Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The building at 26 rue des Gras in Clermont-Ferrand is a 13th century Romanesque house, as evidenced by its arches and vaulted cellars in a broken cradle. This building, which was thoroughly redesigned in the 18th century, preserves traces of its original structure, including composite capital columnettes and full-cinder arches whose intrados is emphasized with a tore. The 18th century transformations added square floors and a terrace, while integrating rectangular windows piercing the old arcades.

The restoration work carried out in 1976 revealed the Romanesque elements hidden under coatings, highlighting the superposition of the epochs. The ground floor, rhythmized by two low-rise arcades and a wooden door, opens onto a covered passage. The first and second floors feature 18th-century ironworks, while the attic floor, topped by a terrace, results from more recent additions. The façade, classified as a Historical Monument in 1986, thus illustrates the architectural evolution between the Middle Ages and the modern era.

The building is based on vaulted cellars typical of medieval Clermontian urbanism, where the ground floor often served as commercial or artisanal spaces. The offending columnlets, placed on a prominent cornice, and the foliage capitals evoke the influence of the auvergnat novel workshops. The 18th century modifications, such as partial grubbing-up of arches to create windows, reflect the new needs in light and symmetry, characteristic of classical architecture.

Today owned by a private company, the building bears witness to the historic stratification of Clermont-Ferrand, a city marked by its volcanic past and its role as a commercial hub in the Middle Ages. Its exact address (26 rue des Gras) and its approximate location (28 rue des Gras) highlight the hazards of urban numbering over the centuries. The cartographic accuracy, considered fair (note 5/10), invites on-site verifications to fully appreciate this hybrid heritage.

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