Welcome to Catherine de Médicis
Yes, you could have been welcomed in this house that makes us dream of ancient know-how by Catherine de Médicis, who owned it. She is said to have offered it to pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, hence its other name, "Maison Saint-Jacques", but this point is disputed.
Some historians, in fact, claim that it was a completely different pilgrimage, to the collegiate church of Levroux, with pilgrims coming to pray to Saint-Sylvain to cure them of "Saint-Sylvain's fire", a common skin disease at the time.
What is certain is that this house was built between 1492 and 1495, the techniques of the time offering a longevity that many current buildings could envy!
It has been classified as a historical monument since 1922.
Today it houses the Maison Culturelle de Levroux, which holds exhibitions all year round. Ask for information!
Observe, admire...
Admire the sculpture work, and observe the details. Here, twisted columns crowned with characters. There, here is another one with hands on the head, here is a jester, here is a wild man holding a club. You will notice that this wild man has a skin which seems to be detached by scales, of which one does not know if it wants to symbolize the passage of the beast to the man, if it represents the famous "fire of Saint Sylvain", or if it evokes the plague of which Saint Martin would have cured a notable of the city...
Observe, admire... and dream!
The wooden house
Place Victor-Hugo
corner of the street Gabatum
36110 Levroux
Tourist office
Place Ernest Nivet
36110 Levroux
Phone : 02.54.07.19.93
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