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Origin and history

The Café des Chiens Blancs is a former beverage delivery establishment built in the middle of the 19th century in Laignes, in the Gold Coast (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté). Located on the Place Maison-Monsieur, it is distinguished by its neo-Gothic architecture, with a richly decorated facade of stuccos depicting angelots symbolizing the seasons, plant motifs, and two statues of white dogs supporting a balcony above the entrance. These elements earned him his emblematic name and a partial inscription in the Historical Monuments since 19 January 1995, covering facades and roofs.

Originally, coffee was known as "Coffee Husson" (named after Augustin Husson, limonadier) and then "Coffee Goutey", as evidenced by old postcards. Closed for some 20 years, it was purchased by the municipality in 2003 to be converted into a municipal library, inaugurated in 2008. The restoration of its façade, awarded with the 2013 Regional Heritage Award, has preserved its broken arched bays, its neo-Gothic lancettes, and its skylights illuminating the attic, characteristic of its architectural style.

The building, built in coated limestone rubble and covered with slate, illustrates the 19th century local craftsmanship. Its putti-decorated tympanum (seasonal allegories) and its five openings on the first floor, including a central balcony window, reflect the influence of the romantic currents of the era. Although its initial function has disappeared, the building remains a testimony of Burgundy's commercial and artisanal heritage, now accessible to the public in the form of a media library.

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