Maisons, 23, 25, 27 rue Colbert, Medieval timber houses in Old Town Tours, France
The three adjacent timber-framed houses numbered 23, 25, and 27 on Rue Colbert extend across three stories with carved wooden beams and orange-painted exterior walls. These structures share an interior courtyard accessed through wooden galleries and a central staircase connecting the different sections.
These houses were built in the 15th century and received official heritage protection in 1946. This designation preserved their original architectural features and interior courtyard through the following decades.
These houses display traditional French timber construction methods with exposed wooden framework and protective roof overhangs at each floor level. Visitors can observe the craftsmanship in the beam joints and the characteristic details of medieval building practices.
Access to different sections of the houses is through wooden galleries and a central staircase in the shared interior courtyard. Visitors should be aware that the stairs and galleries are narrow and steep due to medieval construction standards.
Original orange pigments were discovered in the wood fibers during restoration work on the facades. This discovery allowed restorers to recreate the authentic medieval paint color that visitors see today.
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