Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building on the Rue des Sisters-Noires in Montpellier presents an architectural stratification marked by three key periods. From the 14th century, Gothic period, emblematic elements remain: quadrilobes adorning the facade, broken arches with tympanos and lintels in the courtyard and stairway, as well as a large broken arch and a capital in the inner courtyard. The ground floor, vaulted dogives, also bears witness to this medieval phase. These remains illustrate the influence of the southern Gothic style, characterized by careful ornamentation and bold structures for the period.

The late 16th and early 17th centuries saw the addition of a spiral staircase, typical of the transition between Renaissance and classical times. This change reflects a change in domestic needs, with more practical vertical circulation. The facades, bays and shops were redesigned during the modern period, partially erasing the traces of earlier eras, but adapting the building to the commercial and residential uses of the era.

Recent work in a second floor apartment has revealed architectural remains and an exceptional gothic painted decor. These 14th century murals, depicting geometric, plant and animal motifs, as well as allegorical characters, offer a rare glimpse of medieval secular art in Languedoc. Their discovery highlights the heritage importance of the building, where almost four centuries of architectural and artistic history overlap.

By order of 19 November 1985, the building is now owned by a private company. Its state of conservation and the traces of its multiple transformations make it a precious testimony to the urban and stylistic changes of Montpellier, from medieval times to modern times.

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