Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The building at 95 rue du Gros-Horloge in Rouen is a civil building dating from the first half of the 16th century, more precisely from the years 1525-1530. It is part of the architectural context of the French Renaissance, a period marked by artistic renewal and growing urban prosperity. This building, contemporary of the famous nearby Gros Clock, is distinguished by the preservation of an interior and exterior decoration remarkable for its time, reflecting the influence of late Gothic styles and reborn.

Ranked a Historical Monument by order of 28 March 1959, the building enjoys special protection for its facades on street and roof. This official recognition underlines its heritage importance in the Rouen countryside, where civilian constructions of this period are relatively rare. The precise location, between addresses 70 and 95 of the rue du Gros-Horloge, indicates a central area of the city, historically dedicated to commercial and craft activities.

The construction period (1525-1530) coincides with a phase of economic development for Rouen, then one of the most dynamic cities in the Kingdom of France. The buildings of that time often served as houses for local merchants or notables, while sometimes sheltering professional activities on the ground floor. Their careful decor reflected the social status of their owners, in a society where architectural appearance played a strong symbolic role.

External links