A handful of the historic merchant houses have been carefully restored after the earthquake and now operate as boutique hotels, restaurants, or open galleries. Maison Dufort is the most prominent example: a yellow-and-white two-story house on Rue du Commerce, with original ironwork balconies, period furniture inside, and rooms you can stay in.
Even if you're not staying, the public spaces are worth a look for a sense of how the houses originally looked. A few other restored examples — Hôtel Florita, Cap Lamandou (out of town), and several private homes — are scattered through the centre and are easy to spot for their fresh paint and intact iron columns.