page_title: Hôtel de Blossac
section_title: The progressive construction of service quarters
hierarchical_section_title: Hôtel de Blossac / History / Construction of the hôtel de Blossac / The progressive construction of service quarters
context_page_description: The Hôtel de Blossac is an 18th-century hôtel particulier in the historic center of Rennes, Brittany.
  The building, which has two main wings, was constructed in 1728. The architect is said to have been Jacques Gabriel. The building has a unique classical architecture for Brittany, including its size, the assembly of several architectural components, and its grand staircase.
  Property of the La Bourdonnaye family, earls of Blossac, for nearly two centuries, it was leased by the city as the residence of the commander in chief of the province of Brittany, with a pomp reminiscent of the court of France. At the French Revolution, it was divided into apartments and became a residential building, where the author Paul Féval was born.
  The building was designated as a historic monument in 1947, and underwent a complete exterior restoration spread over three decades, while the apartments give way to offices. It has been wholly owned by the state since 1982 and houses, in refurbished and restored rooms, the Direction régionale des affaires culturelles and in service quarters, the service territorial de l’architecture et du patrimoine.
context_section_description: A new portal is created in rue du Chapitre in 1730. It is home to the keeper's dwelling, and has a pediment bearing the arms of family La Bourdonnaye, and a monogram of their initials. The pediment was wearing gold letters engraved in marble, the words “Hôtel de Blossac”.
  Stables overlooking rue de Montfort are built the same year, to the great displeasure of neighbors whose plots are cropped. They are half-timbered, established pursuant to the lease between the city and family La Bourdonnaye, to be dismantled at will, but vaulted brick inside. Provided for twenty horses, they are insufficient and will be completed almost immediately through the leasing of other stables, rue du Pré-Raoult, outside the city walls. Access to the courtyard of the stables on the rue de Montfort is through a carriage door.
  Work continues, with hangars mounted in the service yard in 1732, a steakhouse near the stables in 1739 and in 1745, new joint opposite the hotel, overlooking the courtyard, still half-timbered. These service quarters are home to the first butler, lingerie and the dining room of the guards. The concierge also joined the new service quarters, it seems following the creation in his former post of a room for making coffee, lemonade and horchata. A cooler is built the same year as the service quarters in the garden behind the tower hollow bay. It allows a service fee at the table: fruits, drinks, sorbets, and ice decorative figurines.
  Finally, a spacious garden for receptions, Estates of Brittany, concerts and dances, was built around 1760, known as the “nobles dining room”. On this occasion, the garden is reduced to its current configuration [P 3]. The hôtel de Blossac is then in its most complete configuration.
caption: L'hôtel de Blossac en 1760, doté de tous ses communs   Hôtel de Blossac   Hôtel de Brie   Entrance porch   Service quarters   Stables   Rotisserie   Gallery   Ice-house   Hangars   Garden   Other buildings