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Origin and history

The house of Richelieu, built in the seventeenth century, is part of the ambitious urban project launched by Cardinal Richelieu. The latter transformed his native village into an ideal city, designed according to strict geometric principles: symmetrical streets, ditches, walls and monumental gates. The plans were drawn up by architect Jacques Lemercier, known for his work on the Château de Richelieu, and the constructions were carried out by contractors such as Jean Barbet. The city thus became a classic urban model, reflecting the cardinal's power and modernising vision.

The land of this house was ceded on 11 Feb. 1633 by the cardinal to Charles Duret, lord of Chevry, then intendant and chief financial officer. Duret, also president of the Chamber of Accounts, had a private hotel built according to Lemercier's plans. The attic, preserved in the state, reveals original elements such as stone chimneys, wooden panels, or terracotta tiles. Although the apartments were redesigned in the 19th century, some outbuildings, such as stables and commons, still date back to the 17th century. The 19th-century chimneys, typical of Richelieu, bear witness to the later evolutions of the building.

Protection of the monument took place in two stages: the façade and the roof were inscribed in 1932, while other elements (stairs, attic, courtyard pavement) were added to the inventory in 1992. These measures highlight the heritage value of a building representative of the civil architecture of the time, combining classical rigour and subsequent adaptations. The house thus embodies both the heritage of Richelieu's great urban design and the traces of subsequent transformations, especially in the 19th century.

The location of the house at 5 Grande Rue confirms its integration into the ordered urban fabric of Richelieu. Although geographical accuracy is considered poor (level 5/10), its address and registration in the Historical Monuments inventory make it a key witness to the architectural and social history of the city. The protected elements, such as the walled frame or the wood-lined chimney, provide an overview of the construction techniques and lifestyle of the local elites under the Old Regime.

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