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Origin and history

This house, located in Narbonne, is a 13th and 14th century building, known as the former Draps Exchange or Maison des Inquants. It was used as an official place where the Jews took the oath before carrying out such duties as a linen broker. Its existence is attested before 1300, the date of creation of the Parerie Neuve, a competing body. In 1344 it still housed the records of the Inquants, confirming its administrative and commercial role at that time.

According to the comoix (cadastre) of 1596, the building would initially have been a chapel dedicated to Marie-Madeleine, although this religious vocation was not documented before that date. The facade on Berlioz Street, made of cut stone, features traces of Gothic architecture, including three mutilated windows. The one on the left retains a emplacement, columns and capitals carved of foliage, typical of the style of the era. Ornamental details, such as palm-shaped archvolts, suggest a careful construction, perhaps linked to its public use.

The building has been partially protected since 1946, with an inscription for its facade on Berlioz Street. Its history reflects the urban dynamics of medieval Narbonne, between trading sheets, Jewish presence and reuse of spaces. Subsequent changes (walled windows, piercings) reflect its adaptation to changing needs, although the remaining Gothic elements make it a remarkable example of the Occitan civil heritage.

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