Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Louis XV House, located 26-28 rue des Loges in Fontenay-le-Comte (Vendée), is a remarkable example of 18th-century neo-classical civil architecture. Built in 1771 for the nail merchant Pierre Proust des Nohiers and his wife Marie-Catherine Bertoin, it has stone facades decorated with their monograms on the balconies. The plans were attributed to François Blondel, a local blacksmith and master craftsman, who designed the elevations on the street and on the inner courtyards in a sober and elegant style.

The building consists of two houses connected by a covered passage, with long-paned roofs and a staircase redone in the 19th century. Under the Ancien Régime, the property depended on the fief of Saint-Michel-le-Cloucq. The shop on the ground floor, modified in the 20th century by the addition of a facade arch, bears witness to its original commercial use. Ranked a historic monument in 1931 for its facades, the house illustrates the artisanal and bourgeois heritage of the pre-revolutionary Vendée.

Two detailed assessments, carried out in 1759 during the purchase of the land, reveal the existence of a cellar and walled openings from an earlier construction. These documents provide a rare overview of real estate practices and construction techniques in use in Fontenay-le-Comte in the mid-18th century. The staircase and covered passage, rebuilt in the 19th century, mark a later evolution of the building, while the Creative Commons license of the current photos facilitates its heritage diffusion.

The Louis XV House thus embodies both the social ascent of the merchant bourgeoisie — represented here by the Proust, enriched nail makers — and the know-how of local artisans like Blondel. Its classification among historical monuments highlights its architectural and documentary interest, between medieval heritage (fief de Saint-Michel-le-Cloucq) and neo-classical modernity. Subsequent changes, such as the shop's arch, reflect functional adaptations over the centuries.

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