Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building in Beaucaire, in the Gard, is a civil building dating back to the Middle Ages, the facades of which constitute the most notable protected element. The one overlooking Diderot Street is distinguished by its three-storey corbelled architecture, a common technique to gain space in the city at that time. The large original bays, now partially or totally blocked, keep traces of their original moulding, offering an overview of the typical openings of medieval buildings.

On the third floor, a turret of pepper staircase – typical of defensive or medieval residential architecture – marks the corner of the facade. This turret, often associated with bourgeois housing or fortified houses, emphasizes the social status of the occupants. The building was registered with the Historical Monuments by order of 31 January 1946, an official recognition of its heritage value, although its precise location remains approximate (level 5/10 depending on the sources).

The address listed in the Merimée base would be located at the corner of Victor-Hugo and Diderot streets, in the historic centre of Beaucaire. This city, which was strategic in the Middle Ages because of its position between the Rhône and the Mediterranean, was home to a working population in the trade and craft industries. Buildings like this were used as both a place of residence, storage for goods, and sometimes a workshop, reflecting the versatility of urban spaces at that time.

External links