Maison du Saumon, 15th century timber house in Place de la Poissonnerie, France.
The Maison du Saumon is a 15th-century house in Chartres with wooden beams and limestone walls featuring ornate carvings, including a central salmon sculpture on a ground-floor console. The structure combines traditional medieval building techniques with fine decorative details across its exterior.
The house was built between the late 15th and early 16th centuries and belonged to Catherine Maubuisson, who managed significant import-export trade. The name Salmon comes from one of these original commercial functions that defined the building for centuries.
The front wall displays several religious carvings, including an Annunciation scene and Archangel Michael above the salmon symbol. These images reflect the spiritual importance the house held in the city's daily life.
The building now houses the Chartres Tourist Office, offering visitors information, models, and documents about local sites and attractions. Located on Place de la Poissonnerie, it sits in an easy-to-reach position and serves as a convenient first stop for travelers exploring the city.
A bomb in 1944 destroyed the rear courtyard and roof of the building. The extensive reconstruction work between 1950 and 1956 by Historical Monuments services saved the medieval structure and restored it to the condition visitors see today.
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