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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Hotel de la Croix d'Or was built between 1619 and 1625 in Montbéliard, Doubs. Originally commissioned as a residence, it became the property of Prince Leopold-Frédéric de Württemberg until its sale in 1654. This building illustrates the civil architecture of the first half of the seventeenth century, with elements like a gallery supported by dated columns.

Between 1662 and 1730, the building was attested as an inn under the name of Cross Gold, reflecting its role in welcoming travellers at a time when Montbéliard, a Protestant principality attached to the Duchy of Württemberg, was a commercial hub. The transition to a residential function took place in the 18th century, when the wealthy merchant Pierre-Joseph Beurnier made it his home.

When Beurnier died in 1769, his will bequeathed the building to the city to make it a hospice for orphans, a project approved by Duke Charles II of Württemberg. It was opened in 1770 and was attended by twelve poor girls. The monumental staircase, rebuilt around 1770 (partial date engraved), and the painted ceiling of the large living room testify to the improvements of this period. The establishment operated until 1945.

Partially listed as historical monuments in 1977, the hotel retains remarkable elements: facades and roofs, a wrought iron staircase, and a painted ceiling. These protections underline its heritage importance, combining social history (hospice) and civil architecture (inn, bourgeois residence).

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