Timeline

Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Maison du Préchantre is an emblematic building located in Tours, in the Old Towers district, at 5 rue de la Psalette. Built mainly in the 16th century, it leans against the wall of the cloister of the Psalette, to which it was once connected by two doors today condemned. Its architecture consists of two perpendicular building bodies, to the west and north of a courtyard, supplemented by a wing in return of square to the east. Foundations reveal Gallo-Roman remains, including a wall in small cross-linked apparatus, suggesting an ancient occupation of the site.

The monument was enlarged in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as interior alterations in the 19th century. Since 1946, it has been listed as historic monuments, protecting its facades, roofs (excluding modern parts), a stone staircase from the north wing, and its entrance door. Its history is linked to that of the neighbouring cloister, of which it shared space, and its architecture reflects the urban evolutions of Tours throughout the centuries.

The Maison du Préchantre illustrates the evolution of bourgeois or ecclesiastical dwellings in the Centre-Val de Loire, an area marked by a rich medieval and reborn heritage. Its inscription as a historical monument underlines its importance in the urban fabric of Tours, where the ancient remains stand alongside the constructions of later eras. The successive changes reflect its adaptation to the needs of its occupants, while maintaining significant architectural elements of each period.

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