Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Façade: inscription by order of 4 October 1932 - Covered gallery, façade and roof: classification by decree of 31 October 1996
Key figures
Alphonse de Poitiers - Founder of the bastide
Crée Villefranche-de-Rouergue in 1256.
Origin and history
The Maison Palis is part of the history of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, a bastide founded in 1256 by Alphonse de Poitiers on the banks of the Aveyron. Organized according to an orthogonal plan typical of the bastides, the city is structured around a reserved central square, with perpendicular streets delimiting rectangular plots. The church, planned from the beginning on one side of the square, bears witness to the rigorous planning of this commercial city.
In 1497, a fire ravaged the square, destroying previous buildings and explaining the absence of houses dating back to the 16th century. The House Palis, like the other buildings, is rebuilt on the initial plane after this disaster. Its current facade may date back to the 19th century, but its structure reflects post-fire architecture. The prosperity of Villefranche, linked to its status as a seat of archipritré (1302) and a senate floor authorized to strike currency (1463), attracts a merchant bourgeoisie that shapes its heritage.
Maison Palis is part of the classified complex of Place Notre-Dame, whose covered galleries and facades have been protected since 1932 and 1996. These arcades, gradually added according to the demands of the merchants, illustrate the urban and commercial evolution of the bastide. The classification as a historical monument highlights its role in the architectural and economic heritage of this rouergate city.
