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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The wooden house at 2 Rue Robert Lugnier in Saint-Germain-Laval is an emblematic monument of medieval civil architecture in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Built in the 15th century, it bears witness to the construction techniques typical of this period, today rare in the Loire department. Its inscription in the inventory of Historic Monuments by decree of 21 March 1947 specifically concerns its facades and roofs, highlighting their exceptional heritage value.

Saint-Germain-Laval, located in the present Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, was in the Middle Ages a dynamic village linked to the agricultural and commercial activities of the Forez plain. The half-timbered houses, such as the one on Rue Robert Lugnier, served both as a dwelling, a workshop or a place of exchange for local merchants and artisans. These buildings also reflected the social hierarchy, their size and their decoration, often indicating the economic status of their owners.

Available sources, including the Merimée and Monumentum base, specify that the official address of the monument is recorded as "place du Marché", although GPS coordinates suggest a nearby location at 12 Rue du Marché. This discrepancy illustrates the exact location challenges for some old buildings, whose addresses may have evolved with urban redevelopment. The accuracy of its location is assessed as "a priori satisfactory" (note 6/10), allowing visual identification via tools such as Street View.

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