In the 16th century, the French Wars of Religion damaged this town, reducing most of its dwellings and monuments to ashes. A reconstruction campaign took place from 1600 to 1669. The property is nestled on a shopping street in the town’s old heart. Today, the town has 34 historical half-timbered houses. The plots are narrow, which helped a maximum number of merchants get well established with a visible shop front. So all the dwellings of this kind here have the same layout. The ground floor would be used for trade. The upstairs would be a dwelling used for everyday family life. And the loft would be used to lodge apprentices. The house has a corbelled facade with each of its three upper floors protruding slightly over the one below it. The building is crowned with a gabled slate roof with slopes that gently flare out at the bottom. The top-floor corbels are anchored in the walls, which are cladded with slate shingles. The aim was to protect the edifice from runoff and fires. The house’s timber frame is made up of vertical and horizontal beams with a wooden roof frame at the top. The cross-bracing, mostly made up of saltires, is showcased on the facade. You can see sculpted decor on the facade’s vertical beams. The building was nicknamed ‘the apothecary’s house’ and this is reflected in eight sculptures of characters in the facade. These sculptures reflect the aches and ailments of the time. Many rectangular windows punctuate the facade. The timber beams are painted ochre and red. Other half-timbered houses stand on either side of the street, which leads down to the town’s market square.

The half-timbered house

The ground floor
The ground-floor is vast and bathed in natural light with three large street-facing windows. A door leads down to a cellar, which extends beneath the whole house. The walls are adorned with wooden panelling with a pale oak tone. Exposed timber beams that date back to the time of construction run across the ceiling. They are brought out by the white paintwork of the ceiling. A small window brings in extra light. And a spiral staircase leads up to the different floors above.

The first floor
The layout on the first floor is the same as that of the ground floor. There is even more natural light up here as there are many windows, both in the facade and at the back of the building. There is a tap and lavatory on this level. And you can still see a former latrine. The whole of this first floor needs to be renovated.

The second floor
There are many windows on the second floor. There is a fireplace in one wall. Like the first floor, the whole of the second floor needs to be renovated.

The attic
The entire roof space needs to be restored. Its cathedral ceiling is considerably high. Skylights and gable-end windows fill the space with natural light.