Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house, located in Châlons-en-Champagne, is a remarkable example of civil architecture from the 4th quarter of the 17th and 1st quarter of the 18th centuries. It consists of a body of Savonières stone houses (local limestone) and chalk, organized between courtyard and garden, as well as a portal decorated with bosses and a triangular pediment. Inside, an 18th-century wrought iron staircase and 19th-century panelling testify to stylistic developments. The wing in return, in wooden strip, dates from the years 1826–29, while a former medieval warehouse (late 15th century) remains in the backyard, revealing the historical stratification of the site.

Acquired in 1658 by Nicolas Le Clerc, advisor to the king and receiver of finances in Champagne, the property was transformed between 1698 and 1707 under the impulse of his nephew, Nicolas Le Clerc treasurer of France. The portal, inspired by Parisian models, and the house body reflect their social status. The Le Clerc family kept the place until 1801. In the 19th century, the house changed its vocation: the manufacturer of bass Jacques Vienne (owner from 1813 to 1825) probably installed workshops there, while the notary Charles Caquot added the wing in wooden strip between 1826 and 1829. The commons, partly medieval, complement this heteroclite ensemble.

Classified as a Historic Monument in 2000, the house illustrates the evolution of domestic and economic uses in Champagne from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The mixture of materials (stone, chalk, wood) and styles (classicism, medieval, industrial) makes it a unique testimony to the urban history of Châlons-en-Champagne. The protected elements include the house body, gate, fence wall and warehouse, highlighting the heritage value of the ensemble.

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