House à La Rochelle en Charente-Maritime

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Maison du Chêne-Vert, located at 17 rue du Mining in La Rochelle, is an old inn built between the 17th and 18th centuries. It was one of the most famous in the city, welcoming personalities such as Gilbert I of La Tremeille, Grand Sénéchal du Poitou, in 1591 and 1639. At that time, it belonged to Louis de Polignac, seigneur of Dompierre, before being sold. Today, only the small courtyard and the sign remain, the façade having been redone in 1845.

The building features an architecture typical of the old urban houses, with a main body between street and courtyard, a central corridor and rotating stairs. The commons, at the back of the courtyard, house a well and a ramp staircase. The house has been protected since 1928, especially for its arcades, which bear witness to its history.

The rue du Minage, where the house is located, was once lined with arcade buildings, characteristic of the town planning of Rocheslais. Although the facade was changed in the 19th century, the sign and the courtyard still remind of its past as a prestigious hostel, frequented by the local aristocracy and travellers of brand name.

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