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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

This 19th-century house, located in the suburb of Saint-Jean in Mehun-sur-Yèvre, is distinguished by a skylight with capuchine that aerates and illuminates the summit. Made by a companion-carpenter of the Devoir, it bears the symbolic letters U.V.G.T. (Union-Vertu-Geometry-Work) and the major emblems of companionship: the compass, the square and a five-point star. Although partially altered by inappropriate restorations (asphalt shingles), this skylight remains the only decorative element of the facade, illustrating a traditional heritage today rare.

The house, registered with the Monuments Historiques since 1997 for its facade and roof, embodies the legacy of the Companions of the Tour de France. These travelling artisans, organized in secret societies, marked vernacular architecture with their expertise and codified symbols. Their presence in Mehun-sur-Yèvre bears witness to the importance of companion networks in 19th-century industrial towns, where wood and frame played a central role in construction.

The exact address, 6 rue Fernand-Baudry, and its registration as Historic Monuments underline its heritage value, despite a GPS location deemed mediocre (note 5/10). The protection relates specifically to the street façade and roof, excluding posterior appentis. This modest monument offers a unique insight into the artisanal traditions that shaped the rural and peri-urban building of the Centre-Val de Loire.

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