In the 12th century, the canons, mostly sons of Laon’s upper middle class, abandoned communal life and acquired the area around the cathedral, a vast enclosed space in the heart of the city.
Dating from the 12th century and modified at various times, this two-storey canon house, the oldest in Laon, is remarkable for its two enormous round stone chimneys, visible from the street. It is typical of the houses of this period, which were very narrow, due to the surface area of the numerous religious and military buildings, which left little room for living space.
Please note that this house is privately owned, and can only be viewed from the outside…