Maison, 21 allée Coysevox
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison, 21 allée Coysevox, located in Rennes (Département 35), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Rennes, Département 35, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.1163, -1.6825
- Mérimée Reference
- PA35000083
A middle-class Rennes residence listed as a Historic Monument in 2018, allée Coysevox is a remarkable example of refined 19th-century urban living, nestling in the residential district of Brittany's capital.
History
In the heart of Rennes, in the peaceful allée Coysevox, stands a bourgeois house whose discreet elegance contrasts with the bustle of the Breton metropolis. Listed as a Historic Monument by decree on 27 March 2018, this residence illustrates with rare authenticity the way in which well-off Rennes families conceived their living environment at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries: a subtle balance between social representation and domestic comfort, between the sobriety of the façade and interior refinement. What sets this house apart in the urban fabric of Rennes is precisely its ability to synthesise the aspirations of a cultivated provincial bourgeoisie, attached to its Breton terroir, while absorbing the Parisian and neo-classical architectural influences of the time. The controlled volumes, meticulous proportions and attention to ornamental detail make this a particularly clear example of a residential heritage that is all too often overlooked. Although the building remains in private ownership, it is best enjoyed from the street: observing the composition of the facade, the modelling, the window sills and the interplay of materials is a silent way of deciphering a century of Rennes social history. The attentive stroller will be able to read the ambitions and taste of an era. The allée Coysevox itself, named in honour of the great sculptor Antoine Coysevox, who was born in Lyon but whose work spread throughout France, adds an extra cultural dimension to the address. This quiet, tree-lined residential area forms a green setting that enhances this built heritage with all the serenity it deserves.
Architecture
The house at 21 allée Coysevox is typical of late 19th-century bourgeois domestic architecture in Rennes. The façade, probably made of local granite - the stone favoured by Breton builders for its robustness and beautiful bluish-grey hue - is arranged in a symmetrical composition that reflects the neo-classical rigour inherited from the reconstruction of Rennes in the 18th century. The evenly-spaced openings are framed by carefully-crafted mouldings; the window sills and cornices are probably carefully carved, the hallmark of high-quality local craftsmanship. The roof is steeply pitched, as is customary in Brittany to cope with the heavy rainfall, and is probably covered in natural slate, a material that is emblematic of the region and particularly common in Rennes architecture. The chimney stacks, a characteristic feature of middle-class homes at a time when wood and coal heating were the norm, probably punctuate the ridge line and contribute to the building's distinctive silhouette. The building, which is carefully positioned on its plot, has a clear view from the public thoroughfare, allowing its volumes to be appreciated. This layout - a house set back slightly, preceded or flanked by a garden or courtyard - is typical of nineteenth-century residential developments in Rennes, which sought to introduce into the urban fabric a relationship with nature and space typical of the bourgeois villa.
Related Figures
Antoine Coysevox — sculpteur français (1640-1720), dont le nom a été donné à l'allée, figure tutélaire du lieuJacques Gabriel — architecte, auteur du plan de reconstruction de Rennes après l'incendie de 1720, dont l'héritage urbain imprègne encore la villePropriétaire bâtisseur du XIXe siècle — figure bourgeoise rennaise non identifiée, commanditaire probable de la demeureArchitecte local anonyme — technicien ou entrepreneur du bâtiment rennais ayant conçu et réalisé l'édifice selon les canons régionaux
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison, 21 allée Coysevox located?
Maison, 21 allée Coysevox is located in Rennes, Département 35 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Maison, 21 allée Coysevox built?
Maison, 21 allée Coysevox dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Maison, 21 allée Coysevox open to visitors?
Maison, 21 allée Coysevox is currently closed to visitors.
