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Origin and history

Bertrandy House, located on Rue de la Martille in Salers, is an iconic building whose history dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Rebuilt in 1700 by the Bertrandy family, a line of local notables, it preserves architectural traces of an older home. The cellars include arches and vaults of Romanesque and Gothic doors, while the ground floor features a monumental medieval stone fireplace, highlighting the superposition of the eras.

The interior decorations of the house illustrate the different phases of its evolution. The screw staircase, adorned with prismatic mouldings and lighting niches, leads to richly appointed rooms: a panelled living room with high-rise cupboards and a stucco fireplace, as well as a small room with supporting panel. The first floor reveals a nailed door, a living room with a wooden fireplace, an 18th century painting and a rustic parquet, while the structure, neat, is embellished with pendulum punches with a curved head.

Ranked Historic Monument by order of 10 February 2010, the house is fully protected, including its interior decorations. Its architecture and preserved elements make it a rare testimony to the evolution of noble houses in Auvergne, mixing medieval, Renaissance and classical influences. The accuracy of its location is estimated at 6/10, based on available data.

Bertrandy House reflects the social status of its first owners, the Bertrandy family of notables whose influence is reflected in the quality of materials and decorations. The Romanesque and Gothic elements of the cellars suggest an ancient occupation of the site, perhaps linked to a defensive or seigneurial function before its transformation into an aristocratic residence in the eighteenth century.

The construction techniques and materials used, such as the badigeon treated in false apparatus or the ground frame punches, testify to the know-how of local artisans. These details, combined with the wall and monumental chimneys, highlight the luxury and comfort sought by the provincial elite of the time.

Today, Bertrandy House remains a remarkable example of the architectural heritage of Auvergnat, where medieval history and classicism intersect. Its registration as a Historical Monument guarantees the preservation of this heritage, while providing an overview of the lifestyles of rural notables under the Old Regime.

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