Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

La Maison Courtial, located in Carcassonne, is the result of the merger of three separate houses, the oldest of which is attested in 1470. In 1624, an owner acquired these three neighbouring houses, which formed only one building from 1672. The partial reconstruction, which took place between 1648 and 1672, gave rise to the present building, marked by a characteristic 17th century architecture.

The street façade is distinguished by a rectangular portal decorated with crossettes at the upper corners, supported by salient consoles. A broken circular pediment and an empty cartridge overlook the entrance. Inside, a covered passage leads to a square courtyard, whose north and south walls rest on a large arch in basket handle on the ground floor. This arch opens on a gallery preceding a remarkable staircase, classified as a Historic Monument since 1948.

The staircase of the Courtial House is a notable architectural achievement. Its cage is accessible by three uneven arches from the gallery. The silts are worn by crawling arches, while the bearings are supported by arches in the middle, supported by square or engaged pillars. The dowels of the transverse arches form a crawling cradle, and the iron ramp, composed of vertical bars connected by loops, is lined with a hand-current with round spacers. These details illustrate the know-how of 17th century artisans.

Only the street and stairway doors have been protected under the Historic Monuments since a decree of 10 April 1948. The exact address, 30 rue de la Préfecture, places the building in the historic centre of Carcassonne, a city marked by its medieval heritage and its transformation in modern times. The accuracy of its location, however, remains limited, with a rating of 5/10 depending on available sources.

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