Maison du 16e siècle, dite Maison du Chapelier
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison du 16e siècle, dite Maison du Chapelier, located in Lannion (Département 22), 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
- Lannion, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.7321, -3.4581
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089273
In the heart of Lannion, this 17th-century half-timbered house dazzles with its two polygonal slate belfries, a rare symmetrical feature that makes it a jewel of Breton civil architecture.
History
In the labyrinth of cobbled streets in old Lannion, the Maison du Chapelier stands out as one of the most unusual civil facades in the whole of Brittany. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1963, it owes its fame to an architectural composition that no-one has tried in vain to reproduce elsewhere in France: two polygonal brackets arranged with perfect symmetry on either side of the central window, superimposed over two storeys, creating a play of projecting volumes of rare elegance. The first thing that strikes visitors is the harmony of its materials. The timber-framed structure - the main construction technique used in 16th and 17th century Breton buildings - is clad entirely in slate, the characteristic Trégor cladding that gives the building a dark, satiny hue, almost lacquered in the rain. Far from weighing down the façade, this mineral flaking gives it a lively texture that changes with the light of day. The ingenuity of the construction can also be seen in the design of the floors: each level forms a natural canopy that protects the floor below from the elements. A solution that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, perfectly suited to the damp climate of the Côtes-d'Armor. It's easy to imagine the hatter who used to run his business here, sheltered by these generous overhangs that spill out onto the street. Now part of the lively fabric of Lannion town centre, the house can be visited from the outside, with the façade itself providing the spectacle. The surrounding old quarter - with its other half-timbered houses from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries - forms a coherent whole that makes for a first-rate architectural walk. Photography enthusiasts will particularly appreciate the golden hour in the late afternoon, when the low-angled light reveals all the raised volumes of the bretches.
Architecture
The Maison du Chapelier belongs to the large family of Breton timber-framed buildings, a technique that consists of erecting a framework of oak beams and half-timbering, with the empty spaces filled by a floor slab. The special feature here is that the entire wooden structure is covered with slate laid in tile fashion, forming a protective shell that is characteristic of the Trégor region. This slate cladding, which replaces the usual roughcast or cob, gives the building its dark, shiny silhouette that is so recognisable in the urban landscape of Lannion. The most spectacular feature is the two polygonal brackets, closed projections with canted sides that project from the façade on two levels. Their perfectly symmetrical arrangement on either side of the central window is described in the official sources as "original and rarely adopted" - a phrase which, in the vocabulary used in heritage inventories, means a singularity that is virtually unique in France. Each bretèche, topped with its own slate roof, multiplies the planes and angles, creating a facade of remarkable plastic richness for a town house. The lower part of each storey also forms a corbelled canopy protecting the storey below, following the principle of the British jetty or Breton corroyage, which increases the living space on the upper floors while providing shelter at street level.
Related Figures
Artisans chapeliers lannionnais du XVIIe siècle (commanditaires présumés de la demeure)Maîtres charpentiers du Trégor (bâtisseurs anonymes de la structure à pan de bois)Architectes des Bâtiments de France ayant instruit le dossier de classement MH en 1963André Malraux (ministre des Affaires culturelles au moment du classement, 1963)Historiens et ethnologues du patrimoine breton ayant signalé l'édifice au milieu du XXe siècle
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison du 16e siècle, dite Maison du Chapelier located?
Maison du 16e siècle, dite Maison du Chapelier is located in Lannion, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
When was Maison du 16e siècle, dite Maison du Chapelier built?
Maison du 16e siècle, dite Maison du Chapelier dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Maison du 16e siècle, dite Maison du Chapelier open to visitors?
Maison du 16e siècle, dite Maison du Chapelier is currently closed to visitors.
