Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Durand Henriette House, classified as a Historic Monument, has a characteristic 13th and 16th century architecture. Its door in the middle of the hanger, without a chamfer, as well as its apparatus and the layout of the floors, evoke similarities with the old hospital of Villefranche-de-Conflent, built in 1225. These elements suggest an early medieval origin for the oldest part of the building.

The street façade is divided into two distinct parts: on the right, an arched entrance leading to an inner courtyard, and on the left, the main dwelling body. The right side, limited in height by a headband, shows a resumption of construction above it. This architectural detail, as well as the uniformity of the apparatus, indicates successive construction phases, probably linked to expansion or renovation needs.

The large cruise window, located on the second floor, is a subsequent typical addition from the beginning of the sixteenth century, when this type of opening spreads in the Midi de la France. Its striking frame, adorned with complex mouldings (doucins, nets, caves), and its hinges with sculpted ribs and budding leave, bear witness to an artistic Renaissance influence. These decorative elements, combined with the salient support stone, underline the high social status of the occupants or sponsors of the era.

The legal protections specifically concern the gate and the crusillon window, registered by decree of 21 October 1965. These elements, considered remarkable, illustrate the architectural evolution of the house, moving from a simplified Romanesque style to more elaborate ornaments, reflecting aesthetic and social changes between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in Languedoc-Roussillon.

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