Hôtel de Than, Renaissance private mansion in Caen, France
The Hôtel de Than is an early Renaissance mansion in Caen with skillfully carved stonework on its facade and Italian-influenced roof dormers. The building blends Gothic elements with new Renaissance design principles, showing the transitional style of that era.
The building was constructed in the early 1500s for Thomas Morel, a local nobleman with estates in Normandy. During World War II, it suffered heavy damage from bombing and fires during the Battle of Caen, but was gradually restored afterward.
The name comes from the lord of Thaon who commissioned the building. Today, the stone decorations and tall windows shape its appearance and tell of its wealthy past.
The building sits on a quiet side street and is viewable from the outside, with Renaissance details clearly visible from street level. Visitors should know that it now houses apartments and retail space, so interior access is not available.
In the 19th century, a collector-minded resident filled the house with rare porcelain, musical instruments, and natural specimens. These valuable objects reflected the status and interests of wealthy owners during the Romantic period.
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