In Rochefort, the Pierre Loti House, a real architectural jewel, is much more than a simple residence : it reflects the life of the seafarer and writer with a thousand adventures. Pierre Loti, whose real name was Julien Viaud, modelled this place like a living painting by painting each room with the colours of his escapades.
The Pierre Loti House before the construction’s work
This house, built at the end of the 17th / beginning of the 18th century, was acquired by Julien Viaud's maternal grandfather in 1802. It was extended by one storey in 1840. In 1871, the writer bought it back from his mother. He then began furnishing it with the first oriental room, the future ‘Turkish salon’.
Numerous remodelling works followed throughout Loti's life
1885 : the Family Salon became the Red Salon
1886 : creation of the Bee Bedroom and the Japanese Pagoda
1887 : creation of the Gothic Room
1895 : acquisition of the terraced house at No139 rue Chanzy
1896 : creation of the Mummy Bedroom
1897 : the Mosque, the Blue Salon and the Renaissance Room
Imagine Loti returning from a trip to the Orient, his hair tousled by the winds of the distant seas, crossing the threshold of his oasis of calm and already having the idea in his head to show off the treasures he has brought back from his expeditions.
The furnishing work continued and Loti acquired the terraced house in 1897. In 1918, the street was given the name Pierre Loti.
We're talking about the house, but was there a garden?
As important to Loti as the house itself, the garden was very cramped, as is typical of Rochefort, and was then extended and gradually transformed with the acquisition of the terraced houses. It is a garden that is described as lush because of its exotic plants from all over the world, its free-living tortoises that can be spotted on the paths and its lazy cats purring on the old stones. A secret passage to the Chinese hall was even discovered there.
After Loti's death, how did we keep the memory alive?
Loti's children inherited the house and his son Samuel Pierre-Loti-Viaud sold it to the town of Rochefort in 1969. The town councillors of the time were fully aware of the uniqueness of the building and decided to open it to the public 4 years after the purchase. In 1990, the house was classified as a historical monument and in 2002 it was awarded the Musee de France label. A nice recognition for this treasure of Rochefort.
An extraordinary building for a unique house !
The house where Pierre Loti was born, which was closed in 2012 for safety and conservation reasons, was restored to an unprecedented extent. The teams first carried out a careful inventory of the 27,000 objects that make up the collections before they were conserved. A real logistical challenge !
A connecting project
Supported by the City of Rochefort with the support of the State, the Nouvelle Aquitaine region, the Charente-Maritime county and many other partners, the resurrection represents an investment of 13.5 million euros.
A respectful and innovative restoration
The most talented artisans have taken turns to bring the extraordinary decorations conceived by Pierre Loti back to life. The famous mosque, the Renaissance hall and the Arab bedroom have been restored to their original colours using the latest techniques, while retaining their authenticity.
A respectful and innovative restoration
A respectful and innovative restoration
2025, at last, a new ‘way’ to visit and discover the Pierre Loti House. Will the visitor be fascinated by this renovation of the house ? Everyone will appreciate it, young and old, literature or marine enthusiasts, others will discover the man, the Rochefortais !
See you from 10 June 2025 !
The reopening of the Pierre Loti House will undoubtedly be the most important cultural event of 2025 in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region !
It means preparing for a unique experience in this magical place where the Orient meets the Occident, where every room tells a story and where Pierre Loti's imagination comes to life before our eyes.
Rather than a simple restoration, this is an invitation to an extraordinary journey through cultures and eras : an invitation to travel ... in time and space. Open the doors of this magical house and let yourself be enchanted by Pierre Loti's spirit of adventure.
An unforgettable experience awaits you !
