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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The hall of Montréjeau is an emblematic monument of the 2nd quarter of the 20th century, built in 1937-1939 by the Parisian architect Noël Lemaresquier. This octagonal concrete building replaces a medieval hall destroyed during the Liberation. Lemaresquier has integrated a traditional structure on pillars, while freeing the interior space of any supporting element, and giving light thanks to a glass cover. This bold architectural choice makes it a resolutely modern building for its time.

The cattle hall, commissioned by the city of Montréjeau, is part of a series of projects entrusted to Lemaresquier. Its octagonal plan and its use of concrete mark a break with traditional constructions, while respecting the primary function of a hall: offer a covered and clear space. The building, located in Place de Verdun, is now fully protected since its inscription in the Historical Monuments by order of 11 October 2004.

The hall also symbolizes a period of reconstruction and modernization for Montrejeau, after the destruction of the former medieval hall. Its architecture, both functional and innovative, reflects the aspirations of a changing city, seeking to combine tradition and progress. The glass cover and the absence of interior pillars create a bright and spacious atmosphere, rare for this type of construction at the time.

Owned by the commune, the hall remains a major architectural testimony of the twentieth century in Occitanie. Its inscription in the title of Historic Monuments underlines its heritage importance, both for its aesthetics and for its role in the urban history of Montréjeau. The building continues to mark the landscape of the city, located in a strategic location, at the prow of the agglomeration.

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