Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Grisardière House is a medieval building located in the heart of Dol-de-Bretagne, in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine. Dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, it is one of the oldest houses preserved in Brittany. Originally, this building was used as a commercial house, as evidenced by its characteristic porch, typical of the urban dwellings of the period.

The front of the house, overlooking Lejamptel Street, originally had four granite arcades. Two of them were destroyed around 1900, leaving only two arcades visible today. In the 16th century, the curved bays on the first floor were replaced by straight lintel bays, while in the 17th century a wood-pan elevation was added. These changes reflect the architectural changes and changing needs of occupants over the centuries.

The back of the house has been profoundly altered in recent times, and its interior has been completely renovated, largely erasing the traces of its original organization. Despite these transformations, the Grisardière House retains a major heritage value, illustrating Breton medieval civil architecture. It was listed as a historical monument on 20 September 2012, thus protecting the entire structure, excluding recent buildings with backs.

This monument offers a rare testimony of business practices and urban life in Brittany in the Middle Ages. Its porch, a distinctive architectural element, probably served as a covered space for trade or storage of goods, stressing the economic role of Dol-de-Bretagne, a dynamic city from this time on.

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