• The Pourcel brothers are opening a luxury hotel in the Richer de Belleval hotel, one of the most emblematic buildings in Montpellier.

    And yet for a long time abandoned.

  • Vestiges of the time have been preserved, in the midst of contemporary works.

  • The building, listed as a historical monument, also houses the Jardin des Sens, the gourmet restaurant of the Pourcel brothers, the bistronomic table La Canourgue and l'Elytre, and the contemporary art foundation of the GGL Hélénis group.

Place de la Canourgue, in Montpellier (Hérault), the Richer de Belleval hotel has regained its splendor. Built on the foundations of a former residence of canons, the building housed the town hall, between 1816 and 1975, then the Prud'hommes, until 2010. Since then, the building has been empty. Until the Pourcel brothers, geniuses of the kitchen, were tempted to set up their new high-end project there.

Four years of work later, their 5-star hotel, the only one in the city, opened its doors in this 17th century building, listed as a historic monument.

And their restaurant, the Jardin des sens, closed since 2016, has found a second life there.

"It's a new story being written", rejoices Jacques Pourcel.

But, when the project was imagined, it was not won.

"When we arrived, it was in a terrible state, everything was falling everywhere," says Thierry Aznar, president of the property development company Hélénis, which has invested 18 million euros with the Pourcel group, in this project outside -standard.

"It sounded crazy, but we got there," he continues.

" Time stopped "

Today, it is a luxurious setting, where ancient architecture and modernity blend. Everything has been renovated by Philippe Prost, star of heritage restoration. But vestiges have been preserved, in particular frescoes and period fireplaces. In the midst of works, they, quite contemporary. In the cocktail bar, decorated like a cabinet of curiosities, the Marianne is still there. Because it is here that the people of Montpellier were married, some forty years ago. As if to give the illusion that in this building, "time has stood still", confides Christian Collot, the hotel's decorator and artistic director. In each room, in each room, the universe offered by this true “director”, assures Jacques Pourcel, is different.

“This is the feeling that I absolutely wanted to provide, a real emotional lift,” explains Christian Collot.

In some palaces, when you visited the reception, you already understood the artistic direction of the place.

I wanted to shock, upset these codes, so that the customer never gets tired of this place.

"

"Let Montpellier become attractive again"

The hotel has 20 rooms, including a 110 m² suite.

The building also hosts the Jardin des Sens, the gourmet restaurant of the Pourcel brothers, which will open on Tuesday, with menus from 120 to 240 euros.

But also the bistronomic table La Canourgue and Elytre, and the contemporary art foundation of the GGL Hélénis group.

In this project, the Pourcel have put “their hearts”, hoping to attract an international clientele.

For the restaurant, "we reopen without a star," notes Jacques Pourcel.

Only the Michelin guide will judge whether we deserve them or not.

What matters to us is the quality of the plate and the welcome.

To please.

No doubt people from all over the world will come to visit this place.

Let Montpellier become attractive again.

"

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  • Languedoc-Roussillon

  • Heritage

  • Luxury

  • Hotel

  • Cooked

  • Montpellier