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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The House of Acrobates, located 3 Place Saint-Louis in Blois (Loir-et-Cher), is a rare example of medieval civil architecture in wooden strips. Built around 1470 under the reign of Louis XI, it is distinguished by its two floors in corbellation, worn by ground sandstones decorated with foliage. The facade features wooden sculptures depicting characters in comic poses, dressed in period costumes, perhaps evoking acrobats or saltimbanks. Originally, in 1484, it was named "home of the Bourse des Escholiers de Bourmoyen", before becoming the Green Asme brand at the hinge of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Inside, the ground floor retains an imposing Renaissance pilaster stone fireplace, added to the 2nd quarter of the 16th century, as well as a staircase with frame screws, without opening to the outside (no day). The cellar, divided by low arches, rests on a central column with cubic capital. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1922, the house underwent modifications in the 19th century, including the separation of its courtyard and its commons, now distinct properties. Acquired by individuals in 2017 after five years of sale, it remains an exceptional testimony of urban life in Blois between the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

The characters carved on the facade consoles, with eccentric postures, could reflect the festive atmosphere of the public squares of the period, where musicians, jugglers and acrobats were performed. Their costume, typical of the late 15th century, reinforces the hypothesis of a contemporary construction of the reign of Louis XI. Subsequent transformations, such as the addition of Renaissance chimneys or the development of a horse-riding passageway, illustrate the evolution of domestic usage between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

Private property since the 19th century, the House of Acrobates has escaped the massive destruction of the medieval heritage thanks to its early ranking. Its location, facing Saint-Louis Cathedral and close to Denis Papin's house, makes it a key element in the historic centre of Blois. The successive restorations preserved its original features, such as the long-paned slate roof or the carved lamp-ends of the vestibule, where two stone arches highlight the entrance.

The name "house of the Acrobates", although after its construction, imposed in the 20th century with reference to the grotesque figures of the facade. These unique sculptures could symbolize popular entertainment or itinerant business corporations, frequent in merchant cities such as Blois. Their remarkable state of conservation makes it possible today to study wood carving techniques and dress codes of the late Middle Ages.

Ranked among the first historical monuments of Loir-et-Cher, this house embodies the civil heritage of the French Renaissance, often overshadowed by castles or religious buildings. Its recent acquisition by individuals ensures its sustainability, while raising the question of its accessibility to the public. The archives mention a missing cavalry ramp, showing its integration into a larger urban complex, now fragmented.

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