La Psallette de la Cathédrale de Nantes

La Psallette de la Cathédrale de Nantes is a 15th-century house standing right against the south wall of Nantes Cathedral (Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul), in the heart of the city's old town. Modest from the outside, the building carries one of the more layered stories among the historic houses of the old quarter — for decades it housed the cathedral's singing school, which gave the building the name it still carries today.

Where does the name come from?

The word "psallette" comes from the Latin verb "psallere" — to sing psalms, and more broadly to perform liturgical chant. That was originally the name of the choir school attached to Nantes Cathedral, founded in 1413 on the initiative of Bishop Henri le Barbu. For generations, boys training as cathedral singers studied there. The building that now bears the name served an entirely different purpose for most of its existence — it was only in the 19th century, when redevelopment of the nearby Place Saint-Pierre forced the school out of its original premises, that it moved into this house, and the name moved with it.

Whose house was it?

Before becoming home to the singing school, the building spent centuries as the residence of the archdeacon of the Pays de Mée, one of the church officials responsible for administering the diocese of Nantes. The diocese formally acquired the building in 1837. This ecclesiastical pedigree explains why the house sits literally against the cathedral walls — architecturally and administratively, the two have been linked for centuries.

What is there to see?

The building itself is a well-preserved example of late-medieval urban architecture with strong ecclesiastical ties, one of the few surviving fragments of the dense cluster of houses that once crowded around the cathedral before later urban redevelopment swept most of them away. In 1910 it was listed as a French historical monument, which protected it from further alteration. The building later passed into the ownership of the city of Nantes, a move associated with then-mayor Paul Bellamy, known for his efforts to preserve the city's historic fabric. Walking the area, it is worth comparing the compact, close-built scale of the Psallette with the towering Gothic mass of the cathedral right beside it — the contrast gives a good sense of what the medieval surroundings of a great church looked like before 19th-century urban planning reshaped the centers of European cities.

How do you get there?

The house stands in the very center of Nantes, directly next to Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Cathedral, on the route that every old-town walking itinerary passes through. It is an easy walk of a few minutes from the cathedral square, and the area is served by tram lines stopping nearby. It fits naturally into a stroll through the historic center, alongside the cathedral itself, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, and the old streets of the Bouffay district.

When should you visit?

Since La Psallette is primarily a building admired from the outside as part of a walk through the city center, any season works well except the height of summer, when the cathedral square tends to get crowded. Spring and early autumn are good times to take in the cathedral square without the crowds.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is La Psallette? A 15th-century house standing next to Nantes Cathedral, originally the residence of an archdeacon, which became home to the cathedral's singing school in the 19th century — hence its name.

Where does the name "Psallette" come from? From the Latin "psallere," to sing psalms. It was the name of the choir school founded at the cathedral in 1413, which later moved into this building.

Can you visit the inside? The building is mainly a sight seen from the outside, as part of a walk through Nantes' historic center, right next to the cathedral.

Is it a protected heritage site? Yes, it was listed as a French historical monument in 1910.