House of Jean Hérouet, Paris © French Moments
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Last Updated: 22 April 2021

When you walk along the busy rue des Francs Bourgeois in the Marais district, you’ll probably notice the House of Jean Hérouet. It stands out from other buildings nearby for its elegant turret. The mansion gives us a good image of civil architecture from the 16th century in Paris.


The House of Jean Hérouet: a bit of history

The house was commissioned at the beginning of the 16th century by Jean Hérouet, personal secretary of the Duke of Orléans and a royal treasurer.

Hérouet had it built entirely of stone in Gothic style.

The mansion stayed in the same family until 1582. Then it came into possession of other rich families (Pelloquin, Tillet and Villarceau).

The house was heavily restored in the 19th century. But it was left in a bad state when WW2 broke up.

The 1944 aerial bombings

Alas, it was severely damaged through Luftwaffe bombings on the night of the 26th August 1944.

House of Jean Hérouet
After the 1944 bombing

The attack was catastrophic for the district. In three streets only (Francs Bourgeois, Vieille du Temple and Rambuteau), the bombs killed 66 and injured 118.

Eventually, it was decided to rebuild the mansion. For many, this was done without much consideration. Only the turret recalls the past of this grand house.

Today a store occupies the ground floor of the house (which cannot be visited).

The Gothic turret

The mansion is recognisable by its round turret crowned with a pointed roof. 

54 rue Vieille du Temple, Paris © French Moments
The façade of the house from rue des Francs Bourgeois © French Moments

Located at the corner of the house, the fine corbelling turret certainly draws attention. The dominant style is Flamboyant Gothic. Therefore it was designed at a time when the burgeoning of the French Renaissance occurred in Paris.

Jean Hérouet House, Paris © French Moments
Detail of the turret © French Moments
Jean Hérouet House, Paris © French Moments
The façade of the house © French Moments
54 rue Vieille du Temple, Paris © French Moments
The residence of Jean Hérouet, 54 rue Vieille du Temple © French Moments

Moreover, the first residents had a three-mullioned window placed there. This strategic position allowed them to oversee the neighbourhood.


Where to find the Jean Hérouet House?

The House of Jean Hérouet is located in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris, at the corner of rue Vieille du Temple and rue des Francs Bourgeois.

Closest métro stations: Rambuteau (line 11), Hôtel de Ville (lines 1, 11), Saint-Paul (line 1)

Read more about the Hérouet Mansion in French on my friend Sabrina’s blog TuParisCombien.

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Hôtel de Jean Hérouet © French Moments


 

Gems of Paris by French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

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