Petit Saint-Vincent Hotel

The building on your left, with its two turrets facing the street, dates back to the 15th century. It’s the Petit Saint-Vincent hotel, a townhouse that belonged to the monks of the Saint-Vincent abbey. The abbeys were quick to understand the importance of having safe havens within the city walls in case of trouble. Remember that Laon was an actual fortress. The townhouse could thus serve both as a residence for their guests, and as a hideout in the event of external attack. The Petit Saint-Vincent hotel is one of the finest remaining examples of this type of refuge. Take a stroll around the courtyard to explore it at your leisure. During the Wars of Religion, the hotel served as headquarters for the Catholic League of France, and then, during the Revolution, it became a popular meeting place. Today, it houses the Maison des Métiers d’Art, that is, the House of Arts and Crafts; it’s a venue steeped in history, with exhibitions of works by craftsmen and craftswomen. The main structure of the building is listed as a historical monument.