We learned, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at the last meeting of the city council, in the 2025-23 deliberation, the project to sell municipal premises called former Hugues Ainé factory[1] for a total area of 466m2 approximately, for the benefit of the SAEML land Pays de Grasse Dynamique, at a price of 300,000 euros, or approximately 644 €/m2 for a property with an exceptional situation, located in the square of the museums of the historic city. Its remarkable character is recognized by all and its immediate proximity to the Museum of Art and History of Provence makes it a very photographed jewel, both by tourists and by Grasse, as well as researchers[2].
Let us remind everyone that these premises were part, with their adjacent[3], of the Hôtel-Dieu Hôpital Saint Jacques, the city’s main hospital for which you will find all the necessary information in a recent book [4].
It was during the period of the French Revolution, after the construction of the new hospital of the Charity, located at the end of the course, that the municipality then decided to sell this room.
On October 18, 1799, the old hospital was acquired in 4 unequal lots by Antoine QUINE, Jean-Joseph HUGUES, Charles ARCEL and Pierre-Jean SAUMON. This division corresponds to the 4 current addresses.
Jean-Joseph HUGUES, then carpenter, bought the smallest lot but especially half of the water coming from the underground canals of the city.
Dated 1817, the creation of the brand Hugues Aîné corresponds to the 18 years of Henri HUGUES, eldest son and successor of the founder. This appointment would most certainly come from the separation of the 3 brothers heirs into two companies, in order to differentiate them.
Let us remind everyone that these premises were part, with their adjacent[3], of the Hôtel-Dieu Hôpital Saint Jacques, the city’s main hospital for which you will find all the necessary information in a recent book [4].
From the 2nd to the 4th generation (the two Henri HUGUES), passing through the 3rd and more important, that is to say that of jean-Joseph HUGUES[5], the second of the name, the company will develop both economically and in terms of land. It will be the successive purchases of adjacent lots, as well as other premises throughout the city and the Grasse territory, in the neighborhoods of Berouard, Sabrane and Malbosc in particular.
In 1864, Jean-Joseph HUGUES developed a new distillation process by direct steam injection, an invention highlighted by the iconography on the façade of his factory, which was built in 1881, and which crowned his last land purchases at this site.
After 4 family generations, this inheritance ends in the hands of the HARMEL family, already heir of the GOBY and TOMBAREL families, at the death of 2nd Henri HUGUES.
In November 1985, the municipality of Grasse purchased most of the lots from the last factory, "as is," located in the city centre.
This purchase was made with the aim of serving as an annex to the city’s museums, such as the MAHP and the International Museum of Perfumery[7] then in creation. It is indeed for this purpose that these premises are still used today, remaining the last annex of proximity to museums since the removal of the one located in the former courthouse converted into a campus.
In 2018-2019, the city even carried out the restoration of the main façade thanks to the patronage of ROBERTET-CHARABOT through the Baudelaire endowment fund for an amount of 80,000 euros[8].
This is why we are asking you today to cancel the 2025-23 resolution, to renounce the sale of these premises in favour of a private law organization (although the municipality is a party to it. in order to preserve this heritage treasure within the communal property, a true showcase of the expertise of Grasse perfumery.
As such, a completely different project should be considered by the municipality:
With a first time:
Keep the function of annex to the city’s museums in the lowest level, opening directly on a road and in front of the MAHP;
create temporary exhibitions related to the know-how of perfumery, crafts or contemporary art in the intermediate room called Catholic Relief;
open a pole of restoration and conviviality in connection with the museums in the upper room with its balcony facing the hotel Clapiers-Cabris.
In a second time, with the purchase of the other lots supplementing the old industrial right, and after restoration of the whole:
create the necessary extension to the museums by connecting the MIP and the MAHP through the city’s underground, thus offering a whole new experience and creating a real museum route, also opening up to the Barri and the former Jean NIEL factory.
Since 2014, the municipality has shown its willingness to highlight its heritage and has even obtained the UNESCO label for its intangible heritage. We are fortunate to be the owner of this property, let’s not give it away.
This request is part of a participatory approach whose ultimate objective is the search for the common interest.
Please accept, Ladies and Gentlemen, my distinguished consideration.
Note: Once submitted to the Council, this petition becomes a public document accessible to all. The information contained in this petition is not considered confidential and is available to anyone who requests to see copies of the petition. The information will not be used by the City for any purpose other than to ensure that the document meets the standards established by the Council for a valid petition, and to communicate with the lead petitioner or spokesperson.
[1] Either lots 12 and 13 of the registered condominium section BH n°332 located at no. 6 rue Jean Ossola, or lots 1 and 2 of the registered condominium section BH n°331 located at no. 8 rue Jean Ossola, as well as lots 1 and 2 of the registered condominium section BH#330 located at 10 rue Jean Ossola.
[2] "Grasse, the perfume factory" by Gabriel BENALLOUL and Géraud BUFFA was published in 2015.
[3] No. 6, 8, 10 and 12 of the current Rue Jean Ossola.
[4] “Soulager tant de pauvres épars, hôpitaux et institutions charitables à Grasse (XVIIème-XVIIIème siècle)” by Gilles SINICROPI and published in 2024.
[5] Says Hugues Aîné or Hugues Tunnel, his portrait is visible in the grand staircase of the MIP.
[6] HUGUES AINE having already moved to the Sabrane site before becoming CHARABOT.
[7] The Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Provence and the International Museum of Perfumery.
[8] https://www.nicematin.com/vie-locale/grasse-le-fonds-baudelaire-au-chevet-du-patrimoine-278110
[9] https://www.pappers.fr/entreprise/pays-de-grasse-dynamiques-922674007/documents/PAYS%20DE%20GRASSE%20DYNAMIQUES%20-%20Attestation%20de%20d%C3%A9p%C3%B4t%20of%20funds%2030-12-2022.pdf
[10] http://grasseatous.viabloga.com/files//CM_2022_06_28__Creation_SEM_Grasse_Dynamiques_86__P_E_2.pdf