Maison à Pondalez

The Maison à Pondalez on Grand'Rue is the finest surviving example of a distinctive type of medieval townhouse unique to Morlaix. Built in the 15th century for a prosperous merchant, it takes its name from the central wooden spiral staircase — pondalez in Breton — that rises through a covered courtyard from ground floor to eaves, with open-sided galleries at every level. The effect from the ground floor looking up is of a wooden lantern, the light falling through the galleries above.

The house is open to visitors and the interior is genuinely striking: the staircase is still intact and the galleries retain their carved wooden balustrades. The ground floor was originally a shop; the upper floors were living quarters arranged around the central well of light. It's a small museum of Morlaix domestic life, with some furniture and objects from the period.

Located on Grand'Rue in the old town, the Maison à Pondalez is an easy ten minutes from the train station. There's a small entry fee; opening hours vary by season. A second example, Maison de la Duchesse Anne, is open intermittently nearby.

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A story
The "pondalez" (from Breton, meaning "high staircase") is the central feature of these peculiar houses — a wooden spiral staircase that rises through an open courtyard from ground floor to roof, with galleries on each level looking down into the interior. The design allowed light into the house while keeping the exterior modest, and meant that merchants could display goods at every level. Only a handful of these structures survive in Morlaix.