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Key figures

Origin and history

The house at 13 rue de la Madeleine in Nîmes is a historic monument whose origins date back to at least 1480, when its owner was first mentioned. The building was completely rebuilt in 1544, but it was in the third quarter of the 18th century that it took its present form, notably with the addition of a cut panel and a wrought iron balcony decorated with elegant designs.

The balcony on the first floor, dated 1767, is the most remarkable element of the facade. In a curved style, it has two symmetrical inflections and rounded returns, embellished by a wrought ironwork. The central panel has a symmetrical monogram medallion on a rectangular cartridge bearing the date of 1767, supported by interlaced volutes. This balcony, typical of 18th century craft art, has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1964.

The architecture of the façade reflects the successive transformations of the building: the ground floor houses a shop entrance, while the upper floors are pierced with half-balcony windows. These developments illustrate the adaptation of the building to commercial and residential uses, characteristic of the provencal city centres in the modern era.

Although the exact location is approximate (5/10 depending on the sources), the official address remains 13 rue de la Madeleine, in the department of Gard. The monument, now protected for its balcony, bears witness to the civil architectural heritage of Nîmes, between medieval heritage and beautifications of the Enlightenment.

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