On September 12, 2022, the La Poste issued the "Little Louvre" postage stamp.

The private mansion, known as "Le Petit Louvre" - the Little Louvre, is located in the French city of La Pacodière. Initially, it was a hunting lodge of Duke Charles III of Bourbon, then a post station was located there for a long time. The town of La Pacodière was located on the legendary royal road from Paris to Lyon, which much later became the national highway number 7. All travelers, nobles and soldiers who set off on their own or state needs, found shelter and fresh horses in the Petit Louvre. Over the years, such famous historical figures as Catherine de Medici, Louis XIII or the Duke of Richelieu, whose names are mentioned on commemorative plaques, have stayed here. Less significant and even anonymous guests left their mark - in the literal sense of the word - various inscriptions left to travelers from different eras have been preserved on the walls. For several centuries, the mansion changed its owners and purpose many times, until, finally, in 1954 the building became the property of the city municipality.

In 1932, the Little Louvre was officially recognized as a historical monument. The mansion subtly combines gothic and renaissance architecture. The building, despite its relatively small size, has an impressive tiled roof with a height of as much as 13 meters. The entrance door, framed by fluted pilasters and crowned with a decorative carved shell, as well as an elegant corner turret, give the facade a unique charm.

It is significant that 400 years ago - in September 1622, the Duke of Richelieu, who stopped at this postal station, learned that he had become a cardinal of France. "The Friends of the Little Louvre" considered that this event could well be the occasion for the issuance of a postage stamp. Representatives of the French Post supported this initiative and the search began for an artist who could realize this project.

It is noteworthy that the future author of this postage stamp was brought to La Pacodière by the same old royal road as Cardinal Richelieu. Thierry Dubois, a famous illustrator and comic book creator, is passionate about old cars and old roads. For more than 30 years, Thierry Dubois has been studying and popularizing old historical roads and routes, he even got the nickname "Monsieur No. 7" - after the name of his favorite road.

The artist gladly accepted the offer of the La Poste to design a postage stamp dedicated to the Petit Louvre. In his own style, Thierry Dubois has depicted the historic building, with its remarkable high roof and small turret. In front of the mansion is a small wagon drawn by three horses.

According to Thierry Dubois, the drawing was based on images of a French mail cart from the end of the 18th century. Such covered two-wheeled wagons carried mail and sometimes one or two passengers during the time of Louis XVI. The carriage was harnessed by a trio of strong horses, the postilion drove the wagon, sitting astride the last horse.

Sources: www.laposte.fr, www.le-pays.fr

Special thanks to Thierry Dubois