Although the grey house located on the corner of Rue de la Mercerie and Place de la Palud doesn’t look very spectacular, restoration works in 1999 followed by archaeological digs revealed its exceptional nature – its two first floors are the remains of a house constructed in 1340-41, making it one of the oldest private dwellings in French-speaking Switzerland.
The north façade reveals traces of the original structure of the building. Where the road slopes down, the ground floor of the house is punctuated by two large arched openings. The first floor features two rectangular cross windows and is topped by a gable under a chimney. These elements provide a clear idea of the dimensions of private dwellings in medieval times. Given the quality of the construction and its location in the city, it must have been owned by an important person or institution.
A floor was added in 1390-1400, followed by another in 1556-57. The mansard roof was added in 1734-35 and windows were transformed and replaced in the 18th and 19th centuries.
