The Airvault Halls, located in New Aquitaine, are an emblematic monument of the first half of the 19th century. Elongated plane (40 x 10 m), they are characterized by stone arches resting on doric columns, with 11 openings on the long sides and 2 on the small ones. Their oak frame, combining traditional techniques and bolted innovations, supports a slate cover. This building replaces medieval wooden halls, attested as early as 1370, which hosted major fairs at the crossroads of trade routes.
Airvault, a city that flourished in the Middle Ages thanks to its fairs, saw its halls deteriorate in the early 19th century. Several reconstruction projects were proposed (1814, 1838, 1844) before the departmental architect Pierre-Théophile Segretain led their stone reconstruction between 1846 and 1847, in a neo-classical style. These halls, classified as Historic Monument in 2021, bear witness to the city's past economic importance and its preserved architectural heritage.
Their location at 48 Rue des Halles, on cadastral plot No.427, and their integral protection underline their heritage value. A communal property, they today embody the link between the medieval history of Airvault and its urban development in the 19th century, marked by intense trade and ambitious public architecture.
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