Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house located at 25 rue du Cygne in Tours is an old mansion built in the 17th century. It is distinguished by its carved wooden entrance gate, typical of the Louis XIII style, which was inscribed as a historical monument by order of 8 July 1946. This gate, dating from the construction of the house, is decorated with vegetal motifs, decorative nails, and a head carved in the upper part.

The house is located in the Old Towers, a historical area surrounded by Colbert streets, the Scelery, and the Barre. At the time of its construction, this area, although protected by the medieval enclosure of the city, still had wet or swampy plots. Colbert Streets and the Scelery were already major east-west traffic routes since the 15th century.

The gate, the most remarkable element of the house, features two vants armed with nails. Its central height is decorated with various plant motifs: a fall of foliage and fruit in the upper part, a double line of palmettes in the centre, and acanthes as well as volutes in the lower part. These artistic details reflect the know-how of 17th century artisans.

The house is not open to visit, and its current use is not specified in available sources. It remains an architectural testimony of the modern era in the tourism heritage, protected for the exceptional quality of its portal.

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