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Origin and history

The halls of Crémieu, built in the 15th century, are an emblematic monument of the lower town of Crémieu, in Isère. Their construction, completed around 1434 according to sources, is part of an urban project initiated in the fourteenth century by the dolphin John II. The latter had ordered the creation of a "new city" below the original medieval city, including a more accessible market, served by straight streets. The hall, 61 metres long, served as both a grain warehouse, a regulated measuring point (through the local two-piece system) and a framework for medieval trade fairs and markets.

The structure is distinguished by its oak frame, composed of 15 different species, supporting a cover of local limestone plates weighing 400 tons. Inside, a cut stone grain measure, with four cells, demonstrates its central economic role. The southern nave, once used as a passageway, was also a place where the inhabitants laid their garbage. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1906, the halls underwent two major restorations (1910-1911 and 1994), the latter replacing the original limestones with washes of Burgundy, modifying their silhouette.

The site remains a lively place, hosting a weekly market, Music Day in June and the traditional Turkey Fair every December 15. Its free access and central location, between the Poype Square and adjacent streets, make it a key point of the municipality. The hall thus illustrates the transition between a medieval economy based on fairs and local measures (such as emine or setier) and a modern urban organization, while maintaining its original market function.

A 1994 dendrochronological study by the Historical Monuments confirmed the date of construction around 1433, pointing out that the original wood was never replaced despite restorations. This detail, coupled with the presence of 21 oak poles per row and bahut walls pierced by pedestrian crossings, reveals a practical and symbolic architectural design, reflecting the importance of trade in the region at the end of the Middle Ages.

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