Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Cherry house is an iconic building of the Old Towers, located at 21 rue des Cerisiers. This monument, partly made of stone and wood, dates mainly from the 15th century, although traces of an earlier 13th century building have been identified. Its south façade, adorned with a wooden gable and hurdles, has two rectangular windows topped by arcs in ground third points. Originally, a carved sign depicting a cherry tree, now missing, gave him his name and that of the street.

The house underwent major renovations in the 15th century, including the addition of a wooden gable, characteristic of medieval peat architecture. In 1902, a partial restoration changed its appearance, especially on the face overlooking the street. Since 1948, the south facade and roof have been protected as historical monuments, highlighting its heritage importance. The building embodies the mixture of medieval constructive techniques (stone and wood) and the urban evolutions of Tours at the end of the Middle Ages.

Although details about its historical occupants are missing, the house illustrates the civil architectural fabric of Tours, a city marked by its commercial and political role in the Loire Valley. The wood panels, typical of the region, reflect a period when wood was widely used for bourgeois or artisanal dwellings. Today, its state of conservation and its location make it a tangible witness to medieval tourism planning.

External links