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Key figures

Origin and history

The house at 31 Ernest-Renan Street in Tréguier is a remarkable example of 16th century Breton civil architecture. Elongated plan, it has a corbelled street façade, with a ground floor in cut stone and granite bell, while the floor and attic are made of wood. The lateral counter-sale by crosses of St Andrew, as well as the succession of posts, reveal an original structure designed for small windows, now enlarged. The masonry side walls, designed as a fire barrier, bear witness to the usual fire-fighting precautions in the densely built medieval cities.

Inside, the house was initially divided into two spaces on the ground floor: a commercial room opened on the street by a low arch window, and a kitchen equipped with a fireplace, whose bevelries remain on the west gable. The floor houses a large room with a Renaissance fireplace, decorated with an erased coat of arms, probably that of a merchant. Two screw stairs, one in stone leading to the cellar, the other in wood serving the floors, complete the layout. A wing in return for square, today blocked, once communicated with the kitchen. The terraced garden, supported by a shale wall, occupies several parcels assembled later.

Classified as a Historical Monument by order of 12 June 1946, this house illustrates the adaptation of wood-pan constructions to the commercial and residential needs of the time. The changes of the 19th century, such as the expansion of bays and the replacement of stone frames with wood, reflect changes in lifestyles and architectural tastes. The original plot, in strips, was typical of medieval urban lots, optimizing space in dense urban fabric.

The location of the house in the lower part of Renan Street, Tréguier's historic artery, suggests its integration into an active trading area. The defensive elements against the fire and the wooden panel structure, common in Brittany, underline both the technical constraints of the time and the social status of its occupants, probably wealthy merchants. The absence of archival documents on original owners, however, limits the precise knowledge of its social history.

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