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Origin and history

The Baill's house, also known as the Geninet House, is an emblematic building in the Vosges. Built between 1603 and 1605 by the papermaker André (or Amé) Geninet, it illustrates the Renaissance architecture of the region. Despite her name, she never had a baili, but her owner, Geninet, played a notable role in 1633 when he was sent to the meeting of Duke Charles IV to report the financial difficulties of the city, linked to the conflicts between France and Lorraine.

The façade and roof of the house, adorned with a sculpted cartridge representing an angel with a coat of arms with intertwined "A.G." initials, were classified as historical monuments in 1986. This coat of arms, associated with a Greek or Lorraine cross, has given rise to several interpretations, including that of symbolic protection against epidemics such as plague. At the end of the 19th century, a balcony was added, slightly changing its original appearance.

Today, the Baill's house serves as an art gallery, perpetuating its status as a cultural place in the heart of Epinal. Its location on the Place des Vosges, its history linked to the local paper industry and its architecture make it a valuable testimony to the heritage of Lorraine. The symbols engraved on its façade, like the inverted number 4, remain mysterious and fuel the assumptions about their original meaning.

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