Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The grain hall of Auvillar, located in the heart of the triangular square of the village, replaces an old hall restored several times (1793, 1797, 1819). As early as the First Empire, studies for a new building were launched, but the first project of architect Fragne (1823), including a common house, was abandoned in 1825 due to doubts about the entrepreneur Rouzeau. During this transitional period, temporary display leases are introduced to maintain market activity.

A second project, more modest and costing 2.5 times less, was proposed by Fragneg in 1827. He was quickly approved and awarded in 1829 to entrepreneur Étienne Champès despite opposition from workers who considered the price too low. The construction, completed in 1831, gave rise to a unique circular building: a 20-column doric portico surrounding an elevated central nucleus, sheltering the ancient stone measures. This place served as a checkpoint for jurors and market officials.

Ranked a historic monument on April 30, 1946, the hall embodies the utilitarian and elegant architecture of the July monarchy. Its circular plan and four-windowed lantern make it a rare example of a grain hall of this period. The building, owned by the municipality, remains a symbol of the commercial and architectural heritage of Occitanie, linked to the agricultural and commercial history of Auvillar.

The hall is part of a coherent urban complex, surrounded by houses with covered galleries locally called Enbans. These spaces, typical of the bastides of the South-West, reflect the medieval and modern organization of market places, where peasants, merchants and artisans crossed. The grain hall, by its central position, structured the economic and social life of the village until the 19th century.

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