Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The house located Place du Marché in Malzieu-Ville is built in the 3rd quarter of the 17th century, as evidenced by the dates engraved 1665 (on the banner of the pediment) and 1667 (over the entrance door). Its narrow plot, potentially of medieval origin, preserves a south facade made of granite and sandstone, typical of local buildings. The main door, off-set, is framed by doric pilasters and surmounted by a triangular pediment adorned with a ball acroater. An oval oculus pierces the impostor, while remains of arcades on the ground floor evoke old shop stalls, replaced in the 19th century by curved windows.

The floors display 17th-century cross-sections with ground supports, including a monolithic sandstone allegation pierced by a hole evoking a cannonhole – perhaps an element of re-use. The height, illuminated by two days, is crowned with a three-degree genoise added in the twentieth century. A second door, south side, gives access to old outbuildings (shop or stable), with cross-sections similar to those of the main facade. The ensemble illustrates the adaptation of a medieval structure to classic canons, combining commercial and residential functions.

The inscription of the house as a Historic Monument in 1973 (for its door) highlights the heritage value of its carved decoration. The 1665 vintage, engraved on the diamond-pointed lintel key, and the 1667 date on the imposte, allow a precise dating of its construction. The absence of shield in the pediment suggests a bourgeois or artisanal origin rather than noble, reflecting the economic life of the Malzieu-Ville in modern times.

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