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Heritage classified

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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. Originally, the square was lined with 22 cornered buildings on its north and south sides, and six on its east and west sides. Today, there are only 17 remaining, including this house, reflecting the planned medieval urban planning characteristic of the southwestern bastids.

The covered galleries, typical of these marketplaces, housed commerce and trade, reflecting Monpazier's economic vocation. The façade and gallery of this house were classified as Historic Monument by decree of 21 December 1904, highlighting their heritage value. However, the accuracy of its location remains poor (level 5/10), according to available data.

The bastide of Monpazier, like others in Aquitaine, was a tool for settlement and territorial control under the authority of the kings of France or England during the Middle Ages. These centralized squares, with their arcades, facilitated commercial activities and the holding of markets, while serving as a gathering place for the community. The partial conservation of these buildings offers a rare overview of planned medieval urban planning.

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