Deux maisons
MonumentHidden Treasure
Deux maisons, located in Lamballe (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
- Lamballe, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.4698, -2.5152
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089229
In the heart of Lamballe, these two 17th-century houses epitomise Breton civil architecture in all its refined sobriety: granite facades, half-timbering and corbelling bear witness to exceptional local craftsmanship.
History
Nestling in the narrow streets of old Lamballe, the historic capital of the Penthièvre region, these two 17th-century houses are a rare and precious example of Breton civil architecture from the modern era. In a town whose identity has been largely shaped by its medieval and post-medieval heritage, these houses stand out for their preserved authenticity and their place in the town's original urban fabric. What makes these houses truly unique is the fact that they form part of a coherent whole, which was jointly protected as a monument in 1926. It is rare for two ordinary dwellings to be listed together, a sign that their value lies as much in the way they complement each other as in their intrinsic qualities. They illustrate the prosperity of Lamballe's bourgeoisie and craftsmen during the great century, a period when the town flourished in terms of trade and crafts. Visitors to the narrow streets of Lamballe will discover these facades with the eye of an everyday archaeologist: each sculpted lintel, each corbel, each granite base tells the story of life in a provincial town at its height. The human scale of these buildings contrasts pleasantly with the grand noble residences, offering an intimate and touching insight into local social history. Lamballe's setting amplifies the emotion of the heritage: the nearby collegiate church of Saint-Aubin, the cobbled streets leading down to the Place du Martray, the markets that brought life to these same places as far back as the 17th century - everything helps to place these houses in a lively, coherent atmosphere. Photographers and lovers of vernacular architecture will find inexhaustible material here, far from the tourist crowds of the great Breton châteaux.
Architecture
These two houses are typical of 17th-century Breton civil architecture, combining local granite masonry and timber-framed walls in a building tradition that is firmly rooted in the region. The slightly corbelled facades on the street reveal the gradual overhanging of the upper storeys, a technique used to maximise living space while giving the building a picturesque, instantly recognisable silhouette. The timber-framed walls, masoned with wattle and daub or brick, form sober geometric patterns, typical of Breton provincial classicism. The openings are distinguished by their finely-cut granite frames, with straight or slightly curved lintels depending on the level - a trademark of the Lamballais craftsmen of the period, who combined technical rigour with a discreet concern for ornament. The steeply pitched roofs, covered in natural slate from Anjou or Brittany, meet the climatic requirements of a region subject to frequent rainfall. The massive, well-proportioned granite chimneys punctuate the ridge lines with authority. The interiors of these houses, structured around an efficient vertical layout, reflect the customs of the provincial bourgeoisie of the Grand Siècle: the ground floor is given over to commercial or craft activities, with the upper floors reserved for living quarters. Oak floors, exposed beams and fireplaces with moulded mantels are the decorative features of an interior whose sobriety does not exclude a certain dignity. The ensemble is a perfect illustration of what Breton vernacular architecture does best: enduring, by combining local materials with time-honoured know-how.
Related Figures
Propriétaires bourgeois lamballais du XVIIe siècle (marchands ou officiers de justice, commanditaires probables)Maîtres maçons bretons anonymes du XVIIe siècle, héritiers de la tradition constructive en granitCharpentiers locaux spécialistes des ossatures à pans de boisConservateurs des Monuments Historiques des Côtes-du-Nord (années 1920), artisans de l'inscription de 1926Les comtes et ducs de Penthièvre, dont l'autorité politique structurait la ville au XVIIe siècle
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Deux maisons located?
Deux maisons is located in Lamballe, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Deux maisons built?
Deux maisons dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Deux maisons open to visitors?
Deux maisons is currently closed to visitors.