Maison Milsan, Renaissance mansion on Forges Street in Dijon, France
Maison Milsan is a Renaissance residence at 38 Rue de Forges in Dijon with ornate carved details covering its exterior walls. The facade features fruit garlands, lion heads, and decorative motifs across multiple levels, while the interior courtyard preserves a carved staircase and other period stonework from the 1500s.
Jean Maillard, mayor of Dijon, commissioned this house in 1561 and hired the renowned architect Hugues Sambin to design its upper sections. The building was created during a period when Dijon was prosperous and many wealthy merchants constructed similar grand homes.
The carved decorations on the walls show how wealthy merchants in Dijon liked to display their status through architectural details. These ornamental choices reflected the taste and values of Renaissance society in the region.
The ground floor now holds a shop that is open during regular business hours for public access. The ornate exterior can be viewed from the street at any time, though the interior courtyard is generally not open to the public.
The rear courtyard staircase retains its original carved stonework from the 1500s, a feature rarely preserved in other Dijon residences. This staircase serves as a rare example of the craftsmanship that went into even the hidden spaces of Renaissance homes.
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