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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Messian House is a medieval building located in the heart of the old town of Saint-Macaire, in Gironde (Nouvelle-Aquitaine). Built between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, it is distinguished by its vaulted cave of ridges, divided into two spans separated by octagonal pillars. This underground room, evoking a capitular room, is accessible by two curved arches which probably served as a passage for vantals. Subsequent interior transformations have changed its structure, but the upper floors retain ogival arcades visible on the south side.

Listed as a historical monument in 1889, Messian House illustrates the period's defensive civil architecture. Its cellar, made of square bellows, is illuminated by two windows and has vaults made of partially independent cradles. The lateral engaged pilasters support the fallout of the vaults, creating a remarkable underground space. The building, located at 15 rue de l'Amiral Courbet, near the Poterne de Corne, bears witness to the medieval town of Saint-Macaire, strategically fortified town along the Garonne.

Historical sources, such as the work of Léo Drouyn (1860) or the reports of the Archaeological Congress of France (1939), underline its heritage importance. The house has undergone partial demolitions, especially on the south side, revealing the upper arcades. Its early classification (1889) reflects its architectural value, combining residential and defensive functions, characteristic of the gascon strong houses of the time. François Deshoulières (1941)'s descriptions complement his knowledge of his role in the medieval urban fabric.

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