Origin and history
The hotel of Fenasse, or Romanesque House, is an emblematic building of the second half of the 12th century, located at the corner of Rue des Foissants and Rue Saint-Étienne in Albi, in the Tarn. This building illustrates the Romanesque architectural richness of the region, with a structure combining limestone and brick, typical of the 12th and 15th century renovations. Its facades alternate archels and classical elements, while carved capitals and a 15th century hexagonal Gothic turret, visible from the covered market square, testify to its architectural evolution. The ground floor, now dedicated to commerce, originally retained spaces probably destined for independent shops.
The Fenasse family, a powerful dynasty of Albige merchants and financiers, owned this hotel until the 14th century, before being dispossessed because of catharism. The building then became the property of influential families, including Bishop Béraud de Fargues, then of the Viscounts of Albi and a Senechal of Toulouse, before being acquired in 1791 by the merchant Étienne Lacombe. The facades and roofs, marked by Romanesque remains such as arches in the middle of the hangar and sculptures of monstrous animals, were inscribed in historical monuments in 1971. The building is distinguished by its fitted stone apparatus, rare in Albi where the brick dominates, and by decorative elements close to those of the churches Saint-Salvi and Saint-Michel de Lescure.
The medieval gate, on Rue des Foissants, preserves imposts and an original pedestal, while the north façade, rue Saint-Étienne, features two large arcades and a full arched door on the ground floor. Upstairs, a Romanesque bay decorated with 17 grimaçant heads and a boudin-style tuning remind the opulence of the house. The Gothic turret, added in the 15th century in the courtyard, allows access to the floors and symbolizes the late transformations of the building. Panels of wood and brick covers, visible on the elevations, attest to successive adaptations, especially after a partial collapse of the facade.
The history of this hotel is closely linked to Albi's economic and political boom in the Middle Ages. Guillaume Fenasse, a wealthy merchant in the 13th century, carried out dominant credit operations there before his family was condemned for heresy around 1300. The residence, mentioned in the Compoix of 1343 under the name "Foissenx", also served as a seigneurial residence for the Viscounts of Albi and housed commercial spaces on the ground floor, typical of medieval urban palaces. The municipal archives reveal that in the 18th century it had a cellar, three floors, a well, a stable and a terrace, reflecting its status as an aristocratic then bourgeois residence.
Stylistic analyses of remains, such as torus mouldings or column bases similar to those of Saint Salvi Church (circa 1100), suggest early construction in the 12th century. The sculpted decoration, including grimacious animal heads, evokes that of the gate of the church Saint-Michel de Lescure or the pavilion of Adelaide in Burlats, dated from the middle of the 12th century. These elements confirm the importance of the house, designed to display the prestige of its owners. The main access, rue Saint-Étienne, was marked by an arched door in the middle of two rollers, while a secondary entrance, rue des Foissants, led to an inner courtyard with a staircase leading to the floors.
Today, the Fenasse hotel is distinguished by its blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles, visible in its street facades and hexagonal turret. Its inscription to historical monuments in 1971 preserved its most remarkable elements, such as carved capitals, curved arches and partial wood sections. Although partially masked by modern coatings, these remains offer a rare testimony of medieval Albigoise civil architecture, between southern Romanesque influence and late Gothic adaptations. The house remains a significant example of the Occitan heritage, linked to the history of the merchant and ecclesiastical families that marked Albi.
