Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

François I's house, located in the heart of Aubigny-sur-Nère in the Cher department, is a wooden block building built in 1519. Destined to Robert Stuart d'Aubigny (1470-1544), seigneur and marshal of France, it bears the engraved date of its construction. This building illustrates the reconstruction of the city after the fire of 1512, financed in part by Stuart's forests, which offered their wood to the inhabitants to rebuild their houses.

The architecture of the house is distinguished by its wooden gridded facades, carved pillars on the ground floor, and its overhanging floors. The slate roof crowns this iconic building, classified as a historic monument in 1915 for its facades. The front door, formerly decorated with statues (including a representative perhaps Saint Peter), bears witness to its rich original decor.

Robert Stuart, the building sponsor, played a key role in local history. Appointed Marshal of France in 1514, he liberated the city after the disaster, authorizing the exploitation of his forests for reconstruction. The house, located near the church of Saint Martin, symbolizes both the seigneurial power and the resilience of the community.

Ranked among historical monuments by decree of 31 March 1915, this house is a remarkable example of wood-paned architecture in the Loire Valley and Berry. Its five initial spans, separated by poles, and its sculptures make it a unique heritage, linked to the history of the Stuarts in France.

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