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Origin and history

The Soubise Hospice, also known as the Rohan Hotel, is an emblematic building of early 17th century architecture, built under Louis XIII. Located opposite the church of Soubise in Charente-Maritime, it was erected at the initiative of Catherine de Parthenay, last heiress of the younger branch of the Parthenay, after his marriage to René II de Rohan in 1575. Huguenote engaged, she played a notable role at the siege of La Rochelle (1627-1628) alongside her son Benjamin de Rohan, lord of Soubise.

The hotel was acquired by Louis XIV in 1690 and in 1691 transferred to the sisters of Saint Vincent-de-Paul to establish a hospice in 1696, a function he retained for a century. After the Revolution, the building became the public school of Soubise for 180 years, before housing the city hall from 1982. Ranked a historic monument in 1928, its architecture is distinguished by an adorned gate, a body of rectangular houses with storeys, and a roof of canal tiles decorated with carved skylights.

The style of the hospice reflects the classic influences of the seventeenth century, with decorative elements like triangular and rounded pediments, acroteries, and a door surmounted by a broken arch. These architectural details, combined with its Rohan-related history and the Protestant community, are a significant testimony to the local and religious heritage of the region.

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