Maison du Cerisier
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison du Cerisier, located in Tours (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
- Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.3953, 0.6799
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00098215
A rare medieval vestige of old Tours, the Maison du Cerisier takes its name from a carved sign that no longer exists. Its Gothic ashlar facade, crowned by a half-timbered gable, epitomises 15th-century Touraine civil architecture.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
Nestling in the historic heart of Tours, the Maison du Cerisier is one of those discreet but precious witnesses that tell the story of the medieval city better than any book. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1948, it is one of a rare group of 15th-century civil buildings that have survived the fires, wars and successive demolitions that have transformed the face of Tours over the centuries. What immediately sets the Maison du Cerisier apart is the coexistence of two building styles in a single façade: the first floor in carefully dressed ashlar, and the gable in wood and slabs, which gives it the silhouette so characteristic of late medieval bourgeois houses. This hybrid construction is no accident: it reflects the economic practices of the time, when stone was reserved for the upper floors, while wood made it possible to lighten the upper floors while cutting costs. The two rectangular windows pierced by moulded tiers-point relieving arches are a highly elegant architectural detail. These arches, characteristic of late Gothic architecture, are not mere ornaments: they distribute the load of the masonry above the bays, demonstrating a technical mastery that Touraine masons had brought to a high degree of refinement during the 15th century. The house owes its name to a sign that was once carved into the façade, depicting a cherry tree - a motif that gave the street its name. Carved or painted signs were ubiquitous in medieval towns, serving as both an address and a commercial signal for passers-by. The disappearance of this original ornament in no way detracts from the interest of the building, whose current sobriety gives an idea of how busy this shopping street in medieval Tours once was. To visit the Maison du Cerisier is to take a timeless break in a city that was once one of the most important in the kingdom of France. Tours, the favourite residence of the Valois kings, boasted a prosperous merchant bourgeoisie who commissioned quality residences - of which this house is a preserved example. It forms part of a coherent heritage trail, just a stone's throw from other medieval and Renaissance jewels that make this district one of the richest in Touraine.
Architecture
The Maison du Cerisier illustrates an architectural type that is well documented in the prosperous towns of the Loire basin: the house of a medieval nobleman combining stone masonry and timber framing. The best-preserved southern facade provides a direct view of 15th-century construction techniques. The first floor is built entirely of ashlar - Touraine limestone, probably quarried in the region, the material of choice for local builders because it is easy to cut and has a lovely blond colour. Above, the gable is made of wood and "hourdis" (a mixture of earth, lime and straw shuttered between half-timbering), a lighter and more economical solution that was common for the upper parts of medieval civil buildings. The most remarkable feature is the treatment of the bays on the first floor: two rectangular windows, sober in their proportions, are each surmounted by a moulded triangular relief arch. This motif, borrowed from the late Gothic repertoire, is treated here with a finesse that betrays the work of an experienced stonemason. The moulding running along the arch contributes to the overall elegance without becoming ostentatious. This ornamental restraint is typical of middle-class civil architecture in the Loire, as distinct from the pomp and circumstance of the great aristocratic residences. The original floor plan of the house probably corresponded to a classic vertical layout: ground floor open to the street for commercial or craft purposes, first floor reserved for family living, and attic space under the half-timbered gable serving as an attic or secondary bedroom. Although the interior may have been altered over the centuries, the façade retains most of its medieval composition, making it a first-rate architectural document for our knowledge of 15th-century civil housing in Touraine.
Related Figures
Charles VII, roi de France, dont la présence fréquente à Tours au XVe siècle stimula l'essor architectural de la villeLouis XI, roi de France, qui fit de Tours sa résidence de prédilection et favorisa la prospérité bourgeoise localeLes maîtres maçons tourangeaux du XVe siècle, artisans anonymes qui développèrent un savoir-faire architectural spécifique au val de LoireLe premier propriétaire marchand, commanditaire probable de la maison et inventeur de l'enseigne au cerisier sculptéLes architectes des Bâtiments de France, acteurs de la protection et de la conservation du bâtiment depuis son inscription en 1948
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison du Cerisier located?
Maison du Cerisier is located in Tours, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was Maison du Cerisier built?
Maison du Cerisier dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Maison du Cerisier open to visitors?
Maison du Cerisier is currently closed to visitors.