House of the Three Wet Nurses

On your right, you’ll see a rather unusual house—this is the House of the Three Wet Nurses. Built in the 12th century, it only became a private residence in the 16th century, when it was acquired by the powerful Guissane family, whose members included several of Narbonne’s consuls. They added the elegant Renaissance-style façade you see today, a true display of their wealth and status at the time. In fact, it’s the only building in Narbonne with this particular architectural style. As for its name, it most likely comes from the nearby “Hotel of the Three Kings,” simply adapted for consistency. But don’t bother looking for that hotel—it no longer exists. The "nurses" are believed to be the five caryatids on the façade. These sculptures depict women, crafted in the striking image of the Roman goddess Diana of Ephesus, a symbol of fertility. A rare survivor of both the medieval and Renaissance periods, the House of the Three Wet Nurses has been listed as a Historical Monument.