Maisons des Chanoines, Historical residence in Noyon, France
The Maisons des Chanoines is a residential complex in Noyon that preserves architectural elements spanning multiple periods and reveals a layered construction history. The building displays remnants of medieval defensive features, including watchtower remains and spiral staircases embedded within stone gables, along with masonry marks showing where past structures once stood.
A devastating fire in 1552 damaged the building, prompting extensive reconstruction during the 17th and 18th centuries. Despite this destruction, builders deliberately preserved portions of the original medieval architecture, making the structure a testament to multiple building periods.
The residence reflects how canons chose to build their homes near the bishop's palace, creating a clustered arrangement that shaped the surrounding area. This spatial organization still influences how visitors experience the square today and reveals the close connection between religious authority and urban life.
The complex sits centrally on the cathedral square and is easy to access and identify from outside. Visitors should allow time to examine the facades carefully to appreciate all the architectural details and historical traces that tell the building's story.
A discharge arch and a 17th-century staircase remain visible, demonstrating construction techniques that were innovative for their time. The right gable displays marks and indentations revealing precisely where defensive towers and walls once connected to the structure before being removed.
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