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Origin and history

Gaston House is a house in the village of Limousis, in the department of Aude, in the region of Occitanie. Built in the 3rd quarter of the 17th century, it is distinguished by its architecture and interior decorative elements, including a remarkable fireplace. This monument has been included in the inventory of Historical Monuments since 1948, highlighting its heritage importance.

Limousis once belonged to the royal castle of Cabaret, a territory marked by a seigneurial organization. Gaston House, probably linked to the former seigneurial residence rebuilt in the 18th century, was a dependency. Its chimney, dated 1658, is a major artistic testimony: its lintel carries a cartridge with this date and a monogram (letter G surmounted by a 4), while its coat, in gypsies, represents the Virgin with the Child surrounded by floral motifs and angeles.

The decor of the fireplace, divided into three compartments, combines religious symbols and Baroque ornaments. The central compartment depicts the Virgin crowned with flowers, holding the Child Jesus who brandishes an earthly globe, evoking a traditional Christian iconography. The lateral compartments house vases filled with roses and lilies, emblematic flowers of purity and royalty. These details reflect the artistic influence of the time, where sacred art blended with the domestic decorations of local elites.

The inscription of the chimney as a historical monument in 1948 (decree of 27 September) allowed its preservation. Today, Gaston House remains a rare example of 17th-century civil architecture in the Aude, illustrating the Occitan rural heritage and craft techniques of gypserie, typical of the region at this time.

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