Maison datée de 1602
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison datée de 1602, 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
- 47.9533, -2.5493
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00091316
A jewel of medieval Josselin, this timber-framed house dating from 1602 features sculpted corbels above a masonry ground floor, a rare example of Breton domestic architecture at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries.
History
In the heart of Josselin, a heritage town nestling in the meanders of the River Oust in Morbihan, stands a house that catches the eye as much as it tells the story of an era. Dating from 1602 and listed as a Historic Monument since 1944, it eloquently embodies the art of building of the Breton bourgeoisie at the dawn of the Grand Siècle, a period when carved wood rivalled carved stone in prestige. What makes this residence truly unique is the quality of its urban silhouette. The corbelling - a technique whereby the upper storeys gradually extend out onto the street - gives the façade an almost theatrical dynamism. The wooden runners and brackets, patiently assembled by skilled Breton carpenters, bear witness to skills that have been passed down since the Middle Ages, while incorporating Renaissance refinements. The more sober masonry ground floor anchors the whole solidly in the ground and contrasts with the woody exuberance of the upper levels. The experience of visiting the house from the outside - for it remains private property - is one of almost meditative contemplation. You have to stop, look up, and let your gaze wander over the curved rafters of the roof, these curved pieces of wood that soften the ridge line and reveal the attention paid to the smallest detail. Each carved element is a signature, the work of anonymous craftsmen whose talent lives on four centuries later. The setting enhances the charm of the building. Josselin, dominated by the enchanting profile of its Rohan château, which is reflected in the river Oust, has one of the best-preserved old town centres in Brittany. The street in which this dated house stands is part of a coherent urban fabric, where the half-timbered houses form a continuous architectural dialogue. It is here, in this continuity, that the 1944 heritage listing takes on its full meaning: preserving not just a building, but a living fragment of Breton identity.
Architecture
Dating from 1602, this house is a remarkably pure example of the principles of domestic timber-frame architecture as practised in Brittany between the 15th and early 17th centuries. The structure rests on a masonry ground floor, built in local granite according to regional custom, which ensures the solidity of the whole and protects the base from rising damp. Above this base, the timber-framed upper storeys form a facade punctuated by oak posts, runners and braces, assembled using mortise and tenon joints and traditional carpentry techniques. The corbelling is the most spectacular element of the composition. Each upper level projects slightly above the one below, creating a gradual overhang that enlarges the living space on the upper floors while casting a shifting shadow over the street depending on the time of day. This layout, which was both functional and aesthetic, was also a sign of prestige: the corbelling required advanced technical expertise and quality materials, signalling from the outset the solvency of the client. The sculpted brackets and brackets that support the overhang bear witness to the ornamental care that went into a structure that was primarily utilitarian. The roof, covered in tiles or slate depending on the successive renovations, is distinguished by its scalloped rafters - pieces of wood whose S-shaped or curved profile smoothes the transition between the wall and the eaves. This detail, characteristic of Breton carpentry in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, reveals a level of attention to finish that goes well beyond the merely functional, and bears witness to a regional architectural culture of great sophistication.
Related Figures
Le commanditaire anonyme de 1602 — bourgeois josselinois (marchand ou officier) dont le nom reste inconnu mais dont l'ambition architecturale a traversé les sièclesLes charpentiers-maîtres bretons du début du XVIIe siècle — artisans anonymes formés dans la tradition des ateliers de Bretagne intérieureLes Rohan — famille seigneuriale dont la présence à Josselin depuis le XIe siècle a structuré le développement urbain et stimulé la prospérité bourgeoise ayant rendu possible de telles constructionsLes conservateurs des Monuments Historiques de 1944 — dont la décision d'inscription du 16 mai 1944 a préservé l'édifice pour les générations futures
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison datée de 1602 located?
Maison datée de 1602 is located in Josselin, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Maison datée de 1602 built?
Maison datée de 1602 dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Maison datée de 1602 open to visitors?
Maison datée de 1602 is currently closed to visitors.