Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Hotel de Craon, located at 19-21 rue Chaudrier and 2 Place Verdun in La Rochelle, is an emblematic building of the 18th and 19th centuries. Originally built as a private residence, it was listed as historical monuments on 14 June 1928, especially for its remarkable arcades. This building embodies the civil architecture of the period, with classical influences and subsequent additions reflecting the tastes of its successive owners.

In 1863, the public works contractor Jolly acquired the hotel and probably made changes, such as the decoration of the central span decorated with medallions representing Dupacy and Réaumur. At that time, the building houses the Circle Dupacy, a scholarly society dedicated to science and the arts, active until 1872. This circle reflects the cultural and intellectual importance of La Rochelle in the 19th century, where local and scientific elites gathered to exchange.

The Princess of Beauvau-Craon became owner of the hotel in 1878, marking a new phase in her history linked to the French aristocracy. In the 20th century, the building took on a public function by welcoming the La Rochelle Police Hotel from 1954 to 2017. This long period of institutional use underscores its adaptation to the changing needs of the city, while preserving its heritage status.

Today, the Hotel de Craon remains a symbol of the rock heritage, combining architectural history, past scientific life and administrative memory. Its early inscription (1928) among historical monuments underlines its exceptional value, both for its stylistic characteristics and for its role in local life for more than two centuries.

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