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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Duquesnoy-du-Thon hotel, also named Hotel Duquesnay-de-Thon, is an iconic building in Caen, Calvados. Dated from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, it illustrates the local Renaissance architecture, with a facade on courtyard decorated with a polygonal stone tower of Caen. This tower supports an upper room with wooden panels, typical of the region, resting on Chinese tubes.

Originally, the hotel was embedded in a dense urban fabric, accessible only via a courtyard and bridges crossing the Grand Odon River. In the 19th century, its access was complex, as shown by the Napoleonic cadastre. The destruction of the Battle of Caen (1944) cleared its southern façade, while the northern façade remains integrated into the current structure. The courtyard facades have been protected since 1927.

The building is built of Caen stone, emblematic local material. Its main façade, classified as a historical monument, is distinguished by its mixture of stone and wood panels. The polygonal tower, a remarkable architectural element, reflects the influence of regional techniques. Today, the hotel is located at 6 rue du Moulin and 35-41 pass of the Grand Turk, in the historic centre of Caen.

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