Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house Esquerrenea, located at 17 rue de la République in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, is a noble house built at the end of the 15th century. It was the only house in the city to escape the fire of 1558, which was triggered during the Spanish siege. This three-storey stone building, with a tower and a screw staircase, features sill windows decorated with Renaissance mouldings. Its ground floor now houses a restaurant, while the floors are furnished with apartments.

Classified as a historic monument since 18 July 1996, this private property is distinguished by its hybrid architecture: the facade on Rue de la République, made of stone, contrasts with that of Rue de la Baleine, built in stone. The square tower, with a dome on trunks, houses a spiral staircase serving the floors. Former shipowners' residence, it bears witness to the medieval and reborn heritage of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.

Esquerrenea House illustrates the city's architectural resilience to historical conflicts. Its style, combining defensive (round) and decorative elements (moulding), reflects the influence of maritime and cultural exchanges from the Basque Country to the Renaissance. Its ranking in 1996 underlines its heritage importance in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

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