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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building of 54 rue Saint-Pierre in Caen is an emblematic building of the early 16th century, built for Michel Mabrey, an influential member of the Kenyan bourgeoisie. The latter, the king's attorney and alderman, built this residence around 1509-1513, as evidenced by the family coat of arms still visible and the dendrochronological dating of the oak used. The house, richly decorated with sculptures mixing religious and Renaissance motifs, reflects the social status of its sponsor, linked to the University of Caen and local financial circles.

The wood-paned facade, decorated with polychrome hourdis and statues (like St.Michael terrassing the dragon), was restored several times, notably in 1886 and 2017-2018. The original colours (red, blue, yellow) and the exact date of construction were obtained from the analysis of the beams. The corbellation, forbidden in Normandy after 1524, and the 17th century sales contracts reveal a typical organization of bourgeois houses: shop on the ground floor, bedrooms on the floors, and staircase in a rear tower.

The house was owned by the Mabrey family until 1620, and later by Le Sueur and Vivaire du Désert, but it underwent modifications in the 19th century (deletion of the sprockets, essentialation of the sprocket). Ranked a historic monument in 1947 for its facade and roof, it illustrates the civil architecture of the Norman Renaissance, combining medieval tradition (woodpans) and decorative innovations. Recent restorations have highlighted its sculpted decor and its stamped hourdis, unique in Caen.

The building is adjacent to No. 52, also classified, forming a remarkable ensemble of Saint-Pierre Street, a major axis of the historic centre. Its history reflects the social dynamics of Caen, between bourgeois power, university activity and commerce, from the Middle Ages to the modern era. The coat of arms and statuettes (Vierge à l'Enfant, Saint Peter) suggest a private and public dimension, mixing devotion and affirmation of status.

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