Initial construction XIIe siècle (≈ 1250)
Presumed period of construction and sculpture
28 octobre 1963
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 28 octobre 1963 (≈ 1963)
Registration of carved stone
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Stone carved on the wall, at the corner of the two facades (Box N 157): inscription by decree of 28 October 1963
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character identified
Source text does not mention name
Origin and history
The house in Saint-Gilles, dated the 12th century, is distinguished by re-use sculptures, probably from the nearby abbey church. These architectural elements include a square corner stone representing a kneeling figure with baccchi traits: broad head, spate nose, curly hair and beard. The character, raised as to hold a crown, is surmounted by a shell-shaped dais adorned with a palmette. This detail, coupled with his posture, evokes a symbolism related to Bacchus or ancient rituals.
Under this corner stone, two carved panels are applied against the walls in obtuse angles. The one on the right has palmettes with opposite leaflets, framed with circular rings, while the left panel has contoured foliage. These stylized plant motifs, typical of Romanesque art, suggest a regional artistic influence. The accuracy of their placement indicates a desire for enhancement, despite their probably liturgical origin.
The house, classified Historic Monument since 1963 for its carved stone (cadastre N 157), is located in 5 Place de la Liberté, at the corner with Lamartine street. Its state of conservation and its exact location (map precision noted 5/10) underline its integration into the medieval urban fabric of Saint-Gilles, a city marked by its abbatial and commercial past in Languedoc-Roussillon (now Occitanie).
