Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The covered hall of Montferrand-du-Périgord, classified as a historic monument in 1948, dates from the 16th century, a period marked by a commercial and artisanal boom in the region. Its sixteen stone pillars support a structure covered with flat tiles, forming a space of 12 meters by 12, making it one of the largest halls in the Périgord. One of the pillars, at the flattened top, served as a pillory to display public sentences, reflecting its central role in the judicial and social life of the village.

The partial reconstruction of the hall between 1911 and 1914 preserved its original structure, while adapting the building to modern needs. Nearby, the church of Saint Christophe (XII century) and the medieval castle of Montferrand, both linked to the Barony of Biron, underline the strategic importance of this town in the Middle Ages. The hall was the economic heart of Montferrand, welcoming fairs and markets, as evidenced by the four annual fairs held in the 19th century.

The village of Montferrand-du-Périgord, located in a transitional zone between the Périgord noir and the Bergeracois, has always been a crossroads of exchanges, favored by its position on the valley of the Couze. The hall, with its capitals dating from the earliest of the eighteenth century, also illustrates local architectural developments. Its maintenance until today attests to its continuing usefulness, even after the construction of the new parish church in 1849, which changed the town's spatial organization.

Beyond its commercial role, the hall symbolizes the resilience of a rural community, marked by agricultural activities (breeding, kiwi culture) and handicrafts (foie gras, building). Its inscription in the title of historical monuments in 1948, alongside the house of the sixteenth century and the castle, enshrines its status as an emblematic heritage of the Périgord, linked to the history of local noble families such as Biron and Regagnac.

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