Cattle boxes à Trizac dans le Cantal

Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The squares of Cotteughes form a medieval archaeological site in the Cantal Mountains, at an altitude of 1,150 metres, in the commune of Saint-Vincent-de-Salers in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. At least since the year 1000, this village was abandoned at the end of the 14th century, probably due to a combination of factors such as the Hundred Years' War, the black plague and a devastating fire. A censor of 1300 still attests to his population, but in 1456 no written trace of the village remained.

The site spans about four hectares and has over 30 stone structures called "boxes". These semi-entered houses, constructed of dry stones and protected by cold-talls, had stubble roofs and narrow openings preceded by curvilinear corridors. Some were used as both housing and stables. Their dimensions range from 3.60 m by 4 m for the smallest to more than 11 m long for the largest. The walls, still standing up to 1.90 m high, are remarkably well preserved.

An archaeological study conducted in 1990 provided a better understanding of the organisation of this medieval village. The remains, classified historical monuments by decree of 12 September 1924, offer a rare testimony of mountain rural habitat in the Middle Ages. Their exceptional preservation makes it a key site for studying lifestyles and building techniques of the time.

The exact location of the boxes of Cotteughes remains subject to discussion: although the administrative address mentions Trizac (Cantal), GPS coordinates and historical sources clearly place them in the municipality of Saint-Vincent-de-Salers. This geographic ambiguity may reflect old territorial divisions or transcription errors in heritage databases.

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