Dans l'esprit de...
A Brief History of
the Abbey
The abbey was founded in Laon in the 6th century but was rebuilt several times. The current walls that remain today are from the 18th century. The 17th-century church that once stood next to it was demolished during the French Revolution. The Abbot's Palace was the only structure that remained. During the 19th century, the site around the abbey was converted into a military complex. The military complex closed in the late 20th century. In 2008, a massive arson fire damaged the Abbot's palace, destroying the roof and floors. Today,, the city of Laon keeps the ruins behind locked gates for safety reasons, but is considering ways to use the site to promote its struggling economy.
The Vestige of the Abbey in 2026
Existing Plan 2026
Abbey in the 18th century
Plan of the Abbey in the 18th century
Drawing of Details from Site Visit on March 3rd, 2026
The Proposal: Reconstruct the Abbey as a Hotel
La reconstruction de l’abbaye en hôtel et la
transformation de l’empreinte de l’église disparue
en place de marché favoriseront le tourisme à
Laon. La partie manquante sera reconstruite selon
l’empreinte d’avant la Révolution française, en
rétablissant le cloître et en ajoutant 30 chambres et 4
suites. L’intervention respecte l’abbaye en reprenant
ses matériaux traditionnels, tels que le calcaire et
l’ardoise, et en suivant sa logique classique. Elle
distingue l’ancien du nouveau en adoucissant
progressivement l’ornementation et les détails afin
que la différence soit claire mais subtile.
Reconstructing the abbey as a hotel and converting the footprint of the missing church into a marketplace will promote tourism in Laon. The missing portion will be reconstructed according to the pre-French Revolution footprint, restoring the cloister and adding 30 guest rooms and 4 suites. The addition respects the abbey by matching its traditional materials, such as limestone and slate, and is guided by its classical logic. It distinguishes old from new by gradually softening the ornament and
detail so that the differences are clear yet subtle.
Slide Show of Plans
Site Plan
