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Origin and history

The Cusset log house is an emblematic 15th century civil building, located in the heart of the city, at the corner of the streets of the Constitution and Saturnin-Arloing. Built for Jacques Chatard, Cusset's first elected member and Member of Parliament for the States of Auvergne, it illustrates medieval bourgeois architecture, combining a shop on the ground floor and a dwelling on the floors. Its historic name, "Maison du Trève Chatard", refers to its position at a crossroads (trève signifying crossing).

The structure rests on stone walls on the ground floor for solidity, while the floors, in corbellation, have a cross-wood frame of Saint-André with torchi filling. Sculpted details, such as a twig and an ear of wheat on the poles, or a quadrilobic medallion above the door, underline its artisanal character. The facade and roof, protected since 1929, were restored in 1976 by the town hall, which installed successively the tourist office (1978-2017) and then local associations.

After World War II, the building housed a grocery store and then a dye shop, reflecting its adaptation to the city's economic needs. Its acquisition by the municipality in 1976 allowed to recover its original appearance, masked by a crepi. Today, it hosts the Cusset Holiday Committee (ground floor) and the Departmental Hiking Committee (first floor), continuing its role in community life.

Architecturally, the house is distinguished by its two levels in corbellation: the first partially supported, the second by carved wooden consoles. These characteristics, typical of medieval houses, make it a rare testimony to the urban planning of the Bourbonnais period. Its inscription in historical monuments and its mention in the Mérimée base confirm its heritage importance.

The location of the house, in the agglomeration of Vichy, makes it a point of interest for visitors exploring the Allier. Its history also reflects the social changes of Cusset, from its role as a bourgeois residence to its contemporary functions, while preserving its structural and decorative integrity.

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