Construction of the city and houses XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Urban project led by Richelieu and Lemercier.
1932
First registration for Historic Monuments
First registration for Historic Monuments 1932 (≈ 1932)
Facade and roof of number 17 protected.
1991
Second inscription in Historic Monuments
Second inscription in Historic Monuments 1991 (≈ 1991)
West facade and skylight of Nos. 15 and 17.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facade and roof of No. 17 : inscription by decree of 9 June 1932; West facade on the courtyard of the main house body with its curved pediment stone skylight of Nos 15, 17 (C 441, 443): inscription by decree of 26 November 1991
Key figures
Cardinal de Richelieu - Urban project sponsor
Turned its native village into a model city.
Jacques Lemercier - Chief Architect
Designs city plans and houses.
Origin and history
The house in Richelieu, in the Centre-Val de Loire, is a typical example of 17th century civil architecture. It is part of the ambitious urban project led by Cardinal de Richelieu, who wanted to transform his native village into a model city. The plans were designed by Jacques Lemercier, renowned architect, and incorporated defensive elements such as ditches and a enclosure, as well as a geometric plot of streets and aligned houses.
The monument, partially protected by inscriptions for the Historical Monuments (1932 and 1991), illustrates the architectural harmony sought at the time. The facades and roofs, especially those of numbers 15 and 17 Place du Marché, reflect the classic style advocated by Lemercier. These elements, like the curved-pedestrian skylight, underline the influence of the cardinal and his architect on local urban planning.
The city of Richelieu, with its monumental gates and symmetrical streets, became a symbol of power and modernity under the Old Regime. This project, both political and aesthetic, made a lasting mark on the landscape of the region and offered an organized living environment, characteristic of the 17th century urban ambitions.
