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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The house of Richelieu is part of an ambitious urban project initiated by Cardinal de Richelieu, who wanted to transform his native village into an ideal city. The plans were drawn up by the architect Jacques Lemercier, known for his work at the Château de Richelieu, and provided for a network of symmetrical streets, ditches, a fortified enclosure and monumental gates. This rigorous framework reflected the cardinal's political and aesthetic ambitions, combining functionality and prestige.

The town of Richelieu, with its aligned houses and its central market, embodies the rational planning of the seventeenth century. The facade and roof of this house were protected by a decree to register as Historic Monuments in 1932, highlighting their heritage value. The site, although partially preserved, still bears witness to this desire for urban planning, rare for the period in rural areas.

The exact address, 22 Place du Marché, confirms its integration into the economic and social heart of the city. The Insee code (37196) and the Indre-et-Loire department (37) anchor this heritage in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Despite an approximate GPS location (note 5/10), the monument remains a notable example of civil architecture linked to the influence of the great lords under the Old Regime.

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