Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The building located Place du Palais in Rennes dates from the first half of the eighteenth century, a period of reconstruction following the great fire of 1720 that devastated part of the city. The buildings then built, including this one, adopt a unified architectural style: granite arches in the middle of the corner beat the ground floor and between floors, while two square floors are surmounted by a floor of attices at the Mansart. The facades, separated by ionic pilasters, reflect the classical influence and urban ambition of the era, marking the renaissance of Rennes after the disaster.

The Palace Square (now the square of the British Parliament) was conceived as a coherent whole, where buildings like this embody the city's re-established prestige. Elements protected by the 1959 classification include facades on the square and courtyard, as well as roofs and chimney stumps, reflecting their heritage value. The historic address, 8 Edith-Cavell Street, and the approximate GPS coordinates (10 Theatre Gallery) highlight its anchoring in the city centre, between architectural heritage and contemporary urban life.

The 1720 fire was a turning point for Rennes: the destruction of part of the medieval building allowed for a planned reconstruction, incorporating noble materials such as granite and new aesthetic principles. The buildings in the square, with their functional arcades (shops or passageways), illustrate this transition to a more orderly city. Their preservation today offers a tangible testimony of this pivotal period, between Breton tradition and modernity of the Enlightenment.

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