2 - 8 place du Marché-Neuf, Listed historic monument in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
The buildings numbered 2 through 8 on Place du Marché-Neuf form a continuous row with uniform facades, ground floor arcades, and symmetrically arranged windows. The lower level houses shops and commercial spaces, while the upper stories serve as private residences.
These buildings were erected between 1770 and 1820 on the site of a former cemetery that the town had relocated. Their construction marked the transformation of the central square into a modern urban space.
The facades display classical French architectural language with understated details like columns and pilasters that shape the character of the historic town center. As you walk across the square, you notice how these fronts frame daily life and give the place its balanced, ordered appearance.
The street-level areas are accessible by small ramps and steps, though the ground itself can be uneven. The ground floor shops are typically open during daytime hours, while the private residences are not open to visitors.
The trapezoidal shape of the square required the side facades facing neighboring streets to employ different architectural solutions to accommodate the geometry. This adjustment reveals how architects creatively worked with an irregular footprint.
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