Creation of the city of Richelieu 1631-1642 (période estimée) (≈ 1637)
Transformation of the village into a model city.
9 juin 1932
Front protection
Front protection 9 juin 1932 (≈ 1932)
Registration for Historical Monuments.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facade and roof: inscription by decree of 9 June 1932
Key figures
Cardinal de Richelieu - Urban project sponsor
Initiator of the new city.
Jacques Lemercier - Chief Architect
Designer of Richelieu plans.
Origin and history
The house in Richelieu is part of the ambitious urban project launched by Cardinal Richelieu in the 17th century. Born in this village, he decided to make it a model city, entrusting the plans to architect Jacques Lemercier, known for his work at the castle. The geometric path, with its symmetrical streets, ditches and monumental gates, reflected the ideals of order and grandeur of the time. The houses, aligned and uniform, embodied this desire for architectural rationality.
The façade and roof of this house were protected by a decree of inscription under the title of Historical Monuments on 9 June 1932. This ranking underscores its role in the built heritage of Richelieu, a new city conceived as a symbol of power and modernity under the Old Regime. The precise address, 23 Place du Marché, places the building in the heart of this exceptional urban complex, now classified in the Indre-et-Loire department.
The Richelieu project was part of a broader approach to territorial control and prestige, characteristic of Richelieu's ministries. The city, with its ramparts and orthogonal plan, was to embody the central authority while serving as an architectural showcase. Houses, like this one, were key elements of this composition, designed to harmonize public and private space according to the classical principles of the time.
