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Origin and history

The Hôtel du Duc de Charrost, located in Bolbec, Normandy, is a historical monument built in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century, after the devastating fire of 1765 that ravaged part of the city. This mansion was built for Jacques-Louis Durand, using limestone-cut stones from Fontaine-Martel Castle, a nearby seigneurial estate. Originally, the site served as a foot-to-earth for the lords of Fontaine, marking its anchor in local aristocratic history.

The facade of the house, overlooking the street, is distinguished by its limestone trimming, while the communes, organized around the courtyard, combine brick and stone. These materials reflect post-fire reconstruction techniques, combining tradition and innovation. The hotel was partially protected in the 20th century: its facade on courtyard and roof (No.10) were inscribed by decree of 11 January 1944, followed by facades and roofs on street (No. 10, 12, 14, 16) on 8 September 1949, highlighting its heritage interest.

Although his name evokes a duke, no source confirms a direct connection with a duke. Rather, the building illustrates the rise of the local bourgeoisie in the 18th century, symbolized by sponsors such as Durand. Its architecture, sober but elegant, bears witness to the classical influences of the period, while adapting to post-disaster material constraints. Today, the hotel remains a marker of Bolbec's urban history, between seigneurial memory and architectural renewal.

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