Sévigné-Nétumières townhouse

Sévigné-Nétumières townhouse

This building, erected by the Hay des Nétumières family, dates back to the first half of the 18th century. It is built on the same site as the residence owned by Madame de Sévigné in the 17th century, the ‘Hôtel de la Tour de Sévigné’, whose name is derived from a town-wall tower annexed to the house. This new 18th century residence was built on the town’s old south wall, used as foundations. The wall’s levelled tower became a terrace leading down to the French formal gardens adorning the town’s old moats to the south (both tower and moats have now disappeared). To the north, the courtyard entrance opens out onto the present-day Rue de Sévigné. This townhouse was therefore set between a courtyard and a garden, an architectural style that emerged in the 17th century in Paris, with architects such as Mansart and Le Vau. The simple façades are striped with bands that separate the floors, cornices, corner reinforcements and window frames, and are the only features made from cut stone. The walls are made from schist quarry-stone covered in a lime coating, as was frequently the case in Brittany (like at the Malouinières residence).