Maison du Pilier Rouge, Medieval house in Cité Plantagenêt, Le Mans, France.
Maison du Pilier Rouge is a timber-framed house located at the corner of Grande-Rue and Pilier-Rouge Street in the old town. The two-story building is distinguished by a red wooden column that supports the corner and serves as its most recognizable feature.
The house was constructed between the 15th and 16th centuries as part of the medieval commercial district. It received official heritage protection status in 1928 due to its architectural importance and the quality of its condition.
The building now serves as the city's tourist information center where visitors can learn about daily life in the medieval town. You can discover how such homes shaped the social and economic life of the people living here centuries ago.
The house is easily accessible on foot within the old town, especially if you walk along the historic streets around it. Visiting during regular business hours of the tourist office works best, when staff can provide guidance and answer questions.
The red column that gives the house its name was added in the early 16th century and was originally a practical structural element. This column has become so synonymous with the building that few visitors notice how it was integrated into the overall design rather than added as decoration.
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