Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house of the Archdiocese of Saint-Julien-du-Sault, also called Maison des Fontenottes or Maison de bois, is located on Rue du Puits de la Caille, in the department of Yonne. Built in the 16th century, it is associated with Archbishop Tristan de Salazar (1475–1519), who built several pavilions to accommodate his suite during his passages in Saint-Julien. The building, inscribed in the historic monuments in 1929, is distinguished by its facade adorned with carved motifs (armories, wolf heads, vine rinsels) and its trilobed pediment windows.

The confusion around his name comes from local sources: some inhabitants and the tourist office call him the Archdiocese's house, while the Merimée base designates him as the House of the Fontenottes. The historian Crédé explains that another house in the Archdiocese, today demolished (circa 1850), was in front of the mill of the same name, far from this building. The present house, privately owned, was initially one of the buildings occupied by the Archbishops of Sens, before becoming the house of the Chapter.

Architecturally, the ground floor presents shields with coats of arms, heraldic figures, and royal coats with three fleurs de lys on the capitals. The steep roof, typical of the period, houses two remarkable skylights. Although its exact location was controversial (place des Fontenettes or 5 rue du Puits de la Caille), its inscription in 1929 only concerns the facade and roof, highlighting their heritage value.

The monument illustrates the role of the archbishops of Sens in the 16th century, where Saint-Julien-du-Sault served as a stage on their journeys. The house, with its decorations symbolizing ecclesiastical and royal power, reflects the alliances between the Church and the monarchy under Francis I. Today, its state of conservation and access (visit or rental) remain undocumented in available sources.

External links