Maison Milsan, Renaissance mansion on Forges Street in Dijon, France
Maison Milsan, also called maison Maillard, stands at 38 rue des Forges in Dijon. Its street facade is divided into three bands: four tall mullioned windows with carved reliefs and round medallion heads above, four carved-framed windows in the middle, and a modern shopfront below, its sign reading "Mylsand". The upper level and the courtyard facade are attributed to Hugues Sambin.
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 ground floor was pierced in the early 20th century to fit the wooden frame of a shop, which altered the original appearance of the building. The shop sign above the door reads "Mylsand", a spelling close to the house's alternative name, maison Milsand.
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