Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

These two juxtaposed houses, located in Place Auguste-Roche in Saint-Junien, New Aquitaine, date from the 15th century and embody the typical features of the old houses of the city. Their almost square plan, their narrow facades on two levels and their ground floor pierced by arches in the middle of the hangar reflect a medieval urban organization. The left side opens onto the square with a monumental arcade, while an inner courtyard and a right staircase lead to a vaulted corridor giving access to the cellars and the old bench square.

The vaulted cellars reveal the use of re-use stones, including a palmiform basket tent and a tore astragal, reflecting constructive economic practices and the recovery of older materials. These architectural elements, combined with their inscription as a Historic Monument in 1988, underline their heritage value. The houses, now owned by the commune, thus preserve tangible traces of the medieval past of Saint-Junien, between domestic life and commerce.

The inscription by decree of 12 August 1988 specifically concerns houses and their cellars (cadastre AI 165, 166, 83), protecting a representative set of 15th century urban dwellings in Limousin. Their location on Auguste-Roche Square, the historic heart of the city, reinforces their role in collective memory. Although their current condition and accessibility (visit, rental) are not specified, their preservation offers an overview of construction techniques and daily life at the end of the Middle Ages.

External links