Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The house located at 28 Rue du Général-de-Gaulle in Saint-Pé-de-Bigorre is a former stronghold attested from 1313 in a count, then mentioned on a burrow of 1587. This building, originally defensive, has undergone major changes over the centuries, including the partial destruction of its walls and a recomposition of its façade in the seventeenth century. The present building is the result of the assembly of two 15th and 16th century building bodies, masked by a symmetrical facade added later. The structure preserves traces of its military past, like a staircase turret surmounted by a dovecote, typical of medieval fortresses adapted to civilian life.

The western façade is distinguished by its massive character and the skylights adorned with accolade lintels, starred roses, as well as grimaçant heads and mute coats of arms (cleared coat of arms). The north facade, more worked, has ground openings with torso bands, while the main entrance is highlighted by a boss and a triangular pediment. Inside, a 17th-century staircase on the right and bossed doors testify to the rear fittings. The wooden braid, studded with forged ironwork, recalls the concern for safety inherited from its original use.

Classified as a Historical Monument by decree of 20 August 1996, this house illustrates the architectural evolution of the fort houses in urban areas, from a defensive function to an aristocratic habitat. The protected elements (cadastre AB 259) include the entire building, now owned by the municipality. Its state of conservation and its location make it a rare testimony of local history, between the late Middle Ages and the modern era, in the High Pyrénées.

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