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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Grosse Maison, located in Chevagnes in the Allier department, is an emblematic building of the bourbonese architecture of the eighteenth century. Built in 1754, it is distinguished by its facades decorated with pink and brown bricks, its roof of small flat tiles, and its large fireplaces. The building, rectangular in plan, has an elevated ground floor and openings framed with strips with low arch lintels.

The house is linked to a major historical event: the Chevagnes Affair, in 1793. Seven mayors, including Chevagnes, challenged a demand for wheat imposed by the management board of Moulins. In retaliation, two inhabitants of Chevagnes were imprisoned, while two mayors of neighbouring communes were executed in Paris in 1794. The Grosse Maison, acquired by the Martel family during the Revolution, was classified as a historical monument in 1981 for its facades and roofs.

In the courtyard, a building named Fournier House, dated 1473, bears witness to an earlier occupation of the site. The appellation Grosse Maison underlines its preeminence in the village. The porches, skylights and some shutters date back to 1921, while other elements, such as commons, retain their original style. The building thus illustrates the architectural and historical evolution of Bourbonnais, from the 15th and 18th centuries to the revolutionary period.

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