Hôtel de Vaurs

The Hôtel de Vaurs is a Renaissance townhouse in Agen, one of four historic mansions that today make up the city's Musée des Beaux-Arts.

Where exactly is it located?

The building sits in the old town of Agen, between rue Chaudordy and rue des Juifs. Its main façade, richly carved in stone, faces the courtyard of honour on the rue des Juifs side — the first thing visitors notice when they wander through this part of the historic centre.

Is it easy to spot while exploring the city?

Very much so. The Hôtel de Vaurs stands right next to the Hôtel d'Estrades, the second of the four mansions that form the museum complex, and both buildings share the same heritage listing. Visitors can take in both façades in a single stop without needing separate directions.

What is the history behind the building?

The mansion was raised by Jacques de Vaurs, most likely during the reign of Henri II or in the closing years of François I's rule — placing construction somewhere around the mid-1500s. This was a period when Agen, like many towns in southwestern France, saw its merchant elite build new stone residences inspired by Italian Renaissance models.

What happened to the mansion after it was built?

Its fortunes shifted sharply in 1765, when it was bought from the heirs of the humanist scholar Scaliger for 8,000 livres tournois and converted into a municipal prison. That unglamorous chapter is, ironically, likely what kept the structure standing rather than being demolished in the following century.

How did it become part of a museum?

In 1876, the city of Agen handed the Hôtel de Vaurs over — together with the neighbouring Hôtel d'Estrades — to the newly formed Museum Society, an offshoot of the Academic Society of Agen. The building has served a museum function ever since, making it one of the longer-running institutions of its kind in the region.

What should visitors look for architecturally?

The mansion follows an L-shaped plan set between two courtyards: a formal one at the front and a plainer one at the rear. Five storeys stretch between courtyard and garden, giving the building an unusual sense of depth for a townhouse of its era.

Which details are worth a closer look?

The main façade overlooking the courtyard of honour is the highlight — its stonework blends Gothic and classical motifs typical of the 1530s and 1540s. That mix shows up both in the window surrounds and in the staircase decoration, generally considered the most ornate part of the whole ensemble.

Visitors touring Agen can pair the Hôtel de Vaurs with the other three mansions that make up the museum to trace how the city's merchant architecture evolved across two centuries.

Frequently asked questions

Who built the Hôtel de Vaurs? Construction is attributed to Jacques de Vaurs, likely in the mid-16th century, during the reign of Henri II or the final years of François I.

Can visitors go inside the Hôtel de Vaurs? Yes — the building is part of the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Agen and is open to the public alongside the three other mansions that make up the museum complex.

Why was the building once used as a prison? In 1765 it was purchased from the heirs of Scaliger and turned into a municipal prison; it only became a museum building in 1876.

What sets its architecture apart from a typical townhouse? Its L-shaped plan, five storeys spread between a courtyard and a garden, and a façade combining Gothic and classical detailing from the 1530s–1540s.