Half-Timbered Houses (Maisons à Pans de Bois)

The Norman Parliament banned half-timbered construction in 1524, making these houses among the last legally built with this technique in the region. The prohibition was enacted as a fire safety measure after devastating urban fires, which explains why Caen has so few timber-framed buildings compared to nearby Rouen, where construction continued until the 18th century.

Dendrochronological analysis (tree-ring dating) of the timber beams confirmed that the twin houses at 52-54 Rue Saint-Pierre were built simultaneously in a single construction campaign in 1513. The wood was freshly cut specifically for this project, and both houses share identical roof frames and floor structures, proving they were conceived as a unified architectural ensemble.

The original owners of these twin houses were prosperous medieval professionals: Jean du Mont, a bookseller who became a city alderman in 1512, owned number 52, while Michel Mabrey, a wealthy merchant and fellow alderman, owned number 54. Their choice to build identical adjoining homes suggests both close friendship and a desire to display their equal social standing.