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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Maison des Maires, located at 31 Grande Rue in Laval (Mayenne, Pays de la Loire), is a remarkable example of civil architecture in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. Built between 1495 and 1510 according to a 2002 dendrochronological study, it combines a semi-entered level and a stone floor dating back to the late 15th century, topped by two wooden panels. The wooden structure, known as "grid", includes vertical and oblique poles (sticks) to stabilize the whole, while the top has a corbellation on ground consoles. The wrought iron balcony, added in the 18th century, and the rear façade, redone at the beginning of the 20th century, testify to subsequent evolutions.

The house derives its name from its alleged use by the mayors (edibles) of Laval, although this function is not explicitly documented in available sources. Its stone floor has a chamfered bay, while the ground floor has a semi-entered arch probably dedicated to a commercial or artisanal activity. These elements reflect Laval's economic dynamism at the hinge of the 15th and 16th centuries, when the city, then under the influence of the Duchy of Anjou, experienced an urban boom marked by the construction of bourgeois houses in wood.

Ranked a two-stage historical monument — inscription on February 5, 1927 for the entire house (excluding classified parts), then classification of facades and roofs on August 30, 1952 — the House of Mayors embodies the transition between medieval and reborn architecture. Its state of preservation and its structural details (sandstones, spacers, overflowing frame) make it a valuable testimony of the constructive techniques of the time. Subsequent modifications, such as the 18th century balcony, illustrate its adaptation to the tastes and needs of the following centuries.

The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) underline its heritage importance, notably through its SEO in the Mérimée base and its association with the portal of French historical monuments. Although its precise history and its original occupants remain partially unknown, its protected status and its location in the city centre make it a major architectural landmark of Laval, attracting the attention of art historians and visitors interested in the Ligurian heritage.

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