Initial construction XVe siècle (≈ 1550)
Medieval house with wood and stone.
XVIIe siècle
Expansion and stair tower
Expansion and stair tower XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Partial reconstruction for internal circulation.
14 janvier 1977
Registration Historic Monument
Registration Historic Monument 14 janvier 1977 (≈ 1977)
Protection of facades and roofs (stop).
1986
Restoration
Restoration 1986 (≈ 1986)
Building conservation work.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Facades and roofs (Case AO 232): inscription by order of 14 January 1977
Origin and history
The so-called Merchant House, listed as a Historic Monument, is a remarkable example of medieval civil architecture in Olliergues. Built at the end of the Middle Ages or at the beginning of the 16th century, it is distinguished by its corbelled floors, made of wood with a fill of small rubbles and bricks, resting on a ground floor of cut stones. A tower of stone staircase, probably added in the seventeenth century, bears witness to a further expansion to connect the old and new parts of the house.
The structure, organized on three levels, retains its original arrangements, with a semi-outwork staircase turret on the west wall. The wooden corbels, visible on the north facade, illustrate the construction techniques of the period. Restored in 1986, the house was partially registered (facades and roofs) by order of 14 January 1977, stressing its heritage importance.
The materials used, such as honeycombs, bricks and wood panels, reflect the local resources and craftsmanship of the Auvergne region. The staircase tower, rebuilt during a 17th century countryside, marks a functional evolution of the building, adapted to the needs of its occupants throughout the centuries.
Located on Rue du Pavé and Place de l'Ancienne-Halle, this house embodies the commercial and artisanal past of Olliergues, a medieval town whose town planning was shaped by commercial activities. Its state of conservation and restoration allow today to understand the living environment of the inhabitants of the period, between dense urban habitat and utility architecture.
The inscription of the Historical Monuments in 1977 protected the most significant elements of the house, including its facades and roofs, thus preserving a tangible testimony of the architectural and social history of the region. The approximate location, noted as "passible" (Level 5), suggests a clear identification despite minor uncertainties about its exact location.
Finally, the Maison des Marchands is part of a regional context marked by a medieval civil architecture that is often modest but ingenious, where the wood-paned and corbelled houses met both practical (gain of space, protection against moisture) and aesthetic constraints, reflecting the economic dynamism of the villages of Auvergne at the end of the Middle Ages.
