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Origin and history

Lemonnier House is an emblematic 14th and 15th century civil building located at 58 rue de la Chaussée in Argentan, in the Orne department in Normandy. Built according to the traditional technique of the wood panel, it is distinguished by its two bays with corbellation, where the poles rise on the height of one floor, separated by well-worked base and sandstone. Its modest architecture reflects the local craftsmanship of the medieval era, while marking the urban landscape of Argentan.

Classified under the title of Historical Monuments by order of 27 September 1948, Lemonnier House bears witness to the preservation of Norman built heritage. The available sources (Wikipedia, Monumentum) highlight its original constructive system, with superimposed woods and a little imposing facade but typical of bourgeois or commercial dwellings of the late Middle Ages. Its location in the city centre, near Place Henri IV, suggests an integration into the commercial or artisanal fabric of the time.

Like many wooden houses in Normandy, this monument embodies the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, when Argentan, a strategic city between Caen and Alençon, enjoyed dynamic economic activity. The corbellations, besides their aesthetic function, allowed to enlarge the living space overlooking the narrow streets, common practice in densely populated medieval cities. Today, Lemonnier House remains a studied example of Norman vernacular architecture, accessible via the Merimée bases and heritage portals.

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