Histoire et histoires de ...

From 1547, the first land registry that Valence’s townhall kept, mentioned the « maison de la Pra » owned by Mrs. Laurens de la Pra, a lawyer of Grenoble.He acquired a concentration of small buildings of the family “de la Beaulne”, whose certain members became famous in the crusades of the middle ages.Mr Laurens de la Pra demolished houses insides the court and replaced them by a mansion with a tower in order to obtain a more harmonious architectural building. His blazon is still visible on the front of the door.

In 1560, the property was sold out to a rich trader from Valence, Mr Giraud Frère who hand down the mansion to his son, Claude Frère, an ambitious and intellectual person

 

Graduated from the university of Bologna (Italy), Claude Frère aims to obtain a chair in the university of Valence, He obtained it .He was allowed to be free of taxes, as it was at this time for professors. Turning a deaf dear to the protests expressed by the city Council, Claude Frère prefers to reserve his energy to increase his relations. He became the friend of the really well known and influential Supreme Commander : Lesdiguières.

This relationship permitted him to be posted President of the Grenoble’s Parliament

 

In this epoch, the street “ Equerre” was called street “ Grand Palais”, maybe in the memory of the imperial Roman palace whose presence in this district, leant to the old theatre is attested by several historians and architect of the city, like Maruis Villar.At the beginning of the XVIII century, the street “Grand Palais” is not build in the Holy John Church direction and Claude Frère, who lives as a cosmopolite and socialite person find in this a real humiliation.  The narrow mindness of the street obliges his guests and himself to use a “chaise à proteurs”. For 400 Florins, he asked the town council to build and pierce the street, and this one will be renamed as street “Neuve” and “Equerre”.

Le Temps des femmes

The “Maison de la Pra” is then given up to the presidente of Faure, the Claude Frère ‘s sister. Then to the Ursulines and at the end of the XIX century to Miss Serres.In 1900, the mansion was rented to the city council to install a boarder school for girl. Of these feminine imprint, only we retains “Amélie de Laurencin”, who, according to Valence Tourism Agency, was the pretty blond girl whom Bonaparte, in this memory, reserves a touched memory.

Aujourd’hui

In 1920, the mansion was acquired by the Belon family; Mrs. Belon sold out the property to the actual owner: Mrs and Ms Bayart.
They contribute to renew completely the mansion, restoring the charm and the luxury, adding the commodities of the modern life.
The “Maison de la Pra” includes a private part and a part for the guest houses. The situation in the heart of the old town is wonderful.