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Origin and history

The House of the Poor in Pézenas, built in the 3rd quarter of the 18th century, is a remarkable example of civil architecture of this period. Its vestibule gives access to a first courtyard where stands a three-fly staircase, open on three levels. The bearings are extended by galleries carried by low arches resting on pilasters or consoles. These galleries, surrounded by a central vacuum, are decorated with ironwork with characteristic motifs of the late eighteenth century in Languedoc, mixing simple channels and panels decorated with curves. The guardrail of the older courtyard window dates back to the first half of the 18th century, with balusters and a central trellis evocative of that time.

The present building, rebuilt after 1771 (date of its purchase by Rose de Pons from the merchant Jacques Fabre), occupies the location of a medieval residence before the 15th century, of which remains remains like a door arch on the street and traces of arches in the courtyard. In Pézenas, a "archer des gueux", employed by the consuls, was responsible for hosting and feeding foreign beggars, setting a time limit for their stay. The buildings, including a second inner courtyard and extensive buildings, date mostly from the 18th century. The windows on the first floor have curved support grids with symmetrical patterns (volutes, grids), while those on the second floor are more sober.

Inside, the vestibule leads to a trapezoidal courtyard where the staircase, first parallel to the street, turns at right angle to serve a gallery surrounding the courtyard on three sides. The ironwork of the galleries and the carved consoles supporting the arches bear witness to the care taken in the decoration. The facades on the street and on the first courtyard, as well as the corresponding roofs, have been protected since 1958 by a registration order under the Historical Monuments. The building thus illustrates the architectural evolution of Pézenas, between medieval heritage and embellishments of the Enlightenment century.

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