03 - Pierre Percée Street

A very old street in the second wall of Orléans, the rue de la Pierre Percée has become a dead end since the opening of the rue Jean Hupeau located just behind it. It was once a magnificent street, with beautiful houses inhabited by wealthy residents, bourgeois and officers.

The street, very low and perpendicular to the quays of the Loire, has kept its old and irregular cobblestones from the 15th century. The current level of the street is representative of the level of the medieval city. This significant difference is explained by the construction of a mound in the 18th century in order to more easily access the construction site of the Pont Royal.

Some houses were preserved, but moved to the city during the major development work on the Châtelet halls at the end of the 19th century. One house is still there: the maison de la Coquille, listed as a Historic Monument in 1889.

The maison de la Coquille is one of the oldest houses in the city since its construction dates back to the 16th century. The shell sculpted above the door of the house certainly refers to the Saint-Jacques Chapel formerly located two steps higher, and which was one of the stops for pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela. The facade of this admirable chapel was moved during the major construction of the Halles in the gardens of the Hôtel Groslot in Orléans.
Next to the Maison de la Coquille, there are two half-timbered houses from the 15th and 16th centuries and the old Au bon Laboureur inn dating from the middle of the 19th century.

Its name of rue de la Pierre Percée comes from the private mansion of Jean Boilève (14th century) named Hôtel de la Pierre Percée.

Let's continue the visit by pressing the button below.