Villebresme Mansion

They say that the best way to discover a city’s hidden gems is to simply lose yourself in its streets. One look at this Gothic building before you, and you’ll see why this suggestion is spot on. Dating from the late 15th century, this adorable, partly half-timbered house was originally built to accommodate a member of the Villebresme family. This same powerful lineage was also in charge of the impressive Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre at the time. It’s no surprise, then, that the building here eventually took their name. The property is now privately owned and is one of the city’s main attractions, thanks to its unique architecture. The building is divided into two parts, on either side of the street, and joined together by an unusual timber-framed walkway on the first floor. It’s been listed as a historical monument since 1928. The Villebresme Mansion is also known as the “House of Denis Papin” since the 1900s, though there’s little evidence to suggest the famous physicist and mathematician actually lived here.