Maison d'Adam et Ève, Listed Historical Monument in Grand Rue, Le Mans, France.
The Maison d'Adam et Ève is a house on Grand Rue in central Le Mans with an elaborate timber-framed facade. The building displays carved reliefs on its front wall featuring human figures interspersed with zodiac symbols.
The house was constructed in 1528 by Jehan de L'Espine, a physician to Queen Marguerite of Navarre. The timber-framed facade later received additional heritage protection through a separate registration in 1938.
The facade features relief carvings that many visitors interpret as depicting Ariadne and Bacchus rather than biblical Adam and Eve. This blend of mythological and religious imagery creates an intriguing visual puzzle that sparks curiosity.
The house is located in the historical old town of Le Mans and is easily accessible during a walk through the district. The facade is visible from the street and can be observed from the outside.
The reliefs on the facade mix Christian and classical symbols in a way that still puzzles observers today. Art historians continue to debate whether the original interpretation of the figures was intentionally ambiguous.
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