Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The House of Courpière, built in the 15th century, illustrates the medieval civil architecture of Livradois. Its ground floor, equipped with an arcade in a curved basket handle, suggests a commercial vocation, probably held by a merchant. This architectural detail, combined with prismatic bases, reflects a flourishing local economic activity at that time.

The upper structure, made of wood, served as a dryer, a common practice in the area. The sandstone, divided into six spans by poles and spacers in the cross-of-Saint-André, reveals a precise craftsmanship. Two masonry levels support a half-timbered floor, characteristic of the houses of Courpière at this time.

The openworked triangular pediment, adorned with polylobed feasts and clover, overcomes a skylight illuminating the attic. The house has preserved its original holes, offering a rare example of medieval urban habitat. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1988 for its facades and roofs, it now belongs to a private company.

Located in Place de la Cité, this house reflects Courpière's social and economic organization in the 15th century. The merchants played a central role, combining housing and trade under one roof. Its state of conservation allows us to study the constructive techniques and domestic uses of the period in Auvergne.

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