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Origin and history

Hotel Duplessis is a private hotel located at 12 rue du Plessis and 2 bis rue Saint-Martin in Cognac, in the Charente department. Its origin dates back to the beginning of the 15th century, when the north-west house body was built, identifiable by its gable and a hexagonal tower flanked by a corbelled scauguette. This building reflects the defensive concerns of its owners, who sought to protect their property and people in the fortified Cognac compound, especially during the Middle Ages wars. The fief du Plessis, whose name the hotel derives, was initially located in the neighbouring town of Saint-Sulpice, but its owners opted for a more secure urban settlement.

In the 17th century, the façade overlooking Rue Saint-Martin was built and then redesigned in the 19th century. The hotel suffered partial destruction in 1853 during the drilling of Aristide Briand Street, resulting in the reconstruction of its southeast elevation at the end of the 19th century. In 1976, the blankets were completely redone. Today, only the facade on Duplessis Street and the stairway tower with its scald have been protected under the Historic Monuments since 1973. No trace of the original interior fittings remained, thus erasing part of its material history.

Architecturally, the Duplessis Hotel illustrates the transition from the Middle Ages to the modern era. The body of north-west houses, made of cut stone, contrasts with the south-east body, rebuilt in coated rubble. The hexagonal tower and its scald, typical defensive elements, recall its initial role as an urban refuge. The street of the Plessis, where it stands, owes its name to the imposing silhouette of the hotel, which once dominated the surrounding houses. These characteristics make it a rare testimony to Cognac's urban and architectural evolution, between medieval security and classical embellishments.

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