Hôtel Degland de Cessia

Hôtel Degland de Cessia in Saint-Amour, also known as Maison Lamartine, is an 18th-century town mansion in the southern Jura region of eastern France. Commissioned around 1763 by Joseph Marie Emmanuel Degland de Cessia, it is listed as a French historic monument and owes its second name to a family tie with the Romantic poet Alphonse de Lamartine, whose eldest sister married the founder's son. If you are exploring the old centre of Saint-Amour, this residence is one of the key stops on the route.

What is this building, exactly?

Despite the word "hôtel" in its name, this is not a place to stay. A hôtel particulier is a private urban residence of a wealthy family, a building type common in French provincial towns of the 18th century. The mansion stands at 23 Rue Reclosière, while its east facade and garden face Rue Lamartine — the street name itself echoes the house's connection to the poet's family.

The heritage listing covers more than the facades and roofs. Protected elements include the interior staircase, the decor of the ground-floor dining room, a fireplace mantel bearing the date 1763, and Louis XV-style fireplaces and decoration on the upper floors. It is precisely this surviving 18th-century interior detail that earned the building its monument status.

Why is it called Maison Lamartine?

Alphonse de Lamartine ranks among the most important French Romantic poets. The Degland de Cessia family became directly related to him when the son of the man who built the mansion married the poet's eldest sister. That marriage is remembered both in the house's popular name and in the name of the adjoining street. For literature enthusiasts, it is a little-known trace of Lamartine outside his native Burgundy heartland.

Can you go inside?

The mansion remains private property and does not operate as a regularly open museum. Plan on viewing it from the outside: the building's proportions, facades and setting within the old town are clearly visible from the street. If you visit in September, check the programme of the European Heritage Days — many privately owned monuments in France open their doors on that occasion, though access to any specific building should be confirmed locally before you travel.

How do you get there?

Saint-Amour sits at the southern edge of the Jura department, in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, close to the borders with the Ain and Saône-et-Loire departments. The easiest way to reach the town is by car. Saint-Amour is small, and the mansion on Rue Reclosière lies within the historic centre, a short walk from the main square. For navigation, use the address: 23 Rue Reclosière, 39160 Saint-Amour.

What else is worth seeing in Saint-Amour?

The town has several other listed historic monuments, including a former Capuchin convent that later served as a hospital, and a historic courthouse building with its old prisons. A walk through the centre lets you see them all in an hour or two, with Hôtel Degland de Cessia fitting naturally into the loop. Saint-Amour also works well as a base for exploring the vineyards and countryside of the southern Jura.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hôtel Degland de Cessia a hotel where I can book a room? No. It is a hôtel particulier — a historic private town mansion from the 18th century — not accommodation.

When was the mansion built? It was built around 1763, in the third quarter of the 18th century. A fireplace mantel inside carries the date 1763.

Where does the name Maison Lamartine come from? The son of the mansion's founder married the eldest sister of the poet Alphonse de Lamartine. The family connection survives in the house's common name and in the name of the nearby Rue Lamartine.

Are the interiors open to visitors? The building is privately owned and its protected interiors — the staircase, the dining room and the Louis XV-style fireplaces — are not part of a regular visitor circuit. The exterior can be viewed freely from the street.