Immeuble
MonumentHidden Treasure
Immeuble, located in Josselin (Département 56), 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
- Josselin, Département 56, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.9555, -2.5483
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00091315
In the heart of Josselin, this 16th-century timber-framed building features bold corbelling, sculpted floral motifs and bracketed chamfers, discreet reminders of a Breton art of building at its apogee.
History
Nestling in the narrow streets of Josselin, a small medieval town in the Morbihan region dominated by the imposing Château des Rohan, this timber-framed building is one of the most significant examples of Breton civil architecture from the nascent Renaissance. Although its façade lacks the ostentation of the great stately homes, it has a sober, sophisticated elegance that is only revealed to those who take the time to look up. The first thing that strikes the attentive visitor is the subtle harmony between the masonry ground floor, with its solid stone base, and the timber-framed upper floors, whose protruding beams punctuate the façade with carpenter's precision. Far from being a simple utilitarian construction, the building bears witness to the skills of 16th-century Josselin craftsmen, who were able to combine structure and ornament with remarkable economy of means. The carved floral motifs that adorn the woodwork stand out like so many discreet signatures, reminding us that even in bourgeois and merchant architecture, beauty had its place. These plant motifs, characteristic of the late flamboyant Gothic and early Renaissance influences, place the building at the crossroads of two major architectural aesthetics. Exploring this building also means immersing yourself in the atmosphere of a town that, in the 16th century, lived in the shadow of the powerful Rohan lineage. The cobbled streets, the corbelled houses that lean slightly towards each other, and the relative silence of this preserved historic centre provide the ideal setting for a stroll to soak up the soul of inland Brittany. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1944, the building has a heritage status that guarantees its preservation within the urban fabric of Josselin. It is ideal for a walk combined with a visit to the Château des Rohan and the Notre-Dame-du-Roncier basilica, which together form a remarkably coherent architectural triptych.
Architecture
The building has two clearly distinct sections: a stone masonry ground floor, which provides stability and anchors the building in the local building tradition, and timber-framed upper storeys, whose exposed structure is the main architectural feature. This material duality - stone below, wood above - is characteristic of 15th and 16th century Breton buildings, where limestone and schist rubbed shoulders with oak from inland forests. The most spectacular feature of the façade is the corbelling of the gable walls and the timber-framed overhang. Thanks to this process, each storey projects slightly over the public space, creating a controlled cantilever effect that gives the street its characteristic silhouette. The ends of the beams protrude from the façade, forming structural brackets that support the floor of the upper storey and give visual rhythm to the composition. On these exposed pieces of wood, the craftsmen have carved floral motifs - roses, foliage, interlacing - that soften the rigour of the framework and assert the decorative taste of the period. The entrance door and a window on the ground floor still have traces of chamfers and accolade mouldings, a typical flamboyant Gothic ornament from the early 16th century in Brittany, partially masked by mortar repairs. These lapidary elements confirm that the lower level was the object of particular care, intended to convey the dignity of the dwelling to passers-by.
Related Figures
Artisans charpentiers josselinais du XVIe siècle (bâtisseurs anonymes de l'édifice)Olivier de Clisson (connétable de France et seigneur de Josselin, figure tutélaire de la ville au tournant du XVe siècle)Jean II de Rohan (seigneur de Josselin sous le règne duquel l'architecture civile de la ville connut un essor notable au XVIe siècle)Inspecteurs des Monuments Historiques (fonctionnaires des Beaux-Arts ayant prononcé l'inscription en mai 1944)
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Immeuble located?
Immeuble is located in Josselin, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Immeuble built?
Immeuble dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Immeuble open to visitors?
Immeuble is currently closed to visitors.