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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Porte located in Puy-en-Velay, dating from the 17th century, is a remarkable architectural element from a house destroyed during urban changes. Before the transformation of Cardinal de Polignac Street and the expansion of the bishopric gardens, this house was at the end of the street. Sculptures from the late 15th century, including shields and niches framed with prismatic columns, came from this. These decorative elements, now disappeared, suggest an older origin than the door itself, probably reused during its construction.

The door itself features a distinctive style from the early 17th century, with a curved arch, bosses, impostes and a protruding key. Its period carpentry, composed of small panels and diamond tips, evokes a stylistic heritage of the late 16th century. These ornamental details recall the influences of the late Renaissance, mixing structural strength and decorative elegance. The door was preserved by its inscription as a Historical Monument by order of 16 September 1949, protecting both its structure and its carpentry.

Originally integrated into a private home, this door was moved to the western end of the bishop's gardens after the original house was destroyed. Its current location, although modified by urban developments, allows to appreciate its role in the local architectural heritage. The traces of prismatic columnettes and shields, though fragmentary, offer an overview of the artistic re-use practices common in modern times, where medieval elements were often integrated into more recent constructions.

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