Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The pharmacy Lesage, located 78 rue du Général-de-Gaulle in Dovers-la-Deliverande (Calvados), was built in 1901 for Georges Lesage (1861-1946), pharmacist and mayor of the commune. The building, designed by the Caenian architect François Rouvray, combines an eclectic style with Art Nouveau influences, rare in the department. The ironworks, made by Adolphe Marie de Creully, and the roof tiles illustrate this artistic current.

The building, which was listed as a historic monument in 1975 for its facades, roofs and interior decorations, was the subject of an unsuccessful legal remedy. The Administrative Court of Caen confirmed its protection in 1979, stressing its "unique" character as an architectural vestige of the early twentieth century in Normandy. Inside, floral tiles, period furniture and partial stained glass still exist, despite the disappearance of the polychrome windows from the entrance.

Georges Lesage, mayor and pharmacist until his death in 1946, marked the commune with public investments during his tenures. The pharmacy, symbol of its local commitment, also reflects the rise of bourgeois shops at the turn of the century. Its architecture, combining classicism and modernity, makes it a valuable testimony of this period in the region.

Today, Lesage pharmacy remains a remarkable example of Art Nouveau integration in Lower Normandy, where this style is poorly represented. Its interior decor, preserved despite the hazards of time, and its limestone façade make it a historical and artistic monument, anchored in the local heritage.

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