Maison à pans de bois du 15e siècle
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison à pans de bois du 15e siècle, located in Chinon (Indre-et-Loire), 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
- Chinon, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.1673, 0.2428
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00097676
A medieval jewel in the crown of Chinon, this 15th-century timber-framed house reveals its sculpted corbels and moulded jambs, precious witnesses to the Gothic civil architecture of Touraine.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
In the heart of Chinon, a royal town whose medieval past is evident on every façade, this timber-framed corner house is one of the most eloquent examples of late Gothic civil architecture in Indre-et-Loire. Its two wooden upper storeys, slightly projected onto the street by a corbel supported by elaborate brackets, offer passers-by an instantly recognisable silhouette, made even more precious by the passage of time. What makes this residence truly unique is the quality of conservation of its structural elements. Where so many half-timbered houses have been stripped of their ornamentation over the centuries, the uprights and crosspieces here have retained their original moulding, a remarkably fine detail that testifies to the care taken by 15th-century craftsmen, even in middle-class buildings. Although the earthen slabs traditionally used in this type of construction have been replaced by brickwork - a typical feature of 18th and 19th century renovations - the oak framework remains that of the period. The ground floor, which was modernised at some unspecified time, is now made of tufa stone, an emblematic material of the Loire Valley, giving the building an interesting dialogue between two eras and two construction techniques. This material stratification is in itself an open-air lesson in architectural history. To visit this house is to immerse yourself in the medieval urban fabric of Chinon, the town where Joan of Arc met Charles VII in 1429 and where Rabelais was born on the outskirts of the city. The street where this building stands is part of an exceptional urban fabric, listed and preserved, making Chinon one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Loire Valley. Photographers and architecture enthusiasts will particularly appreciate the low-angled morning light on the dark wood and light-coloured brick of the hoardings.
Architecture
The house is set on a corner, typical of medieval town planning, allowing two facades to face the public thoroughfare simultaneously. This privileged position meant that its builder had to take particular care in the treatment of the two sides, transforming the building into a veritable architectural manifesto visible from several directions. The structure rests on an oak framework made up of vertical posts (timber-framed), horizontal crossbeams and oblique overhangs that ensure the rigidity of the whole - a construction system perfected throughout the Middle Ages and perfectly mastered in Touraine in the 15th century. The corbelled upper storeys, which protrude slightly from the ground floor, are supported by mixed wood and stone brackets, a technical and decorative detail that visually lightens the transition between storeys, while at the same time demonstrating a late Gothic ornamental vocabulary. The mouldings on the jambs and transoms - grooves, torus and chamfers - are still perfectly legible, placing this house in the tradition of Gothic joinery in the Loire Valley. The ground floor, rebuilt in tufa stone, contrasts with the golden warmth of the wood on the upper levels. The brickwork that now fills the gaps between the posts, although not original, ensures that the structural framework is clearly visible. The roof, which had to be steeply pitched to comply with local fifteenth-century custom, crowns this ensemble with a leaning, slightly asymmetrical silhouette, typical of the charm of medieval houses that the centuries have imperceptibly shaped.
Related Figures
Jeanne d'Arc — rencontra Charles VII au château de Chinon en 1429, figure tutélaire de la ville médiévaleCharles VII — roi de France résidant à Chinon, dont la présence contribua à l'essor architectural de la ville au XVe siècleFrançois Rabelais — natif de la région chinonaise, témoin littéraire de la vie urbaine tourangelle au XVIe siècleAndré Malraux — ministre des Affaires culturelles dont la politique patrimoniale aboutit à l'inscription du monument en 1962Artisans charpentiers tourangeaux — maîtres d'œuvre anonymes de cette ossature en chêne aux moulures gothiques tardives
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison à pans de bois du 15e siècle located?
Maison à pans de bois du 15e siècle is located in Chinon, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Maison à pans de bois du 15e siècle built?
Maison à pans de bois du 15e siècle dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Maison à pans de bois du 15e siècle open to visitors?
Maison à pans de bois du 15e siècle is currently closed to visitors.