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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Maison du Rieu is part of the history of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, a bastide founded in 1256 by Alphonse de Poitiers on the banks of the Aveyron. This commercial city, organized according to an orthogonal plan typical of the bastides, became a major economic and administrative center of the Rouergue. The central square, originally reserved for the market and the church, was gradually lined with arcades, but a fire in 1497 destroyed earlier buildings, explaining the absence of houses dating back to the 16th century.

The House of the Rieu, rebuilt after the fire, follows the primitive plan of the bastide. Its façade on the square, potentially redesigned in the 19th century, illustrates the architecture of the merchant houses that made Villefranche's prosperity. Ranked a historic monument in 1932 for its facade, then in 1996 for its covered gallery and roof, it bears witness to the post-fire reconstruction and the urban boom linked to the trade and the royal administration (the senes floor obtained in 1463 the right to strike currency).

The architectural ensemble of the Place Notre-Dame, of which the Maison du Rieu is part, reflects the urban evolution of this bastide. The arcades, added gradually, housed shops and houses, symbolizing the economic dynamism of the city. The protection of the monument extends to the entire square, highlighting its central role in the history of Villefranche, from its medieval foundation to its peak in the Renaissance.

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