Nicolas Bachelier
Nicolas Bachelier (1485–1557) was a French surveyor, architect, and sculptor who particularly worked in Toulouse. Bachelier is famous in Toulouse for having been the architect, proven or presumed, of several hôtels particuliers of the Renaissance, as well as for his religious sculptures. He was particularly renowned for his great scholarly culture.
Nicolas Bachelier

Frédéric Neupont · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Nicolas Bachelier
- Born
- 1485
- Died
- 1557
- Place of death
- Toulouse, France
- Occupation
- French surveyor, architect, and sculptor.
- Nationality
- France
- Known for
- hôtel d'Assézat · Hôtel de Bagis · Château de Caumont
- Languages
- French
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Documentary summary
Nicolas Bachelier (1485–1557) was a French surveyor, architect, and sculptor who particularly worked in Toulouse. Bachelier is famous in Toulouse for having been the architect, proven or presumed, of several hôtels particuliers of the Renaissance, as well as for his religious sculptures. He was particularly renowned for his great scholarly culture.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q713209 · wikipedia · Nicolas Bachelier
In this article
Biography
Biography
In 1539, Bachelier and his colleague Arnaud Casanove, who described themselves as expert levelers, proposed a survey for a canal from Toulouse to Carcassonne to Francis I. Francis I had previously discussed the possibility of such a canal with Leonardo da Vinci. They also proposed that barges could either float down the Garonne River to Bordeaux or could traverse a canal parallel to the river. Francis I approved their plans which included a lock-free canal of variable depth. These plans proved to be inaccurate and could not be executed. In 1598, Henri IV re-examined the plans, but nothing was done until Pierre Paul Riquet began the successful endeavor of the Canal du Midi in 1662. Among others, the following prestigious buildings are attributed to him: • Hôtel de Bagis (1538) • Hôtel de Guillaume de Bernuy (1540-1544) • Hôtel d'Assézat (for the two classical façades, 1555–1556) • Medallions of Hôtel Jean de Pins and Hôtel Thomas de Montval • Possibly some of the telamons of Hôtel du Vieux-Raisin

Fenêtre de Nicolas Bachelier à l'hôtel de Bagis, 1538, Toulouse. Premier étage.
Frédéric Neupont

Montage mettant en évidence une source d'inspiration des façades classiques de l'hôtel d'Assézat (Toulouse 1555-1556): une gravure de Serlio de 1537.
Frédéric Neupont
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Nicolas Bachelier • Born — 1485 • Died — 1557 • Place of death — Toulouse, France • Occupation — French surveyor, architect, and sculptor.
Identity
Identity
Nicolas Bachelier is recorded with the occupation architect. Recorded as architect and sculptor.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1487
Nicolas Bachelier was born on 1 January 1487.
1556
Nicolas Bachelier died on 1 January 1556.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Nicolas Bachelier was born at Arras.
Birthplace
Nicolas Bachelier died at Toulouse.
Deathplace
Arras.
Birth place
Toulouse.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Nicolas Bachelier”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q713209: Nicolas Bachelier
General reference · Wikidata
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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