Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Golden House, located in Montauban, was built between 1830 and 1850, in the context of the urban boom linked to the designation of the city as the capital of department by Napoleon in 1808. This building is part of a period of architectural renovation where terracotta, a local material, was widely used to ornament facades. The city then underwent a major transformation, with the construction or expansion of many public and private buildings.

The facade of the Golden House, located on the Grand'Rue, is distinguished by its windows in the middle hanger on the first floor, framed by Corinthian pilasters. A neo-Gothic cast iron balcony adorns this floor, while a rinceaux frieze runs above. The second floor features a frieze decorated with lion muffles, snakes and oak leaves, reflecting a mix of classic and romantic influences. These decorative elements bear witness to the local craftsmanship and enthusiasm for eclectic historical styles.

Classified as a Historic Monument, the Golden House saw its facades and roofs on streets protected by a registration order on 7 September 1978. This status underscores its heritage importance in the urban landscape of Montauban, where it embodies the 19th century architectural heritage. Its address, at 41 Grand'Rue Villenouveau, makes it a landmark in the historic centre, although its precise location is considered satisfactory a priori according to the criteria of geographical precision.

The building is part of a broader dynamic of valuing the heritage of Montalban, marked by the use of brick and terracotta. These materials, typical of the South-West, give the city a strong visual identity, combining tradition and innovation. The Golden House, with its neo-Gothic and classical details, illustrates this stylistic duality that characterizes the civil architecture of the Napoleonic and post-Napoleonian era.

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