Maison des Rois
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison des Rois, located in Saumur (Maine-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
- Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.2587, -0.0769
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00109334
A medieval architectural gem in Saumur, the Maison des Rois, with its facades carved from white tuffeau stone, stands in the heart of the old town, a rare example of royal domestic architecture in the Loire region.
History
Nestling in the historic fabric of Saumur, the flagship town of the Loire Valley, the Maison des Rois is one of the few surviving examples of medieval and late-Renaissance civil architecture in Maine-et-Loire. Its evocative name recalls the close ties between the Capetian and Valois sovereigns and this strategic city, the gateway from Anjou to Touraine. What makes this building truly unique is the quality of its construction in tuffeau, the white limestone quarried in the Loire Valley that gives houses in Saumur their characteristic luminosity. Carefully hewn, the stone reveals mouldings, mullioned windows and meticulously-crafted sculpted details, testifying to the skills of the local master builders who worked for the region's noble and royal elite. To visit the Maison des Rois is to plunge into the intimacy of a bourgeois or noble residence that has survived the centuries without losing the essence of its architectural identity. Its volumes, rhythmic openings and the sober ornamentation of its façade speak eloquently of a refined art of living, far removed from the ostentatious splendour of the great châteaux but with an equally assertive dignity. The setting of this monument adds to its charm: Saumur, dominated by its castle perched on a rocky outcrop, offers walkers a maze of cobbled streets where each façade tells a page of history. The Maison des Rois is part of this remarkable urban ensemble, listed and protected, which makes Saumur one of the most attractive heritage towns in Maine-et-Loire. For lovers of medieval civil architecture, often overshadowed by the great castles of the Loire, this monument represents a precious discovery: an authentic heritage on a human scale, inviting visitors to imagine the daily life of the powerful in royal Anjou.
Architecture
The Maison des Rois is a representative example of 14th-15th century civil architecture in the Loire Valley, with elements of transition to the Renaissance. Built of tuffeau, the golden-white stone typical of the Loire Valley, it features an orderly facade whose rhythm is punctuated by finely carved stone mullioned windows, characteristic of the late flamboyant Gothic style. The moulded frames, profiled window sills and modenature details bear witness to the particular care taken with the exterior appearance, in keeping with the rank of its occupants. The general massing of the building is in keeping with the style of luxury urban houses in the Anjou region: a narrow, deep main building with a steeply pitched roof covered in flat tiles or slate, with a clear hierarchy of levels, with a commercial or service ground floor and upper floors reserved for flats. The local stonemasons were able to use the easily sculpted tufa stone to create a sober but refined décor, the quality of which sets this building apart from ordinary buildings. Inside, the original layout probably consisted of large rooms on the first floor accessed by a spiral staircase or a staircase with straight flights, typical of medieval homes in the region. The monumental tufa fireplaces, a key feature of medieval and Renaissance domestic life, contributed to the solemn appearance of the reception rooms, reinforcing the idea that the residence was intended to receive distinguished guests.
Related Figures
Philippe Auguste — roi de France ayant intégré Saumur au domaine royal en 1203René d'Anjou, dit le bon roi René — duc d'Anjou et mécène qui rayonna sur Saumur au XVe sièclePhilippe Duplessis-Mornay — gouverneur protestant de Saumur, figure politique majeure des guerres de ReligionLouis XI — roi de France qui séjourna à Saumur et contribua à l'essor de la ville royaleFoulques Nerra — comte d'Anjou, bâtisseur légendaire qui fortifia Saumur dès le XIe siècle
Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison des Rois located?
Maison des Rois is located in Saumur, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
When was Maison des Rois built?
Maison des Rois dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Maison des Rois open to visitors?
Maison des Rois is currently closed to visitors.