Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The ensemble formed by the houses of the 51 and 53 Grand Place, at the corner of the rue du Pignon-Bigarré in Arras, dates from the 4th quarter of the 17th century. These buildings survived the bombings of the First World War and retain their original dispositions, as confirmed by the comparisons between the current cadastre and the old cadastre. Their present state makes it a rare and significant testimony of the domestic architecture of this period. The facades, classified as early as 1919, mask interiors, frames and courtyards richly endowed with ancient elements, including 16th century doors and vaulted cellars resting on columns with capitals.

The historical relief plan allows the rear layouts of the facades to be reconstructed, revealing a complex spatial organization. The structures and constructions of the courtyards, although partially modified, retain traces of their original structure. An 18th century house, located in the courtyard, is an exception in this vast majority of the 17th century. The successive legal protections (classification in 1919, registration in 1998) highlight the heritage value of these houses, now owned by a private company.

The Grand Place of Arras, where these houses are located, is an emblematic place of the city, marked by a dense urban history. Their preservation offers a valuable insight into the construction techniques and lifestyle of the affluent inhabitants of Arras at the end of the seventeenth century, period of reconstruction and beautification for the city, after the troubles of the previous centuries.

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