Hôtel de la Rochepot

Hôtel de la Rochepot is a Renaissance townhouse in the historic centre of Beaune, standing on Place Monge — one of those Burgundian "hôtels particuliers" that's easy to walk past, though behind its facade lie courtyards worth stopping for.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The building sits at 9 Place Monge, right in the heart of Beaune, within walking distance of the town's main sights. The Musée du Vin de Bourgogne, the Basilique Notre-Dame, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Patriarche Père et Fils wine house are all just a few minutes away on foot. It's a convenient base for exploring Beaune without a car — the old town is compact and most landmarks sit within a fifteen-minute walk of each other.

What will you see?

Also known as Hôtel Meursault, the building has been listed as a monument historique since 1889. Its history goes back to the third or fourth quarter of the 15th century, though its present appearance is largely the result of a remodel in the 1520s — the ensemble as a whole is dated to 1522.

The main draw is the layout of two courtyards. A side passage leads from the first courtyard to a second residential wing; the two buildings are linked by a three-storey gallery and a stair tower. The gallery is fully open, pierced by wide arches, and each level is covered by a stone ribbed vault. The facade is decorated with high-relief busts, a hallmark of early 16th-century Burgundian stone carving.

The second courtyard has a different character — it's bordered by structures showing 17th-century features, has its own gallery, and opens onto rue de l'Enfant (formerly rue Saint-Étienne). Walking through the property effectively means passing through two architectural eras hidden behind a single street facade.

Today the building serves a practical purpose: it now houses Le Loft de la Rochepot, a small guesthouse that pairs the historic stonework with a modern interior. That makes it one of the rare Beaune townhouses where visitors can do more than admire the facade — they can actually spend a night inside.

When should you visit?

Beaune is at its best in spring and autumn, when the town is quieter than during peak summer and the surrounding Côte d'Or vineyards look their most striking — fresh green in spring, turning gold and red during the grape harvest in autumn. Since Hôtel de la Rochepot now operates partly as accommodation, the courtyards and facade are best appreciated from the street during the day, as a stop on a walk through Beaune's old town alongside the Hôtel-Dieu and the medieval ramparts.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside Hôtel de la Rochepot? The building currently functions as a guesthouse (Le Loft de la Rochepot), so the interior and courtyards are mainly accessible to guests staying there. The facade and street-visible architectural details can be admired while walking through the town centre.

Why is the building also called Hôtel Meursault? Both names refer to the same townhouse and appear side by side in historical records and heritage listings — common for old Burgundian city residences that changed owners over the centuries.

How far is it from Beaune's main attractions? The Musée du Vin de Bourgogne, the Basilique Notre-Dame and the Museum of Fine Arts are all roughly a five-minute walk away, since the building sits right in the middle of the old town.

What's the most notable architectural feature here? The three-storey gallery connecting the two wings, with ribbed vaults on every level and high-relief busts dated to 1522 — a detail that sets this townhouse apart from others in Beaune.