Initial construction 1673 (≈ 1673)
Dated carriage gate, north body erected.
fin XVIIe – début XVIIIe siècle
Interior decoration
Interior decoration fin XVIIe – début XVIIIe siècle (≈ 1825)
Woodworks and fireplace board added.
fin XVIIIe – début XIXe siècle
Expansion of the gallery
Expansion of the gallery fin XVIIIe – début XIXe siècle (≈ 1925)
Five north spans built.
30 mai 1996
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 30 mai 1996 (≈ 1996)
Listing of HMs.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
milieu XXe siècle
Building transformation
Building transformation milieu XXe siècle (≈ 2050)
Modern Hangars replace old outbuildings.
Heritage classified
Farm (cad. A 258): by order of 30 May 1996
Key figures
Information non disponible - No historical character cited
Sources do not mention any specific actors.
Origin and history
The Massegros farm, built in 1673, is an emblematic example of a 17th century farm with a closed courtyard, located in the heart of the village of Massegros (Lozère, Occitanie). It is distinguished by its closed spatial organization, accessible only by a covered passage in the north building, and by its traditional materials: squared limestone bellows and lauze roof. Its architecture reflects local techniques, with cradle vaults housing sheepfolds on the ground floor and vaulted attices in a broken cradle.
The western building, housing the master's house, features a high vaulted gallery accessible by a semicircular perron followed by a symmetrical staircase. A bourgeois piece, adorned with a painted hood fireplace (perhaps representing an allegory of Fortune), bears witness to a certain refinement. Originally, a body of passage crossed the street to connect the main building to a missing annex, serving as a squid, saloir or surveillance post. The original agricultural buildings, covered with diaphragm arches, were replaced by hangars in the 20th century to comply with standards.
Ranked a historic monument in 1996, the farm illustrates the evolution of caussenard farms. Its name "Aragonese house", although locally ancrated, is a myth: it is not based on any historical connection with the kings of Aragon, despite their medieval possession of the Gevaudan. Major transformations (northern gallery enlarged in the 18th–18th centuries, partial demolition in the 20th century) are visible on the cadastre of 1838, which preserves the trace of the original plan.
Today, the farm remains a private property not accessible to the public, preserving its authentic character. The woodwork of the living room and the fireplace painting, probably dating from the late 17th or early 18th century, are among the few remaining decorative elements. Its inscription in historical monuments underscores its heritage value, both for its architecture and for its testimony on rural life in Lozère.
