Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The house of Monpazier is part of the architectural complex of the central square of this bastide, founded in 1284 on the order of Jean de Graville, Sénéchal de Guyenne. The square, designed with covered galleries on its four sides, initially housed 22 cornered buildings on the north and south sides, and six on the east and west sides. Today, only 17 of these buildings remain, reflecting planned medieval urban planning.

The facade and covered gallery of this house were classified as Historic Monument by decree of 21 December 1904. This classification protects a characteristic element of the civil architecture of the Middle Ages, reflecting the social and commercial organization of the bastides, where the galleries served as sales spaces and shelter for merchants.

Monpazier, located in Dordogne (New Aquitaine region), illustrates the urban model of the bastides of southwestern France. These new cities, created in the 13th and 14th centuries, were designed to structure the settlement and boost economic exchanges. Their checkered plan, centered on a square bordered by arcades, favoured market activities and community life.

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