Estimated construction period Entre 1572 et 1628 (≈ 1628)
Between the two seats of La Rochelle.
XVIIe siècle
Construction of house
Construction of house XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Built for a shipowner, probably under Henry IV.
4 avril 1923
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 4 avril 1923 (≈ 1923)
Protection of facades, stairs, walls and roofs.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Henri IV - King of France
Reigns during probable construction.
Armateur non nommé - Suspected Sponsor
Initial owner of the house.
Origin and history
The house located at 8 Rue des Merciers in La Rochelle is a 17th century building, probably built between the sieges of 1572 and 1628, during the reign of Henry IV. It would have been built for a shipowner, reflecting the importance of maritime trade in the region at that time. Its architecture is distinguished by a courtyard façade with a stairway angle supported by a doric column, decorated with a capital and a base, supporting two arches.
Originally, this house had a regular plan, but buildings were later added, opening on Rue Saint-Michel. The court separating these extensions was later covered. Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 4 April 1923, it is protected for its facades on street and courtyard, its staircase, its recast walls and its roofs.
The location of this monument, in the historic center of La Rochelle, highlights its link with the port and merchant activity of the city. Architectural elements, such as the Doric column, bear witness to classical influences adapted to a bourgeois home of the time. Today, its conservation status and geographical accuracy are estimated to be fair, depending on available sources.
