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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The 15th century house in Riom is an example of late medieval civil architecture. It is distinguished by its Gothic door, composed of a wide opening divided by a heel, separating the door itself from the impost that overcomes it. The frame, adorned with a moulding characteristic of the late Gothic, extends all around, while the imposte is protected by a wrought iron grilling of the period. These decorative and structural elements illustrate the craftsmanship of the period, where architectural details reflected both a practical function and an aesthetic concern.

The protection of this monument specifically concerns the façade and its staircase, with particular attention to the door on street, inscribed by decree of 31 May 1927. This official recognition underlines the heritage value of the building, particularly for its state of conservation and its representativeness of the bourgeois domestic architecture of Riom at the end of the Middle Ages. The precise address, 27 rue de l'Horloge, allows to situate this historical testimony in the city centre, a district probably marked by the commercial and craft activity of the period.

The historical context of Riom in the 15th century is that of a prosperous city, then administrative capital of the Duchy of Auvergne. Bourgeois houses, like this one, bear witness to the wealth of local elites, often linked to commerce, justice or the ducal administration. Their architecture, combining robustness and elegance, reflects a period of transition between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, where Gothic influences persist while integrating technical and decorative innovations. These buildings played a central role in urban life, serving as both a residence, a place of work and a symbol of social status.

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