Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The 16th century house, located at 51 rue Nationale in Fougères, is a rare example of a private mansion with wooden panels and stone porch that survived the 18th century fires. These fires, in 1710, 1734 and 1750, destroyed much of the traditional houses in the city centre, but spared this emblematic building of the Upper Town. Ranked as a historical monument since May 13, 1929, it is a major architectural testimony of the Renaissance in Ille-et-Vilaine.

In 1981, the building was transformed into a museum dedicated to Emmanuel de La Villeon (1858–1944), a landscape painter from the region. The museum, renovated in 2012, exhibits his works as well as boxes of theatre decorations he had created for his children. The Friends of the Museum Association, founded in 1982, works to promote its artistic heritage. This place thus combines architectural heritage and Breton cultural memory.

The museum now depends on the commune of Fougères and remains accessible to the public. Its inscription in historical monuments specifically concerns facades and roofing, highlighting its historical and aesthetic value. The location, in the heart of the city, makes it a major point of interest for visitors exploring the urban and artistic history of Brittany.

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