In 1723, Jean-Louis Fornel and his wife, Marie-Anne Barbel, moved into this house, which Fornel had inherited from his father. The following summer, the couple enlarged the house and added a small courtyard that looked onto the square. Then, in 1735, the Fornels had vaulted cellars built, at great expense, beneath the market square. This type of construction, located beside the house and carried out after the house was built, was unusual. Vaulted cellars were normally built beneath a building, and served as its foundation.
Vaulted cellars were essential for merchants. As well as offering protection from fire, they maintained a constant cool temperature, which meant that fresh food could be stored without spoiling, in both winter and summer.
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Map of Place-Royale
