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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Hunault House is an iconic 17th century building located at the corner of the streets of Nantes and Notre-Dame, in the historic heart of La Guerche-de-Bretagne. It is one of the log houses that bordered the old hall square, a central place for the trade and social life of the city. Its porch, higher than that of the neighbouring house (No. 4), has a depth of 1.90 meters for a height of 3.15 meters, supported by wooden poles resting on stone solins to avoid moisture. The structure combines quartz microdiorite bellows for the back and panels of wood for the facade, typical of the local architecture of the period.

Hunault House was listed as historic monuments on March 22, 1930 for its facades and roofs, recognizing its heritage value. Originally, like its neighbour, it probably housed a trade on the ground floor and housing upstairs, reflecting the urban and economic organization of Breton cities in the 17th century. Subsequent reshuffles have modified some elements, but the left cornel post, the only original vestige, retains a simple triangular decor, a witness to decorative techniques of the time. The floor blades, partially masked by a coating imitating the wooden panels, recall the successive adaptations of the building.

The materials used, such as quartz microdiorite and wood, illustrate the local resources used in construction. The porch, a characteristic element, served both as a shelter for merchants and as a transition between the public space of the hall square and the privacy of the dwelling. This house thus embodies the link between Breton vernacular architecture and the commercial activities that animated the villages in the 17th century. Its inscription as a historic monument underscores its role in preserving the region's built heritage.

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