Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Hotel du Dauphin, located in 70 Place d'Armes in Douai (North), is a monument built in the 18th century. It is distinguished by its civil architecture, typical of this period, and occupies a central place in the city's urban heritage. The building was the subject of two successive protections under the Historic Monuments: a first inscription in 1926 for its façade, followed by an extension in 2018 covering all the facades, roofs, the paved floor of the covered passage, vaulted cellars, guard rooms and stairs. These protections highlight the heritage value of its interior and exterior components.

The location of the hotel, on Place d'Armes, reflects its historical importance in the urban fabric of Douai, a city marked by its commercial and judicial past under the Old Regime. The building, now owned by the municipality, illustrates the architectural evolution of private hotels in French Flanders, which was then prosperous thanks to its textile activity and its role as a crossroads between France and the Netherlands. These hotels were often used as a residence for local elites or as a destination for visiting personalities, strengthening their symbolic status.

The available sources, including the Merimée and Monumentum base, specify that the exact address (70 placedd-Armes) corresponds to the cadastral plot CD No 850. Although the accuracy of its location is considered "passable" (note 5/10), cadastral data and protection stops provide solid documentation for researchers. The absence of any mention of its current use (visits, rental, accommodation) in the sources consulted leaves open questions about its contemporary vocation, although its communal property suggests a potential public or cultural use.

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