Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Surrel building, located at 25 rue du Collège in Aurillac (Cantal), is a composite building dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Originally, it consisted of two separate buildings: the left wing, built in the 14th century, retains a medieval gate with its original vantail, while the right wing, erected a century later, has a late Gothic window. These two buildings were assembled at the end of the eighteenth century by an additional wing, closing an inner courtyard.

In the 17th century, a portal decorated with diamond tips, from the ancient Carmelite chapel, was integrated into the façade. This portal, accompanied by pillars and wheel-hunters, illustrates the frequent architectural re-employment at that time. The right wing was also redesigned in the 18th century, as evidenced by a door dated 1762. The wrought iron balconies of the courtyard and the painted woodwork on the first floor, decorated with hunting scenes and fantastic landscapes, reflect the refinement of the Aurillac bourgeoisie.

Partially classified as historical monuments in 1978, the building protects its facades, roofs, the entrance gate, as well as an 18th-century hall with preserved decorations. These elements materialize over four centuries of urban history, marking the social and cultural rise of local elites. The building thus embodies the architectural and aesthetic transformations of Aurillac, from medieval times to the classical era.

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