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Origin and history

The house of La Lanterne, also known as Hotel de Tremaudan, is an emblematic building in Combourg, Ille-et-Vilaine (Bretagne). Built in the late 16th century (circa 1575 or 1597), it replaces an earlier fortified house where Bertrand Duguesclin and Tiphaine de Raguenel stayed. Its name comes from its subsequent use as a watch post for public lighting. The architecture blends Renaissance elements, such as an open facade and a circular turret, with medieval traces.

The building, registered to historical monuments since 6 May 1966, bears ancient inscriptions, including a date of 1592 mentioning Perine Jonchée, lady of the Hunt. The skylight and window retain the names I. DE LA TOUR (1968) and I. TREMAUDAN. Restored in 1968 by architect Raymond Cornon, the house housed the tourist office before becoming a place of exhibition. Its structure consists of a ground floor, a floor and a top, with a scald on the north facade.

The house illustrates the evolution of urban dwellings in Brittany, from medieval fortification to Renaissance residence. Its central location, at 23 Albert-Parent Square, and defensive elements (circular staircase tower) recall its historic role in the city. Today, it embodies the architectural and cultural heritage of Combourg, while serving as a place of tourist and artistic valorisation.

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