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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Hall of Basoues is an iconic 16th century building, classified as a wooden "street hall". Located in the Gers, in the centre of the Bastide of Bassoues founded in 1279, it spans the main street and served as a venue for a weekly market and four annual fairs, authorized in 1521 by Cardinal Clermont-Lodève, then Archbishop of Auch. Its structure, mostly made of wood, has undergone numerous repairs over the centuries, notably after partial collapses as in 1849 or 1901, where a public subscription was organized to restore its roof.

The architecture of the hall rests on a structure supported by wooden pillars on stone bases, covering a rectangular square facing east-west. At its western end, stone and half-timber walls define closed spaces, while the central part remains open for traffic. A circular masonry well, located near the east end, bears witness to its community use. The Hall, covered with canal tiles, was listed as historic monuments in 2004, recognizing its heritage importance and its historical role in local economic life.

Bashoues, as a medieval bastide, was founded in 1279 by the archbishop of Auch, Amanieu II of Armagnac. The creation of the hall in the 16th century is part of a dynamic development of trade, typical of the Occitan bastides. Halls of this type, often made of wood, were vulnerable to weather and fire, explaining the frequent renovations mentioned in the archives. The date of 1768, engraved or documented, probably corresponds to one of these restoration campaigns.

In the 19th century, the hall experienced major damage, such as the collapse of its structure in 1849, followed by urgent repairs. In 1901, a new restoration campaign was needed to save the roof, illustrating the inhabitants' attachment to this monument. Its inscription in 2004 as a historical monument preserved this architectural and social testimony, a symbol of Gers' commercial and artisanal traditions.

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