House of the “Sagittaire”
The south façade, looking on the street, as well as that of the apse, suffered badly throughout their entire length.
Although the main body of the building remained standing, most of the ornamental carving was broken and the doorway torn open, while all the stained glass was destroyed, together with the greater part of the mullions of the windows. Inside, the vaults were pierced in several places.
The doorway in the Rue Pingré is uninjured (photo above). Part of the ornamental carving is of great delicacy, but the statues are modern. The door is of wood with Renaissance carvings. A square tower leaning towards the North flanks the doorway.
The interior of the church is beautifully proportioned and very simple in arrangement. The choir, slightly more modern than the nave, dates from 1478. The lateral chapels contain some 16th century stained glass and a reproduction of the Burial Scene dated 1506.
Skirt the church by following the Rue St. Germain to the Place du Marché de Lanselles (curious old houses).
Cross the Square diagonally on the right, then take the Rue des Vergeaux.
In this street (Nos. 57-59—K on detailed plan) is the Maison du Sagittaire (Archers’ House), so called on account of two small figures of archers carved at the top of the keystones of the arcaded vaults on the ground-floor.
Pure Renaissance in style and dating from 1593, it is the finest and best preserved house in the old town (photo opposite).
The ground-floor comprises two broken-arch arcades, each of whose tympanums is ornamented with two semi-recumbent figures of women.
A frieze ornamented with medallions of Roman warriors extends between the ground-floor and first-floor.
Five magnificent lions’ muzzles appear between Renaissance motifs in this frieze.