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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The House of Blois is a historical monument whose wood-paned facades with field brick filling perfectly illustrate medieval civil architecture. The semi-pignon, in vertical wooden strips, and the frieze above the first floor, composed of larger crumbs, bear witness to a craftsmanship typical of the 15th century. These decorative and structural elements make it a rare vestige, most of the wooden houses of the same period having been destroyed during the 1940 bombings.

The building of this house dates from the fourth quarter of the 15th century, during which time Blois, a dynamic city under the influence of the Valois, saw the development of an urban architecture combining wood and brick. In the 19th century, some openings were taken over, slightly changing its original appearance without altering its historical character. The house, located at 38 rue Saint-Lubin and rue Robert-Houdin, was partially protected by an inscription under the Historical Monuments in 1946, covering its facades and roofs.

This building, together with its neighbour, constitutes one of the last sets of wood-paned houses of the 15th century still standing in Blois. Their preservation offers a valuable insight into medieval urban life, marked by tight buildings and local materials. The approximate location, noted as "a priori satisfactory", and the available sources (Monumentum, base Mérimée) confirm its heritage importance in the architectural landscape of the Centre-Val de Loire region.

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