Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house at 40 rue Picois in Loches (Indre-et-Loire) is a special residence built during the second half of the 16th century, a period marked by the influence of the Renaissance in Touraine. It is located on the outskirts of the medieval centre, in a street leading to the old Picois gate, highlighting its integration into the city's post-medieval urban development. The buildings around an inner courtyard have been largely remodeled, but the body of the north house retains original architectural elements, including Renaissance sculptures and a square stairwell with a screw staircase, preceded by a span of loggias.

The inscription of the house as a historic monument by order of 17 March 2008 specifically concerns the buildings north and bordering the courtyard, recognized for their heritage value. These elements, although partially altered, bear witness to the constructive techniques and decoration characteristic of the Second Renaissance, a period when Italian art strongly influenced French architecture. The house, although private, is part of the historical landscape of Loches, a city known for its royal castle and its medieval and reborn heritage.

The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum, Mérimée base) underline its architectural interest, but do not mention any specific sponsorship or use in the 16th century. Its present state is the result of subsequent changes, typical of urban dwellings that have gone through centuries. The exact location (40 rue Picois) and its Insee code (37132) link it administratively to the commune of Loches, in the department of Indre-et-Loire, in the region Centre-Val de Loire.

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