Maison carrée d'Arlac, Neoclassical folly in Mérignac, France.
The Maison carrée d'Arlac is a neoclassical country house in Mérignac featuring a square footprint and a southern facade adorned with Corinthian columns. Inside, a double-height rotunda room sits beneath a painted dome, topped by a circular gallery that overlooks the space below.
This neoclassical residence was constructed from 1785 to 1789 by architect Jean-Baptiste Dufart for Samuel Charles Peixotto, a Portuguese Jewish banker seeking a Palladian-inspired home. The building later served as a military hospital during World War I before being officially protected as a historical monument in 1983.
The building has carried different purposes through time, with its current name referring to its square footprint visible from above. Visitors walking through can sense how the spaces were designed to bring people together for social gatherings and celebrations.
The property with its surrounding park is located on Allée des Fontaniles and welcomes visitors year-round. Daytime hours are shorter in winter and longer during warmer months, making afternoon or early evening visits particularly rewarding.
The circular gallery above the rotunda contains a hidden staircase and was specifically designed to allow musicians to perform for guests gathered below without being seen. This concealed arrangement reveals how the original owner thought carefully about comfort and entertainment.
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