Maison du Pilier-Rouge

16th-century half-timbered house in the Cité Plantagenêt, headquarters of the City's Tourism and Heritage department.

The Sortir au Mans team met Maison du Pilier-Rouge in October 2026.

What's on

Sign-ups, schedules, newsEverything is on the Maison du Pilier-Rouge website

Practical info

Address

41-43 Grande-Rue, 72000 Le Mans

See on the map

Hours

Summer tourist welcome: every day 10 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30–6 PM; exhibitions and tours all year, hours available from the Tourism and Heritage department

Tram

T2 — Jacobins-Quinconces stop, 240 m · wheelchair-accessible stop

Bus

Line M — Cité Plantagenêt stop, 120 m · wheelchair-accessible stop

Parking

Parking right out front: Parking de la Pierre de Tucé (free, 42 spaces, surface lot)

Phone

02 43 47 40 30

More about Maison du Pilier-Rouge

Located at the corner of Grande-Rue and rue du Pilier-Rouge, in the heart of the Cité Plantagenêt, the Maison du Pilier-Rouge is a 16th-century half-timbered house recognizable by its corner post painted red. It now houses the City of Le Mans's Tourism and Heritage department: most guided tours, heritage workshops, and heritage classes offered in Le Mans start from here. You'll also find a shop and exhibitions on the history and architecture of the city. In season, a summer tourist welcome desk is open here.

A bit of history

Built in the 15th and 16th centuries at the corner of Grande-Rue and rue du Pilier-Rouge, this half-timbered house takes its name from the wooden pillar painted red, dating from the first half of the 16th century, that supports the corner of the building. The pillar was listed as a historic monument by order of September 29, 1928; the house and the remains of the courtyard were registered on October 12, 1994. Local legend says the house once belonged to the executioner of Le Mans and that the pillar owes its color to the blood of his victims. Owned by the City of Le Mans, the building now houses the Tourism and Heritage department.