In the Marais district, rue François-Miron is one of the few streets in central Paris to have retained its medieval ambience despite successive urban transformations. At numbers 11 and 13, two half-timbered houses catch the eye. Often referred to as"medieval houses", their exact dating is the subject of much debate.
Attested as early as the early 16ᵉ century, some sources mention the existence of structures dating back to the 14ᵉ century. These houses are traditionally designated"à l'enseigne du Faucheur" for number 11 and"à l'enseigne du Mouton" for number 13, reviving themedieval use of symbolic signs in place of numbers.
The architecture of the medieval houses on Rue François-Miron, although partly rebuilt in the 20ᵉ century, remains a rare example ofearly civilian housing in central Paris. The two houses catch the eye with their exposed timber-framed structure, also known as half-timbered architecture, typical of Parisian buildings of the 14ᵉ and 15ᵉ centuries, before Haussmann urban planning and fire regulations made them disappear almost entirely.
The construction principle is based on a solid wood frame, usually oak, onto which cob, brick or plaster infills are inserted. This visible structure is both the skeleton and the skin of the house. The half-timbering on rue François-Miron features St. Andrew's cross and diamond patterns, frequently used at the time not only for their solidity but also for their ornamental value.
Another major feature was the corbelling. Each upper storey protruded slightly beyond the previous one, creating an overhang above the street. This technique made it possible to gain living space without enlarging the footprint, while protecting the lower facade from the rain. This visible projection accentuated the verticality of the houses, contributing to the impression of density typical of medieval Paris.
Over time, these projections were gradually eliminated or reduced, notably due to Parisian decrees aimed at limiting the risk of fire and collapse. We know that in 1607, a regulation imposed a limit on overhangs onto the public thoroughfare; one of the reasons for theadaptation of the original medieval structures over the centuries.
During restoration work in the 1960s, the half-timbered walls were restored, some of them partially reconstructed to resemble their medieval appearance. However, the current color scheme of dark wood and light-colored plaster is more an aesthetic choice than a strict historical reconstruction, as medieval houses were often painted in bright colors.
These buildings also bear the marks of remodeling, successive renovations and evenmodern additions, proof that they are not frozen relics but living witnesses to theurban history of Paris.
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