Palais Fontette in Caen: a 4-star Marriott hotel with 196 rooms, 830 m² spa and 519-seat conference centre by 2027-2028

In Caen, the former courthouse on place Fontette, decommissioned since July 2015, is set to undergo the most ambitious transformation in its modern history. This 18th-century neoclassical building, listed on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments, will house a 4-star hotel with 196 rooms managed by the Marriott group, accompanied by an 830 m² spa, a 685 m² brasserie and a new 3,400 m² conference centre.

The project is led by Luminare Invest Management, selected unanimously by the City of Caen’s selection committee on 9 September 2019, following an open call for projects launched in May 2018. The legal structure rests on a 99-year administrative long lease: the municipality retains ownership of the historic building, while the operator bears the full €63 million investment.

Built between 1779 and 1784, the Palais Fontette is the work of Caen architect Jean-Baptiste Pollyon. Its colonnade facade and Doric peristyle make it one of the finest examples of neoclassical judicial architecture in Normandy. The building successively housed the civil and criminal courts of Caen until the new judicial complex opened in July 2015. Listed on the supplementary inventory of historic monuments, it has since benefited from strict heritage protection under the supervision of the DRAC Normandie.

The project led by Equipage Architecture respects the approach advocated by the DRAC: full preservation of the facades, peristyle and historic courtrooms (notably the Salle des Pas-Perdus and the assize court) which will be converted into reception spaces and lounges. The only demolitions concern the former Juvenile Court, the non-listed part of the complex, whose footprint will be replaced by a new building dedicated to the conference centre.

The signing of the Marriott brand to operate the hotel is the project’s standout achievement: it will be the first Marriott property in Caen and one of the rare international 4-star hotels of this 196-key scale anywhere in Normandy outside the coastline. Its capacity exceeds that of the three largest currently active hotels in the Caen metropolitan area combined. The exact brand under the Marriott umbrella (Courtyard, Delta, AC, Marriott Hotels) has not been officially announced to date, but the positioning as a high-end business and leisure property points toward the group’s full service brands.

The 196 rooms and suites will occupy the entirety of the historic palace’s 10,900 m². The palace’s grand ground-floor spaces (Salle des Pas-Perdus, assize court, vestibule) will be converted into a lobby, a prestigious restaurant and a library lounge. The upper floors, formerly reserved for offices and clerk services, will accommodate most of the guest rooms.

The programme includes two signature facilities that set the hotel well above the average for 4-star properties in the region: an 830 m² spa (comparable to the spa surface areas of Parisian palaces such as the Royal Monceau spa at 1,500 m² or the Cheval Blanc at 1,700 m²) and a 685 m² brasserie. The exact spa configuration (number of treatment rooms, pool, hammam) has not yet been publicly communicated, but the surface area suggests a minimum of 8 to 10 treatment rooms, a hydrothermal circuit and a fitness space.

The brasserie, opening onto the place Fontette, is designed as a neighbourhood address as much as a hotel restaurant. Luminare’s stated objective is for it to welcome hotel guests, business clients from the conference centre and local Caen residents alike. This “urban living space” approach is rare among French Marriott hotels, which tend to remain relatively private to outside visitors.

The new extension built on the former Juvenile Court site (the non-listed portion) will house a 3,400 m² conference centre, comprising a large conference hall with 519 seated and over 1,400 standing places, supplemented by several breakout rooms. This capacity was sorely missing in Caen: the city had until now had no facility of this size in its historic centre, forcing event organisers of any scale to fall back on the Zénith on the outskirts.

The extension building also provides for the opening of a public paved alleyway connecting the place Saint-Sauveur to the rue Saint-Manvieu, recreating a pedestrian route forgotten since the courthouse was built. This urban gesture, long called for by local traders, is one of the conditions negotiated with the municipality for the granting of the long lease.

The new amended permit incorporates all of the DRAC’s recommendations regarding historical preservation and guarantees unobstructed views for residents. Our wish is for the project to conclude as quickly as possible, as the building is deteriorating.

· Nathalie Bourhis, Deputy Mayor of Caen in charge of heritage

See also

Hotel news in FranceNew hotel openings

Christmas at the Dolce by Wyndham Versailles, with a Yule Log enhanced by an Edible Fragrance

The regulatory path has not been straightforward. An initial building permit was issued on 28 July 2023, then cancelled in May 2025 by the Caen administrative tribunal following a challenge from local residents. The Nantes administrative court of appeal is expected to rule in the coming months on this dispute.

In parallel, Luminare filed an amended building permit on 31 March 2026, correcting the non-compliance points identified by the tribunal and incorporating the DRAC’s recommendations (notably regarding facade openings and unobstructed views for residents). The administrative review will take approximately five months, with a decision expected in September-October 2026.

Subject to approval, construction is expected to begin at the end of 2026, with a commercial opening in 2027-2028. Heritage rehabilitation projects of this scale (15,000 m² in total, listed facades and historic interiors to restore) typically take 18 to 24 months.

Sources: Official file caen.fr/palais-fontette (last updated 25 March 2026), press releases from Caen city hall, France 3 Régions, DRAC Normandie, Luminare Invest Management, renderings by Equipage Architecture. Article updated 22 May 2026 · information subject to change depending on the outcome of the administrative dispute.