Hotel d'Assezat (Assezat Mansion) and Bemberg Foundation, Toulouse (must see)

The Assezat Mansion in Toulouse is a 16th-century French Renaissance mansion originally built for merchant Pierre Assézat. It now houses the Bemberg Foundation's art gallery. Noted for its pristine condition, the property is a jewel of Renaissance architecture in southern France, showcasing early French classicism with Italian Mannerist influences.

Pierre Assézat, a prosperous founder of the local Merchant Exchange, initiated the construction of this mansion around 1562. As a Calvinist, he faced religious persecution and was temporarily exiled. He returned and recanted ten years later, dying in Toulouse in 1581. Since then the mansion had changed hands several times before in 1894 the last owner bequeathed it to the city for use by learned societies.

The building showcases a blend of classical and mannerist architecture, with its facade inspired by classical models like the Coliseum, featuring twin columns across three floors (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian). Unique to this structure are the various mannerist ornaments such as cabochons and masks, illustrating themes of luxury and abundance. The main gate marries strength with intricate detailing, highlighted by Doric pilasters and a mullioned window framed by Ionic pilasters, adding a refined elegance to the overall composition.

Inside the courtyard, the loggia and the passageway decorated with arches and grotesque masks on scrolled consoles illustrate the manneristic aesthetic, merging the mineral, vegetable, and animal kingdoms. The staircase pavilion features a large staircase adorned with architectural orders and a male term (which is half man and half pilaster), symbolizing both knowledge and humor through its design.

Since 1994, the building has been home to the Bemberg Foundation, showcasing the extensive private art collection of Argentine Georges Bemberg. This collection features a wide array of European artworks, including paintings, sculptures, and ancient books. In particular, it encompasses significant pieces from the Flemish, Dutch, and Italian Renaissance, with notable works by Titian and Tintoretto. Highlights also include 19th- and early 20th-century paintings, showcasing styles like impressionism and fauvism, featuring Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Paul Gauguin, and Paul Cézanne, as well as Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani and others.