Construction of the original cloister 1332-1342 (≈ 1337)
Convent of the Carmelites of Perpignan, dating foundation stone.
vers 1830
Reassembly of cloister
Reassembly of cloister vers 1830 (≈ 1830)
Transport and reconstruction in Villemartin by Guiraud.
début XIXe siècle
Cloister destruction
Cloister destruction début XIXe siècle (≈ 1904)
Dismantling by military genius in Perpignan.
1983
Registration MH
Registration MH 1983 (≈ 1983)
First level of site protection.
2015
MH classification
MH classification 2015 (≈ 2015)
Total protection of the cloister and park.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The cloister and all the buildings that adjoin it (including the orangery, chapel, atrium, forge and cabinet of the poet) as well as the park with its factories and architectural vestiges, which it contains, in whole, excluding the castle itself, located on the domain of Villemartin, on plots n°54, 57, 60, 612, 9999, 9993 to 9998, appearing in section B of the cadastre, as delimited and hashled in red on the plan annexed to the decree: classification by decree of 22 April 2015
Key figures
Alexandre Guiraud - Owner and poet
Transported and reassembled the cloister.
Grands Carmes - Religious Order
Original builders of the cloister in Perpignan.
Origin and history
Villemartin Castle, located in Gaja-et-Villedieu in the Aude, is best known for its exceptional Gothic cloister. This cloister would come from the convent of the Great Carmelites of Perpignan, built between 1332 and 1342. The sculpted elements, including the capitals with plant, animal and allegorical motifs, were transported back to the domain of Villemartin around 1830 by Baron Alexandre Guiraud, after the destruction of the original convent in the early 19th century.
The cloister, integrated into an elongated rectangular plan, also includes a chapel decorated with sculptures characteristic of the Catalan Gothic art of the 14th century. The estate, with its factories and vestiges, was listed as historical monuments in 1983 and then classified in 2015. Alexandre Guiraud, owner and poet, inspired this place for his work Le Cloître de Villemartin, emphasizing his attachment to this architectural heritage.
The capitals, without religious representations, illustrate hunting scenes, fantastic animals and allegories. This cloister, unique in its history and style, bears witness to the cultural exchanges between Roussillon and Languedoc. The estate, now open to visit, also preserves an orangery, a forge and a landscaped park, elements protected by the 2015 ranking.
