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Origin and history

The residence of the Grande-Barre, built at the end of the Middle Ages in Poitiers, owes its name to the Arceau de la Barre, an ancient gate pierced in the Roman enclosure of the city. Although its original sponsor remains unknown, the building was certified in 1541 as the property of Christophe de la Fontaine, prosecutor and lord of the fief de Grève (Vendeuvre-du-Poitou). This house, organized around a square courtyard, illustrates the 15th century Poitevin civil architecture, with decorative elements such as carved angels and armorial shields.

In the 17th century, the house passed under the possession of the convent of Sainte-Catherine, located on the same street. In 1817 he was divided between several joint heirs after a change of ownership. Ranked a historic monument in 1924, the building preserves traces of its history, such as a hatch leading to an underground passage where chains and prisoner balls were found. Today it is privately owned and bears witness to the urban and social transformations of Poitiers between the Middle Ages and modern times.

The building consists of two squared buildings, accessible by a gate adorned with a gable brace and carved animals. The facade features vegetal-decorated windows and shielded angels, some of which have been staked. Inside, the Hall, dated the 15th century by historian René Crozet, houses a fireplace decorated with a three-pink badge, held by two angels. These elements underline the prestige of the home, probably linked to a local elite.

The location of the house, at 5 rue de l'Arceau (formerly rue de l'Arceau de la Barre), recalls its anchoring in the medieval urban fabric of Poitiers. Its ranking in 1924 preserved rare architectural details, such as the tabernacle embedded in the wall or the decorations of the main door. Despite restorations that moved the portal, the house remains a remarkable example of the noble Poitevin habitat at the hinge between the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

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