Do you see the H\u00f4tel Prouvost before you? It stands as a testament to Roubaix’s rich history. The H\u00f4tel Prouvost was built in 1878. It was commissioned by Charles Prouvost and his wife Marie Sophie Scr\u00e9pel. Charles was an industrialist. He specialized in drap and satin de chine. His factory was nearby. The location was once a key area in Roubaix.
The H\u00f4tel Prouvost is located at 19 rue du Grand-Chemin and 6 rue R\u00e9my-Cogghe. Today the H\u00f4tel Prouvost houses the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie. This is the primary health insurance fund.
Though the facade facing Rue du Grand-Chemin is cemented the interior reveals the building’s true beauty. The back facade features a perron. This includes the rear roof that overlooks the former garden. The garden is now a private parking area on Rue R\u00e9my-Cogghe.
Let’s explore the H\u00f4tel Prouvost’s protected elements. They include the three ground-floor salons. First is the Salon Chinois. It features a lacquered ceiling and panel decor. Next is the central salon. Its ceiling and decor are remarkable. Finally the music room features wood panelling. It also showcases a painted ceiling by Tony Vergnolet from 1888.
The entrance hall is adorned with sconces. The grand staircase and its cage are particularly noteworthy. A chapel on the first floor adds to the H\u00f4tel Prouvost’s charm. These elements earned historical monument status in 1998.
Many Prouvost family members were buried at Saint Martin Church in Roubaix. Jacques II Prouvost and Marie-Agn\u00e8s Florin are among those interred there. Pierre Prouvost another family member was also buried in the church.
The Prouvost family has deep roots in the area. They were connected to the fiefs of Fresnoye Haye and Bleu Chastel. Jean Prouvost was called one of the richest men in Roubaix in 1449.
The H\u00f4tel Prouvost also connects to other prominent families. These include the Masurel family. Several family members married into the Cr\u00e9py Saint L\u00e9ger family. These intertwined relationships shaped the region’s history.
The H\u00f4tel Prouvost stands as a reminder of the Prouvost family’s influence. It also echoes Roubaix’s industrial past. Its stunning interiors invite us to imagine life in the late 19th century.