Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Grand Ecuyer's house, also known as the Séguier House, is an emblematic example of 14th century civil Gothic architecture in Cordes-sur-Ciel. Built by a wealthy local family, it is part of the urban landscape that has earned the city the nickname of "City to the hundred warheads". Although mostly dating from the 14th century, it underwent modifications until the 18th century. His name, linked to a legend associating Cordes with the hunts of the Counts of Toulouse, is actually after the latter's disappearance (1271).

The facade of the house is distinguished by its three floors with geminied bays and its varied sculptures: animals (lions, rabbits), characters (musicians, warriors) and fantastic creatures (chimers). These decorative elements, although reminiscent of gargoyles, only have an ornamental function. Charles Portal highlights the harmony of the building and the exceptional quality of the sandstone used, whose surface seems intact despite centuries.

The present building consists of three medieval plots, including the Grand Écuyer house, which housed a renowned hotel-restaurant from 1960 to 2010. Ranked a historic monument in 1907, its protected facade bears witness to the heritage importance of Cordes-sur-Ciel, an emblematic village of the Tarn in Occitanie. The capitals decorated with oak leaves and acorns, as well as triangular oculus, reinforce its unique Gothic character.

External links