Hôtel de la Croix d'Or

Hôtel de la Croix d'Or stands among the most striking historic townhouses in the old center of Troyes, capital of the Aube department in the Champagne region.

Where exactly is it located?

You'll find the building at numbers 32-36, rue de la Monnaie, right in the medieval heart of Troyes, a short walk from the cathedral and the half-timbered houses the city is famous for. Its coordinates are approximately 48.2957 N, 4.07074 E.

Who built it, and when?

The townhouse was raised by Nicolas Riglet in the 16th century, in the years following the great fire of 1524 that destroyed a large part of Troyes and forced the reconstruction of much of the city's bourgeois housing stock. That rebuilding wave is exactly where the building's distinctive Renaissance-era facade comes from.

What makes the facade so distinctive?

Look closely and you'll notice alternating bands of brick and pale chalkstone arranged in a checkerboard pattern - a decorative technique favored by wealthy families in 16th-century Troyes and well suited to the building materials available at the time. A wide carriage gate cuts through the ground floor, originally built so horse-drawn coaches could pass straight into an inner courtyard, a common feature of prosperous townhouses of the period. The first-floor wrought-iron balconies came later, added in the 18th century when many facades along the street were being refreshed.

Is it a single building?

Not quite. Right next door, at number 34, stands the Le Febvre mansion, which was substantially rebuilt during the 18th century. Together, the two structures now form a continuous architectural ensemble along rue de la Monnaie.

What role did it play in the local press?

Between 1888 and 1985, the building housed a print shop and newspaper office producing "Le Petit Républicain." Over the following decades the title evolved into "La Tribune de l'Aube" and eventually became "L'Est-Éclair," a regional daily that still serves readers across the Aube department today. For nearly a century, then, this was not simply a private residence but a working newsroom and printing house at the center of Troyes life.

Is the building officially protected?

Yes. Hôtel de la Croix d'Or has been listed as a monument historique since 1926, giving its facade and structure formal heritage protection. A full restoration took place between 1992 and 1994, after which the interior was converted into private apartments.

Can visitors go inside?

Since the restoration turned the interior into residential flats, there's no public access to the rooms - the draw here is the facade itself, best appreciated on foot from rue de la Monnaie. That's still reason enough to slow down: the geometric brick-and-stone pattern, the surviving half-timbering, and the wrought-iron balcony work together give a clear sense of what an elegant Renaissance townhouse in Troyes looked like.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit inside Hôtel de la Croix d'Or? No, the building now functions as private housing, so only the exterior facade can be viewed from the street.

Why does the facade look so distinctive? The alternating brick-and-chalkstone checkerboard pattern is a classic 16th-century decorative style used on wealthy Troyes townhouses, paired here with a wide carriage entrance.

What was the building's connection to the local press? From 1888 to 1985 it housed a printing works and newspaper office, producing successively "Le Petit Républicain," "La Tribune de l'Aube," and finally "L'Est-Éclair."

When was it listed as a historic monument? Hôtel de la Croix d'Or gained monument historique status in 1926, and underwent a full restoration between 1992 and 1994.