maison sise 10 rue Pardessus
MonumentHidden Treasure
maison sise 10 rue Pardessus, located in Blois (Loir-et-Cher), 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
- Blois, Loir-et-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.5872, 1.3333
- Mérimée Reference
- PA41000082
In the heart of the old town of Blois, this old house on rue Pardessus reveals the secrets of Loire domestic architecture, with its characteristic volumes and its recent listing as a Historic Monument.
© Wikimedia Commons
History
Nestling in the dense urban fabric of the old town of Blois, the house at 10 rue Pardessus belongs to this category of bourgeois or artisanal residences that form the backbone of the royal city's heritage. While the castles and mansions of Blois are usually the focus of attention, it is in these discreet alleyways that the daily history of a city shaped by several centuries of intense urban life can best be read. Rue Pardessus, in the historic centre of Blois, is a reminder of a medieval and Renaissance town whose street pattern has hardly been altered. The houses that line the street bear witness to the refined vernacular architecture of the Loire, marked by the use of tuffeau stone, the chalky limestone characteristic of the Loire Valley, and by interior layouts inherited from the domestic practices of the Ancien Régime. The house at number 10 is in keeping with the logic of an old building that has survived the centuries without losing the essence of its architectural substance. What makes this house so special is precisely its discretion: neither monumental nor ostentatious, it embodies the quality of an ordinary architecture that has reached a sufficient degree of heritage interest to justify its very recent registration as a Historic Monument in July 2025. This administrative gesture underlines the determination of the heritage departments to protect not only prestigious buildings, but also the small-scale urban heritage that gives Blois its authentic character. For the curious visitor, this house offers a different view of Blois, away from the crowds that throng the royal chateau. It invites you to wander through a district where history can be read on every façade, in every carved lintel, every stone dormer window and every inner courtyard hidden behind a discreet gate. Rue Pardessus itself is well worth a visit, as a living testimony to the town planning of Blois in centuries gone by.
Architecture
The house at 10 rue Pardessus is typical of 16th and 17th century Blès domestic architecture. In accordance with local custom, the street façade is probably built of tuffeau stone, a soft, cream to golden-coloured limestone quarried from the hillsides of the Loire, the building material par excellence in the Loire Valley. This stone, which is easy to cut and carve, allowed for the careful ornamentation of window frames, cornices and any decorative medallions that distinguish quality homes. The elevation probably comprises a ground floor used for commercial or service purposes, topped by one or two storeys of living space, topped by a long-sloped slate roof - the dominant material for prestigious buildings in central France. The openings, which punctuate the facade with regularity, may feature mullions or transoms characteristic of the Renaissance period, as well as moulded architraves testifying to the care taken with the exterior finish. An inner courtyard or vaulted passageway, common in this type of urban architecture in Blois, could complete the layout. The interiors of houses of this type and period generally retain some remarkable features: stone spiral staircases, ceilings with exposed joists, fireplaces with carved mantels and, in noble rooms, remnants of painted decorations or wood panelling. These interior features often represent the core of the heritage value justifying protection, bearing witness to a craftsmanship that is now rare.
Related Figures
Les maîtres maçons blésois du XVIe siècle, héritiers des chantiers royaux, qui diffusèrent les formes Renaissance dans l'architecture domestique de la villeLes bourgeois et officiers royaux de Blois, commanditaires de ces demeures de qualité dans l'entourage de la cour de François IerLes propriétaires successifs du XVIIIe siècle, négociants ou membres de la petite noblesse de robe, qui entretinrent et adaptèrent l'édificeLes défenseurs du patrimoine urbain blésois du XXe siècle, dont l'action permit la reconnaissance et la protection de ce type de maison ancienne
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is maison sise 10 rue Pardessus located?
maison sise 10 rue Pardessus is located in Blois, Loir-et-Cher department, Centre-Val de Loire region, France.
When was maison sise 10 rue Pardessus built?
maison sise 10 rue Pardessus dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is maison sise 10 rue Pardessus open to visitors?
maison sise 10 rue Pardessus is currently closed to visitors.