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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Maison de la Vierge, located at 55 rue Saint-Gelais in Niort, is a historical monument dating from the 4th quarter of the 15th century and the 1st quarter of the 16th century. It is distinguished by its four-level façade, the last two of which are in corbellation, built in wooden panels with a rubble filling. This type of architecture is typical of medieval urban houses in the region, mixing functionality and aesthetics.

This building is famous for having been the scene of a bloody episode of the Wars of Religion in Niort. On the night of December 27, 1588, he witnessed violent confrontations between Catholics and Protestants, illustrating the religious tensions that at that time torn France apart. The house, with its statue of the Virgin, probably symbolized a religious or strategic issue for the parties in conflict.

The House of the Virgin is fully protected, including its statue, since a decree of 21 May 2001. Today it belongs to the commune of Niort and remains a major architectural and historical testimony of this troubled period. Its location, although documented, is considered to be of satisfactory a priori accuracy (level 6/10), according to the available data.

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