RUINS IN THE RUE MAZEL AND RUE DU ST. ESPRIT.
Return to the Place Chevert, cross the St. Croix Bridge, and go to the Place d’Armes via the Place and Rue Mazel, whose houses are in ruins.
THE PRINCERIE IN 1916, RUE DE LA BELLE-VIERGE, NOS. 16 AND 18 (see [p.40]).
Turn to the left into the Rue St. Pierre. In the Place d’Armes take the Rue de la Belle-Vierge as far as the Hôtel de la Princerie, former residence of the “primicerius,” first archdeacon of the Cathedral.
Rebuilt in 1525, it has been divided in recent times into two houses, Nos. 16 and 18. While the façade of No. 18 was modern, that of No. 16, with its window-gratings, retained its ancient aspect. The courtyard was ornamented on two of its sides with two-storied Renaissance galleries (hist. mon.). Although of 16th-century construction, the decoration of this cloister was inspired by the Middle Age or Transition Period (note the crocketted capitals of the pillars and the bases of the latter).
THE PRINCERIE CLOISTER (hist. mon.) BEFORE THE WAR.
The house was destroyed by the bombardments, and the cloister is almost entirely in ruins.