Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house located at 23 rue des Halles in Vannes is an emblematic example of Breton medieval civil architecture, built between the 15th and 16th centuries. This monument is distinguished by its wood-pan structure, with a corbelled gable on the street, supported by aislemakers and carved consoles. The facade frame, stiffened by fern strands, incorporates adorned high and low sandstones, ending with triangular chamfers. The building, consisting of two joint houses, consists of three floors, including a top floor covered by a gable roof. A median lateral staircase serves the levels, while a corridor allows access to the rear.

The house was certified as early as 1455 in an annuitant mentioning Jehan de Vannes, a goldsmith, as the first known owner. This initial housing body, aligned on the street, was later extended by a second body, forming the present whole. The archives of the reformation of the estate in 1677 indicate that the property, including a posterior court and appentis, then belonged to François Mallet, Sieur de la Masserye, maître-apothicaire. The dimensions described correspond to those of the current house. A later alley, mentioned in the documents, linked the courtyard to the other houses on the street.

In the last quarter of the 20th century, major works changed the base, interior distribution and stairwell, partially altering the original structure. Despite these transformations, the street façade preserves authentic medieval elements: polygonal cap consoles, aislemakers, and carved sandstones. The primitive openings, initially aligned, were replaced by wider crossovers. The vaulted basement, on the other hand, preserves the location of the old staircase with screws and traces of the upper body.

Classified as a Historical Monument by order of 25 January 1929 for its facade and roof, this house illustrates the evolution of urban habitat in Brittany between the Middle Ages and the modern era. Its present state is the result of both its partial preservation and contemporary adaptations, while remaining a valuable testimony to the constructive techniques and way of life of the urban elites in the region.

External links