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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The house of Richelieu, located in the eponymous city, is part of an ambitious urban project launched by Cardinal Richelieu. The latter transformed his native village into an ideal city, designed by architect Jacques Lemercier, with symmetrical streets, ditches, and aligned houses. The city, conceived as a classic urban model, reflected the cardinal's desire to create a harmonious and monumental ensemble.

The land of this house was ceded by the cardinal to Thomas Bonneau, Sieur du Plessis, king's adviser and secretary, on August 22, 1634. A contract was made two days later with the entrepreneur Jean Barbet, in the presence of Alphonse de Loppez, to build a hotel on the Grande Rue and two small houses in the square, for a total cost of 16,000 pounds. The plans, signed by Lemercier, incorporated this construction into the city's regular urban fabric.

In the 19th century, this house was referred to as the Lion Gold house on Richelieu's alignment plans. Its facade and roof were protected by a decree of inscription under the title of Historical Monuments on June 9, 1932, thus recognizing its heritage importance in the unique architectural complex of the city.

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