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Origin and history

The Grand Chouquet Royal Inn, also known as the Peru Inn, is a building located in Caumont, in the department of Eure in Normandy. Its origin dates back to the first half of the 16th century, when a first building was built in 1535 as a post office on the royal road between Rouen and Honfleur. This road, today the Route départementale 675, played a key role in the economic development of Roumois, a natural region of northern Eure.

In 1749, the building became an inn, then a bakery in 1775 before being transformed into a house. In the 18th century, two other buildings were added: a forge and a stable, later converted into a press-cell. At the time of the Revolution, the establishment was renamed Peru Inn. The architectural complex, organized around a closed courtyard, combines a 16th century log house in wood – with a corbelled gallery and a monumental fireplace – and 18th century limestone buildings.

The inn was mentioned in the 17th century by Madame de Sévigné, who spent one night there during her trips. Ranked a historic monument in 2004, it embodies the evolution of rural reception sites, linked to the development of communication axes. In 1930, the Richer family rehabilitated it as a home, adding a porch. Today, the building bears witness to local history and traditional Norman architecture, between flint, brick and half-timbered.

The protection for the Historic Monuments, which took place on 11 May 2004, covers the former inn, the sea press and the communes. These elements, located close to the Seine Valley, reflect the adaptation of buildings to changing needs, from the postal relay to domestic life.

The inn is distinguished by its base in brick and flint checker, typical of the region, and its spatial organization centered on a courtyard. The materials used – wood clad, limestone, stone cut – highlight local constructive techniques, while its location on the edge of the old national road recalls its historical role in regional exchanges.

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