Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The House of President Tyndo, located in Thouars, finds its origins at the end of the 15th century with the construction of a staircase turret framed by two houses. This medieval complex, characteristic of the civil architecture of the period, marks the beginnings of a building that will evolve profoundly over the centuries. The turret, an emblematic element, still bears witness to this founding period, classified as a Historic Monument in 1889 for its exceptional heritage value.

In the 18th century, the hotel underwent changes, although the sources did not specify their exact nature. However, it was in the fourth quarter of the 19th century that the site underwent a major transformation: purchased by the city of Thouars in 1873, it was intended to accommodate a girls' school and a asylum room. As early as 1877, work was under way, but existing buildings, considered unsuitable, required extensions. The architect Auguste Between 1885 and 1889, Loué was in charge of a vast construction site adding a south wing (classrooms and dormitories), a meadow, and a asylum room to the north.

The 1885-1889 project completely redefines the vocation of the place, moving from the private domain to public educational use. Despite this reconversion, the whole was finally disused in the 20th century. As early as 1979, the hotel was rented to various organizations, while its protection was strengthened in 2013: the registration covered the entire hotel, the south wing of Loué, and the archaeological floor of the plot. The turret, already classified in 1889, remains the symbol of this hybrid heritage, between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

The property of the building now belongs to a community of communes, emphasizing its local anchor and its collective value. Although partially transformed, the site preserves traces of each era, from the medieval turret to 19th century school additions. Its history thus reflects the urban and social changes of Thouars, between aristocratic heritage, educational vocation, and heritage preservation.

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