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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The House of Abraham, located at the intersection of Rue de la République and Rue Jean-Cousin in Sens, is a 16th century half-timbered house. It illustrates the pan-wood architecture typical of the Senonian Renaissance. Its carved cornet post, representing the Tree of Jesse with the Virgin and eight kings of Israel, as well as an engraved cartridge evoking the tanner profession of its first owner, Nicolas Mégissier, make it a remarkable monument. It is also nicknamed "Maison des Quatre Vents" or "Maison des Torches" because of its position at a crossroads.

The name "House of Abraham" comes from a misinterpretation dating back to the 19th century, popularized by Theodore Tarbe in 1838. The latter saw a representation of the genealogy of Christ from Abraham, when it was the Tree of Jesse. The house, classified as a historic monument in 1923, inspired Gustave Flaubert for sentimental education. It was close to destruction in the 1970s after an accident with a truck, before hosting art exhibitions between 2005 and 2008.

Between 2005 and 2008, Abraham's House was used as an exhibition venue for artists. In 2012, an interior renovation project was proposed to preserve this heritage. Owned by the municipality of Sens, it bears witness to both local crafts (tannery) and Renaissance civil architecture. Its facades and roofs have been protected since 1923, and its sculpted cornel remains its most emblematic element.

The house also embodies a part of French literary history, having marked Gustave Flaubert. Its state of conservation, despite the hazards (like the accident of the 1970s), reflects efforts to safeguard this heritage. Today, it remains a symbol of the historic center of Sens, between artisanal memory and artistic heritage.

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