Solar dial located on the southern façade of the house (Box AB 239): inscription by order of 20 February 1995
Origin and history
The house in Château-Ville-Ville, Queyras, is representative of the early 19th century domestic architecture. It appears already on the cadastre of 1827, but has undergone further transformations, probably during the same century. Its most notable element is a sundial engraved on the southern facade, bearing the date of 1828, a witness to the local craftsmanship of the time.
The building was partially protected under the Historic Monuments by an order of 20 February 1995, specifically concerning its sundial (cadastral reference AB 239). This inscription highlights the heritage value of this element, a symbol of the relationship to time and astronomy in Alpine rural societies. The location of the monument, noted as "passable" (level 5/10), corresponds to the address 5009 A in Château-Queyras, in the department of Hautes-Alpes.
At the time of its construction, Queyras was an isolated mountainous region, where houses played a central role in community and agricultural life. The sundials, common in the Alps, served both as a practical tool to speed up the work of the fields and as a social marker, reflecting the status or cultural aspirations of their owners. The absence of references to sponsors or architects in available sources limits the precise knowledge of its history.
