Deux maisons à pans de bois
MonumentHidden Treasure
Deux maisons à pans de bois, located in Lannion (Département 22), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Lannion, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.7311, -3.4567
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089267
In the heart of old Lannion, these two 16th-century timber-framed houses embody Breton construction genius: carved half-timbering, bold corbelling and lively facades with a rare medieval authenticity.
History
Nestling in the cobbled streets of Lannion's historic centre, these two timber-framed houses are one of the most eloquent examples of Breton Renaissance civil architecture. Built in the 16th century, at a time when the city of Trégor enjoyed remarkable commercial prosperity, they form part of a coherent urban ensemble that makes Lannion one of the best-preserved towns in the Côtes-d'Armor region. What sets these houses apart from the multitude of half-timbered buildings in Brittany is the exceptional quality of their carpentry and the generosity of their sculpted decoration. The wooden beams, squared by hand and assembled using techniques handed down from master to journeyman, form a network of geometric lines and curves that are enhanced by ornamental motifs - grotesques, human heads, stylised foliage - typical of the decorative art of the Renaissance trégorois. The visit here is essentially a visual and sensory experience: you have to look up, let your eyes wander over the projections of the successive corbels, and appreciate the way in which each storey juts out slightly above the previous one, creating an overhanging effect that protects as much as it impresses. The façades, naturally weathered by the centuries, reveal shades ranging from golden brown to silvery grey, depending on exposure and the age of the wood. The general setting of the old town amplifies the emotion: the steep streets leading down to the Léguer, the terraced houses forming a continuous built-up front, the discreet signs and shopfronts that recall the district's centuries-old commercial vocation. These two houses blend in naturally, while standing out for their age and architectural quality. For visitors with a keen interest in the area's heritage, they are a must-see when exploring Lannion.
Architecture
These two houses are a perfect illustration of the type of timber-framed urban house built in Trégor in the 16th century, characterised by an exposed oak frame that serves both as a load-bearing structure and a decorative element. The construction technique is based on an assembly of posts, runners and diagonal bracing forming regular bays, between which are laid cob or mud brick floor slabs. The upper storeys are built in successive corbelling, with each level projecting slightly beyond the previous one, giving the façades the flared profile so characteristic of late medieval and Renaissance architecture in Breton towns. The sculpted decoration on the beams and corner posts is one of the major assets of these buildings. They feature motifs that were popular in 16th-century Breton ornamental repertoire: interlacing, foliage scrolls, anthropomorphic figures whose expressions are captured in the mass of wood, and geometric rosettes reminiscent of the influence of contemporary stone sculpture. The thresholds and lintels also feature elaborate mouldings, testifying to the skills of local carpenters and sculptors, heirs to a long tradition of craftsmanship in Trégor. The steeply pitched roof, as befits the Breton climate, was originally covered in local slate, the dominant material throughout the Lannion region. The ground floor, which is more open, probably featured large windows for displaying goods, in keeping with the usual layout of medieval and Renaissance trading houses. Together, the two houses form a harmonious architectural dialogue, sharing a common formal language while each displaying its own personality in the detail of its ornamentation.
Related Figures
Marchands trégorois du XVIe siècle — commanditaires probables des maisons, acteurs de la prospérité commerciale de LannionCharpentiers-sculpteurs bretons anonymes — artisans responsables de la remarquable qualité décorative des pans de boisProsper Mérimée — inspecteur général des Monuments historiques, père de la politique de protection du patrimoine en FranceThéophile Mal — architecte des Bâtiments de France ayant œuvré à la préservation du patrimoine des Côtes-du-Nord au début du XXe siècleJean-Marie de La Mennais — figure ecclésiastique et culturelle bretonne dont l'action contribua à valoriser le patrimoine régional
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Deux maisons à pans de bois located?
Deux maisons à pans de bois is located in Lannion, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Deux maisons à pans de bois built?
Deux maisons à pans de bois dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Deux maisons à pans de bois open to visitors?
Deux maisons à pans de bois is currently closed to visitors.