House of Nicolas Flamel, Medieval stone house in 3rd arrondissement, France
The House of Nicolas Flamel on rue de Montmorency is a four-story stone structure dating to the early 15th century with carved door frames, relief sculptures, and inscribed texts on its exterior. The facade displays intricate craftsmanship typical of medieval Parisian architecture with ornamental details marking the building's formal purpose.
Built in 1407 by a wealthy manuscript dealer who intended it to serve as shelter for homeless people, the house reflects the personal commitment of its founder to charitable works. The owner's later reputation as a supposed alchemist obscured his actual role as a respected merchant and patron in medieval Paris.
Inscriptions in Middle French on the facade request prayers for the dead, showing how religious devotion and community support were woven into daily urban life during the medieval period.
The building is freely accessible from the street, and its carved details are clearly visible from ground level without requiring entry. The ground floor houses a restaurant, while the upper floors remain private residential spaces not open to visitors.
The carved door frames display the owner's initials alongside relief figures of people resting in garden scenes, an uncommon decorative choice for Parisian buildings of that era. This elaborate program of ornamentation reveals both the high status and personal piety of its commission.
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