Construction of house 2e moitié du XIXe siècle (≈ 1865)
Period of realization by Felix Lionnet.
13 septembre 2007
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 13 septembre 2007 (≈ 2007)
Registration of the entire house.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The whole house (case AD 115, see plan annexed to the decree): inscription by order of 13 September 2007
Key figures
Félix Lionnet - Painter and sponsor
Designed and modified the house.
Edmond Guillaume - Initial architect
First author of the modified plans.
Arsène Charier - Architect
Collaborated on initial plans.
Origin and history
The house of Felix Lionnet, located in La Châtaigneraie, was built in the second half of the 19th century. Félix Lionnet, student of the painter Corot, undertook this project after trips to Italy, Greece and Turkey. He collaborated with architects Edmond Guillaume and Arsène Charier, modifying their plans to create a sober facade, embellished with antiquitant details such as a terracotta medallion or a pergola. The interior, on the other hand, reflects its traveling inspirations: the ground floor evokes Italy and Greece, while the upper floors incorporate Islamic and Japonizing motifs.
The building, classified as a Historical Monument, illustrates the artistic eclecticism of its time. Its interior decor, freely inspired by Lionnet's journeys, reflects a fusion between European classicism and Eastern exoticism. The house, fully protected by a decree of 13 September 2007, thus embodies the dialogue between the cultures that its owner explored.
The exact address, 23 rue du Maréchal-de-Lattre in La Châtaigneraie (Vendée), places the monument in a modest urban setting, where its architecture contrasts with the local environment. The accuracy of its location is estimated to be "a priori satisfactory", although the sources do not specify its current accessibility to the public.
