Gateway to the treasurers’ residence

This intricately sculpted gate in flamboyant Gothic style is another testament to Tours’ past. It’s all that remains of a private mansion belonging to the treasurer of the canons. Judging by the entrance, one can easily imagine that the rest of the mansion must have been quite grand. That’s because the treasurer of the canons was a very important person. In addition to their primary duties, they also had the right of high justice. You should know that in the Middle Ages, there was high and low justice, corresponding to criminal and civil matters, respectively. The person in charge would decide on death sentences. Now you understand why this complex of buildings had to be so imposing. The elaborately adorned gate symbolized the power of authority. It was built in the 15th century and, as the only vestige of that bygone era, is classified as a historical monument.