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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

André Breton House, also known as "Auberge des Mariniers" or "Maison Henri Martin", is the oldest building in the medieval village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, perched on a cliff overlooking the Lot. Built in the 14th century, its tower dates back to the 12th century, while its façade, probably remodeled in the 18th century, features sled windows and a square dovecote tower. Originally defensive, it housed knights in the Middle Ages before becoming an inn for the Lot sailors, hence its nickname.

At the beginning of the 20th century, post-impressionist painter Henri Martin (1880–1943) acquired the house in 1911 and produced several works depicting the village and its surroundings. After his death, poet André Breton, a major figure in surrealism, bought it in 1951. With his wife Elisa, he made it a meeting place for the artists of the movement, such as Max Ernst, Man Ray or Juliette Greco, organizing exhibitions and literary magazines until his death in 1966.

Ranked a historic monument since 1923, the house is now owned by the municipality of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Since 2016, it has been home to an International Centre for Surrealism and Global Citizenship, following a rehabilitation in 2022 to bring together Breton House with Rignault House and its gardens. Labelled Maison des Illustres in 2017, it hosts artist residences and exhibitions, perpetuating the cultural heritage of the place.

The house owes its name to André Breton, who discovered the village in 1950 at the inauguration of the Route sans frontières, a post-Second World War pacifist project. Seduced by his poetic "enchantment", he wrote a lyrical statement in the village's golden book, comparing Saint-Cirq with a "pink impossible at night". After his disappearance, his daughter Aube inherited the site, before the municipality took over the management of it to make it a public heritage site.

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