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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Romanesque house of Blesle is a 12th century civil building, located in the Haute-Loire department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It is distinguished by its geminied window, the only architectural vestige of the ancient castle of the lords of Mercœur. This detail, rare for a civil construction of that time, is decorated with two archvolts decorated with florets and small carved heads.

The geminated window, with its central column, was classified as historic monuments as early as 1924 for its exceptional heritage value. The rest of the house, with the exception of this already protected part, was registered in 1935. These protective measures underline the historical importance of this testimony of civil Romanesque architecture, often overshadowed by religious buildings of the same period.

According to available sources, the house is located in the village of Blesle, precisely at 5238 Rue Édouard Châtillon or near the old rue Bouteboeuf (current rue de la Vachaune). Its state of conservation and its accessibility to the public are not detailed, but its classification guarantees its preservation. The house illustrates the medieval heritage of the Haute-Loire, an area marked by the influence of local lords like those of Mercœur, whose castle has now almost completely disappeared.

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