Racapé de La Feuillée and Louvre Hotels, Rennes

Two of Rennes's most popular half-timbered mansions are found on Place des Lices. Built between 1658 and 1680, these twin buildings, standing side-by-side in the square renowned for its Saturday-morning market, are the Racapé de la Feuillée Hotel (whose main south façade is at No. 28 Place des Lices, and rear north façade at No. 23 Rue Saint-Louis) and the Hôtel de la Louvre, aka Hôtel de La Noue, located at No. 26 Place des Lices (main south façade) and No. 21 Rue Saint-Louis (rear north façade).

The Racapé de la Feuillée building is made from stone and bare timber, without corbels. The wooden framework currently visible on the façade wasn’t seen originally. At the time, wood was used for its cheapness, to imitate stone with a help of coating.

A double-flight staircase in front of the entrance gives this house a parliamentarian air, which is only logical, considering that its tenants were none other than local parliamentarians.

The adjoining buildings show striking similarities, such as three large arched arcades holding old stable doors. The Louvre hotel's main entrance is a red double door with barred windows. A pointed tympanum above the door holds a circular window. The door is flanked by grooved pilasters. There is a three-sided porch with five steps.

Both buildings were classified as historical monuments in 1962.

To get an idea of the inside, you can climb the stairs at number 28, where the Hôtel Racapée de la Feuillée serves as an excuse to step inside two wonderful boutiques. The one on the left is Aperçu, a fantastic find for interior design enthusiasts and just the ticket for snapping up premium items (furniture and fabrics as well as teas and beauty products). To the right is La Poudrerie, a beauty bar and make-up salon. As you make your way between these two venues, admire the artwork on the open-air central staircase, worth a visit as such. Combining a spot of shopping with a culture fix!