Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house of the Angel, located in Châteaubriant in the Loire-Atlantique (region Pays de la Loire), is a typical example of medieval civil architecture. Built between the 15th and 16th centuries, it is distinguished by its wood-paned facade, which is based on a stone base. Its name comes from an angel carved in a chevron of the facade, a rare decorative element for a dwelling of that time. The building is composed of two building bodies: one in a wooden panel with a staircase screw in a turret, the other in the eighteenth century.

The house is listed as historic monuments by order of January 7, 1926, recognizing its heritage value. Although its history is partially documented, a commemorative plaque recalls the stay of Sophie Trébuchet, the mother of Victor Hugo, in a house on the same street. Sophie Trébuchet reportedly met her future husband, Léopold Sigisbert Hugo, before their marriage in Paris in 1797. This indirect link with the poet Victor Hugo, born in 1802, adds a historical and literary dimension to the monument.

The building underwent several transformations, notably in the 18th century (added chimneys and partitions) and around 1990 (partial destruction of a staircase and partitions). Despite these changes, the House of the Angel retains original elements such as its structure and its staircase turret. Today, it bears witness to the architectural and urban evolution of Châteaubriant, between medieval heritage and subsequent adaptations.

External links