Maison de Milhac-de-Nontron
MonumentHidden Treasure
Maison de Milhac-de-Nontron, located in Milhac-de-Nontron (Dordogne), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Milhac-de-Nontron, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 45.4727, 0.7814
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00082646
At the heart of the Périgord Vert, the maison Fousseyraud captivates with its oak timber frame of rare ingenuity and its legend of stones taken from a revolutionary abbey.
History
Nestling in the gentle countryside of Milhac-de-Nontron, on the northern edge of the Dordogne known as the Périgord Vert, the Fousseyraud house is one of those discreet buildings that reserve their treasures for those who know how to look. Far from the splendour of celebrated châteaux and abbeys, it belongs to that category of French rural dwellings where history has been lodged in the stones without fanfare, patiently waiting to be rediscovered. What strikes you straight away is the composition of the house itself: two distinct parts, arranged around a south-facing axis where most of the volumes are concentrated. Access is via a terraced staircase, the banister of which reveals a precious clue to the history of the site: a reused stone decorated with what looks like four sculpted salamanders. This motif, so dear to the heart of François I, evokes ancient relics, perhaps from some long-gone seigniorial residence, and lends the whole an atmosphere of architectural palimpsest. But the real star of Fousseyraud is to be found under the roofs: an oak framework with a highly original technical design. At a time when rural craftsmen were generally content with tried-and-tested solutions, the carpenter at Fousseyraud opted for a system with turned-up fillets, extended punches and curved struts, demonstrating remarkable mastery and creativity. For lovers of built heritage, this framework alone is a journey back in time. The surrounding countryside adds to the charm of the place. The Périgord Vert, with its wooded hills, shady streams and pale stone villages, offers a natural setting for contemplation. Milhac-de-Nontron is a quiet rural commune, away from the main tourist flows, which guarantees a peaceful visit, far from the summer crowds that invade the emblematic sites of the Périgord Noir.
Architecture
The Fousseyraud house is divided into two distinct sections, the main one of which extends to the south. The main entrance is accessed via an outside staircase leading to a terrace, a common architectural solution in 19th-century Périgord houses, which provides a basement or cellar accessible from the courtyard. The banister of this staircase incorporates a carved stone representing what could be four salamanders, a heraldic or ornamental motif that perhaps refers to a decorative tradition predating the current building. Fousseyraud's major originality lies in its oak roof structure, designed on the principle of the upturned entablature. This system, which is more elaborate than the simple truss frame, opens up the interior space under the attic. Here, the puncheons extend well below the plane of the upturned tie-beams and are stabilised by four curved struts, forming a structural skeleton of rare elegance. A long horizontal beam connects all the punches together, while braces ensure the connection with the stays. At the top, two additional struts anchor the punch to the ridge purlin. All the joints are mortise and tenon, fixed with wooden pegs, in the oldest and most reliable French carpentry tradition. This roof structure is an exceptional example of 19th-century Périgord rural craftsmanship.
Related Figures
Artisan charpentier local du XIXe siècle (auteur de la remarquable charpente à entrait retroussé, non identifié)Propriétaire bâtisseur de Fousseyraud (commanditaire de la demeure au XIXe siècle, non identifié)Moines de l'abbaye de Pérouse (dont les pierres auraient été réemployées selon la légende locale)Inspecteurs des monuments historiques ayant instruit le dossier d'inscription en 1974
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Maison de Milhac-de-Nontron located?
Maison de Milhac-de-Nontron is located in Milhac-de-Nontron, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Maison de Milhac-de-Nontron built?
Maison de Milhac-de-Nontron dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Maison de Milhac-de-Nontron open to visitors?
Maison de Milhac-de-Nontron is currently closed to visitors.