street and the courtyard, the roofs, and the monumental entrance — the very elements that best preserve its 18th-century design.

What is the building used for today?

The city sold the property in 2014 to real-estate developer Sofim, which planned a full renovation converting the interior into private apartments while preserving the protected facades and exterior features. Renovation work began in 2020. Today the Hôtel d'Avelin functions as a residential building, and its facade and entrance remain visible from the street — a worthwhile stop for anyone exploring Lille's historic center on foot.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Hôtel d'Avelin? At 22 rue Saint-Jacques in Lille, on the corner with rue des Jardins, right next to Place aux Bleuets, in the heart of the historic city center.

Can visitors go inside? No. Since its renovation, the building has functioned as private residential apartments, so the interior isn't open to the public. The protected facade and monumental entrance can still be admired from the street.

Where does the name "d'Avelin" come from? It comes from the Hangouart d'Avelin family, who owned the earlier building on this site and were the first owners of the current 1777 townhouse.

Why is this building considered historically important beyond Lille itself? Because King Louis XVIII spent a night there in March 1815 while fleeing Napoleon's return from exile — a direct episode of the Hundred Days that briefly put this Lille address at the center of French politics.