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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hotel de Condé, located in the heart of the historic centre of Blois in the Puits-Châtel district, is an iconic Renaissance monument. Its medieval remains, dating from the boundary between the 13th and 14th centuries, include a Gothic cellar and an underground gallery. These elements bear witness to an ancient occupation, long before the major transformations of the 16th century.

In the 16th century, before 1547, the building was profoundly renovated in an early Renaissance style. The facades were raised with striking architectural details, such as an integrated staircase turret and an ion column gallery. These changes reflect the artistic influence of the time and the growing importance of Blois as a political and cultural centre.

During the religious wars, the Condé hotel became a strategic place for Catholics. Duke Henri I of Guise, a major figure in the Catholic League, lived there on the eve of his assassination on 23 December 1588. This historical context gives the building a significant political and religious dimension, although there is no evidence that a Protestant leader such as the prince of Condé stayed there.

The hotel's architecture is distinguished by the use of local limestone, cut stone and slate for roofing. Its elevation includes a basement, a basement floor, a square floor and a top floor. Rich iconography, including pilasters, columns and symbols such as the salamander associated with Francis I, underscores his prestige.

In the 19th century, minor changes were made, including recaptures of openings. Despite these adjustments, the hotel retains its Renaissance character. Ranked a historic monument in 1933, it remains a private property, demonstrating its heritage importance and the need for its preservation.

However, the name "Hotel de Condé" seems to have no historical basis, according to available sources. The protected elements include the so-called Hôtel de Condé house, which was registered by decree of 1 November 1933, with its remarkable architectural details such as the screw staircase and carved capitals.

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