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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 transform it into a model city, entrusting the plans to the architect Jacques Lemercier, known for his work at the Château de Richelieu. The regular route, with its ditches, ramparts, monumental gates and symmetrical streets, reflected the ideals of order and grandeur of the time. The houses, aligned according to a strict geometrical plan, illustrated this desire for modernity and architectural control.

The façade and roof of this house were protected by a decree of inscription under the Historical Monuments on 9 June 1932. This ranking underlines its importance in the built heritage of Richelieu, a city conceived as a symbol of the cardinal's power and influence. The precise address, 12 place of the Religious, places this monument at the heart of an exceptional urban complex, marked by the heritage of its founder. The location, although considered approximate (accuracy level 5/10), remains a tangible testimony of classical French urban planning.

Richelieu, in Indre-et-Loire (region Centre-Val de Loire), thus embodies a rare example of a city entirely planned under the Ancien Régime. The original project aimed to create an ideal city, combining residential, religious and military functions. Today, this house, like other elements of the building, recalls the audacity of this company and its inscription in the history of French architecture. Available sources, including Monumentum, confirm its status as a Historic Monument without providing more details on its past or current use.

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