Hostellerie de la Croix d'Or

Hostellerie de la Croix d'Or (often shortened to La Croix d'Or) is a historic inn and restaurant located at 1 rue des Capucins in Provins, Seine-et-Marne, France. Its building's walls and façade date from 1264–1270, and the establishment is cited in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest hostellerie in France. The façade has been listed as a monument historique since 17 April 1931. The inn has continuously operated as a hospitality venue, with the first recorded innkeeper activity dating to 1575. Today it operates as a restaurant and guesthouse (chambres d'hôtes), offering regional cuisine and event facilities. It is a notable heritage tourism asset in Provins, a medieval town designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The building that houses the Hostellerie de la Croix d'Or was constructed between 1264 and 1270, during the reign of Louis IX (Saint Louis). According to local tradition, a forest of oak trees was submerged to provide materials for its construction. The façade, dating from the second half of the 13th century, is described in Viollet-le-Duc's Encyclopédie médiévale (page 561, fig. 16) as an example of a house in Provins on rue de Paris. The first documented innkeeper activity at the site dates to 1575, when Henry Le Hasteux (or Hasteur) operated the inn. He was succeeded by Pacosme Jentel in 1596, and in 1622 Jehan des Rieux took over the establishment, offering "his kitchen, his office, his bakery oven and his cellar." The façade was inscribed as a monument historique on 17 April 1931. The establishment has never changed its activity since its conception, making it the oldest hostellerie in France, as cited in the Guinness Book of Records. Today it continues to operate as a restaurant and guesthouse, serving traditional cuisine and hosting events.

• 1931

  Façade inscribed as a monument historique (17 April).

• 1622

  Jehan des Rieux takes over the establishment.

• 1596

  Pacosme Jentel takes over the inn.

• 1575

  First documented innkeeper activity, by Henry Le Hasteux.

• Construction of the building begins.

• Construction completed at the death of Saint Louis.

Historic inn and restaurant, heritage tourism, traditional French cuisine

• Menu du jour

  €33.90, served Wednesday to Saturday lunch, except public holidays.

• Gastronomic formula

  €54.90.

• Children's menu

  €14.50.

• Group menu

  To be defined with the restaurateur; groups of 20 or more by reservation.

1. 1La Croix d'Or - Provins Tourismeprovins.net
2. 2Hostellerie de la Croix d'Or - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hostellerie de la Croix d'Or - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org