Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house in Richelieu is part of an ambitious urban project initiated by Cardinal de Richelieu. Born in this village, he decided to transform it into a new town, whose plans were drawn up by the architect Jacques Lemercier, also responsible for the castle. The aim of this project was to create an ideal city, marked by a rigorous geometry: ditches, walls, monumental doors, and a network of symmetrical streets lined with aligned houses. The facade and roof of this house have been protected under the Historic Monuments since 1932.

The town of Richelieu, designed ex nihilo, reflects the 17th century urban principles, combining classical aesthetics and defensive functionality. The cardinal, the minister of Louis XIII, imposed a spatial organization reflecting his power and centralizing vision. The houses, like the church square, illustrate this architectural uniformity, characteristic of the planned cities of the time. Their strict alignment and sober style meet established standards to harmonize the urban whole.

The precise address of this house, 14 place des Religieuses, is referenced in the Mérimée base under the code Insee 37196, attached to the department of Indre-et-Loire. Although the GPS location is approximate (accuracy note: 5/10), the monument remains a tangible testimony of Richelieu's urban heritage. Its inscription in 1932 underscores its heritage value, linked to both its architecture and its integration into an exceptional historical complex.

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