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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The House of the criminal lieutenant, located in Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier in the Nièvre department, is a 15th century building. This monument illustrates the civil architecture of the late Middle Ages, a period marked by a structured local judicial organization, where criminal lieutenants played a key role in the application of seigneurial or royal justice. Its designation as Historic Monuments by order of 2 November 1926 underlines its historic importance and its remarkable state of conservation for the time.

In the 15th century, Burgundy-Franche-Comté, then integrated into the Duchy of Burgundy, was a prosperous region where cities like Saint-Pierre-le-Moûtier served as local administrative and judicial centres. Houses of notables, such as that of the criminal lieutenant, often reflected the social status of their occupants, while participating in community life. These buildings, located near the churches or central squares, symbolized authority and stability in a context marked by the post-war tensions of One Hundred Years and the emergence of a more centralized royal power.

Available sources, including the Merimée and Monumentum base, specify that the house is located at 27 Church Square, with geographical precision deemed "a priori satisfactory". Although details of its exact use or historical occupants are lacking, its heritage inscription attests to its architectural and historical value to the commune and the region.

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