Moorish house

The house in front of you is surprisingly different from the other buildings in town, in both architecture and appearance. Built in 1860, the facade of this large house is inspired by the oriental style that appeared in France in the 1830s. It marks a clear break with the traditional architecture that characterizes the streets of Valence, and we owe this particularity to its owner, Charles Ferlin. At the time, the town was undergoing a series of transformations designed to open up the city center and provide greater protection for its residents, who were finding it increasingly difficult to navigate the narrow medieval streets of Old Valence. Charles Ferlin siezed this opportunity to buy a plot of land and build this Moorish-style house. Regular trips made by Europeans to Maghreb made this style popular in France and even birthed a new architectural mouvement known as Orientalism. This house fits perfectly into it with its striking facade and really stands out in this street. A true Oriental touch to the historic center of Valence!