Maison de Lestrade

It’s located in the downtown part of the village on the square de la République, ancient market square, and stands between two other historical buildings: the house Faugergues and the house Montargues, the latter received the cardinal Richelieu in 1642. This hotel has been the town hall of Viviers during two centuries, from 1767 until 1947.
This important construction dates from the 13th century and rises up from the squaire. It served as a house of the consuls until 1767 and afterwards became a military base and a prison. The lateral façade still has 16th century windows, a beautiful spiked door with hood mould, an elegant twin window and the upper part of the entrance to the ancient prison, covered now due to changes of the street level. On the inside of the hotel there are a spiral staircase with its upper part stil painted, a 16th century chimney, 18th centuries chimneys and above all, in small room of the first floor, painting from the end of the 13th century telling the Parable of the Prodigal Son.