Initial construction 2e moitié du XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
French Renaissance period.
1806
Redesign of ground floor
Redesign of ground floor 1806 (≈ 1806)
Date worn on the building.
6 janvier 1926
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 6 janvier 1926 (≈ 1926)
Protection of the façade on street.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
Sources insufficient to identify.
Origin and history
The Maison François I, located in Mennetou-sur-Cher in the Loir-et-Cher, is a building built during the second half of the 16th century, a period corresponding to the French Renaissance. This building illustrates the civil architecture of the period, marked by Italian artistic influences and an ornamentation concern. His name evokes the reign of Francis I (1515-1547), although no source confirms a direct connection with the monarch.
In 1806, the ground floor of the house underwent reshuffles, as evidenced by a date on the structure. These changes reflect the current adaptations of old buildings to the functional needs of the following centuries. The street façade, characteristic of Renaissance aesthetics, was protected by an inscription at the Historic Monuments in 1926, highlighting its heritage value.
Located on 21 Grande Rue, this house is part of the urban fabric of Mennetou-sur-Cher, a village in the Loire Valley whose history is linked to river trade and agriculture. The houses of that time often served as residences for local notables or merchants, playing a central role in the economic and social life of the community. Their preservation today offers a tangible testimony to architectural evolution and lifestyles under the Old Regime.